I too am considering the same thing, but (un?)fortunately i still have 2 years to wait before i do go on travels between college and uni. I am planning to go and live in Australia for a year, so i am trying to plan it properly now, although i know all my 'planning' probably won't work out right.
But anyway, Child, all you need really is a fair amount of money, some contacts wherever you are going and most probably a plan of where you are going to stay when you get there, getting a job can be worried about later .
Oh and you need a VW camper van for a transport! :D