Stereotypical 'Gap Year' is a Waste of Time. Discuss.

In reference to "5am" start. Many people in the UK start work near this time, such as factory workers; nothing particularly interesting about that.

They "squander" their money so that they can have a good time and enjoy their youth. It doesn't matter if "large quantities of students" do this. It shouldn't be of any concern to you. If you don't like talking to them, don't talk to them.

Also why are you talking as though you have looked up every word in a thesaurus in a vain attempt to seem intelligent.

wow how have you been to so many countries?

Also, i think it's done because it's considered fun and people say that stuff because it makes it sound better.
But there's nothing wrong with those types of gap years really.

Do you think the idea of cycling through Europe for a summer seeing war torn countries such as Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia whilst visiting leisurely places like France and Germany is a waste of time?

Where did you go? What did you do? Don't judge people based on your lifestyle and interests.

I am not attempting to judge anyone, merely to argue that people should differentiate themselves. I do not know what your first two questions are referring to, sorry.

Many people just want a year off education where they can live in a different environment. I don't know why you have singled out Australia and Thailand as i know many people taking a Gap year who are not even going to those countries. Even so, just because someone goes to a place like Australia, doesn't mean it cannot be character building. Yes Australia is not very different from the UK, but the person would still be a stanger in a completely new surrounding and environment. They may even participate in a work scheme or charity group. All of these reasons, plus the obvious one of getting some independence can be seen as a way of "building-character"

I have just been lucky as I have had a few jobs/study abroad opportunities, and every time I have one I make sure it is in a region I have never been to, so as I can go to a fair few countries in the target region.

This sounds nice and I like this. Though I take issue with the latter activity - Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia are not that war torn and if you have been there, then you should have the respect to portray those states in a balanced light.


I am not attempting to judge anyone, merely to argue that people should differentiate themselves. I do not know what your first two questions are referring to, sorry.

Pretty sure no one in the UK goes to work in a cucumber greenhouse farm at that time in 40 degree heats plus and finishes work at 1 to drive to the beach straight after

I didn't do a gap year before uni, but for me there's no worse idea than leaving school, doing my 4 years of uni, graduating, going straight into a graduate office job and then spending 45 years in the office 9-5.

i want to explore a bit while I'm young.


but that's just me.

This made me chuckle (couldn't give +rep, reached my limit ) - but yeah I mean it depends on what you want to achieve at the end of the day, and if people want to relax - so be it!

But OP, to say gap years in general are useless - that's just completely ignorant. People do amazing things during gap years!

There are many reasons why someone would go on a gap year I suppose. It's not just black and white.

Some people just don't feel ready for Uni at that moment in time. Not sure what they want to do with their lives so they'll travel around to "find themselves" which I do think is a bit stupid. The whole point of school and sixth form is for you to pinpoint what you want to do for a living. After having experienced around 15 different subjects in that time.

Others just want to earn money to better support themselves financially when Uni comes around so they don't have to beg their parents for money over and over again.

I think gap years can be personally fulfilling, and many people seem to enjoy them. Impressive to others though? I just think of it as a hobby not much different to any other (but obviously fairly expensive). Some people have something really interesting to say about their travels, some people have something really interesting to say about computers, or pets, or their sport.

It is only annoying when people talk about what have become fairly generic tourist experiences and expect others to be impressed at their worldliness/experiences/enlightenment/superiority relative to those who have actually being doing something not necessarily more, but just as worthwhile (work, studies, you name it). When in many cases all they have done is spent money on an interest which is actually very popular. Not a bad thing to do, but not especially impressive.

Then again many/most people I know who have done a gap year/travelling aren't superior about it, they just like to talk about their experiences, which are often interesting. Basically, it's fine just don't get all pretentious about it.

I'd say that my time in Australia has differentiated me plenty, despite loads of other students going there. Each one will have their own stories to tell and experienced it differently, doesn't mean they're being sheep.

I am yet to hear a truly unique anecdote from Australia.

I have been to all three yes. The locals are still struggling to come to terms with the war that only ended two decades ago. I also was at part the trial of Mrksic in the Hague in 2010 where survivors and friends of survivors of his wicked military tactics were struggling to come to terms with it still.

I'm on an unplanned gap year and i'm going travelling to, yes, South East Asia and Australia. I'm going there for several reasons, I will list a couple below.

1. I want to visit the road more travelled by. It's my first time travelling. I take comfort in the assurance that thousands of people visit these locations. There must be an appeal? And from my research, there is for me!

2. Budget. Unplanned gap year. I've worked my a*se off for 4 months to fund this trip. It's cheap over there! Making my money go further!

3. I'm fascinated by history and I know very little of South East Asia; the Khmer reign, the Vietnam War .. I hope to learn more of this! And see the effects first hand!

4. I'm starting somewhere. I want to visit 99 countries; I want to visit more! To see, to experience and to enjoy! Not quite as privileged as you though, m'dear

So I will enjoy my stereotypical backpacking trip. Maybe stereotypical to the rest of the world but the trip of a lifetime for me.

Sorry to crush your apparently huge ego but your pomposity is much more childish than travelling to the local park, let alone a remarkable place such as Australia.

Why start a discussion purely to boast about your own experience? To the vast majority of people on this website, Australia would be an amazing place to visit and I personally am jealous of those who have been!


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Why does it need to be truly unique? Pretty sure whatever you've done is not unique, doubt anything is nowadays? But helping to clear up after the Brisbane Floods? Anyway, since the whole purpose of this thread is to have a dig at people like me I'm guessing go ahead! I don't regret my gap year one bit, don't regret my choice of country, my activities, whatever else. Would do it all over again and would recommend it to everyone else, whatever you like, I would say it's a perfectly good thing to do.

The quantity of students/grads etc. who go on about their "life-changing experiences" is immense; anyone at uni who has not experienced such characters must have been hiding in a hole during their degree.

Why is conforming so frowned upon these days?

I'm thinking of working as a chalet host in the Alps or Dolomites (haven't decided) enabling me to go skiing every day. I guess that's pretty typical and I, frankly, don't care.

Agree. There's so much culture and so many incredible sights and experiences our world has to offer, I truly can't fathom how anyone can think going to Australia can help you gain perspective or make you a well-rounded person. I can't wait to do some ACTUAL travelling someday.