Had we at Gadling known about this earlier, we certainly would have brought it to your attention, but travel savvy twenty-somethings still have two days to apply for the Delaying the Real World Fellowship! The deadline is May 30, 2009.
All you have to do is describe what you would do if you could postpone the 9-5 grind. If your proposal is convincing, you could very well be the recipient of a $5,000 grant fulfill your proposed adventure.
The Delaying the Real World fellowship is designed to sponsor an adventurous project that is independent of academic and religious institutions. For a better sense of what kinds of previous adventures made the cut, you can read about the ones featured in Colleen Kinder’s book entitled Delaying the Real World, or visit the fellowship website to read about its past winners.
Applicants must be in their twenties (ages 21 through 29 to be exact). You must also be a U.S. citizen. There is no educational requirement to apply. Eligible applicants must use the online application form at to propose a gutsy and worthwhile adventure in the spirit of Delaying the Real World and the young adventurers who fill the book. There is no time length requirement on your adventure, though the fellowship committee (Running Press, Avalon Travel, Colleen Kinder, and past winners) will take into account how well your proposed idea maximizes the $5,000 grant.
The winner will be selected on the basis of the ingenuity of his or her detailed proposal. The fellowship committee will notify this year’s winner by June 15, 2009. The winner will be featured on the Delaying the Real World website and must be available at an agreed time and date to attend a dinner with Colleen Kinder and the fellowship committee in New York City. The winner should plan to begin the fellowship within four months of the award date and willing to report any fellowship-related escapades back to the fellowship committee, including occasional photos.