What do u think of a 27 year old freshman?

Question

My plan is to enroll in a local city college and then transfer onto a college campus sometime next year. By then I will be 27, nearly 10 years older than most of the other freshmen. Will I be seen as an outsider in this community? Do you think I should live off campus?
My life thus far has been full of failure (divorce, shitty jobs) and I am wanting badly to start over and better myself.
Also, the University I hope to transfer to is Uhio University. If you are familiar with this school please let me know of your experience. Thanks everyone.

Answer 1

You are only old if you feel and act old. Good on ya for going back and improving yourself. As an adult though, I'm not sure why you would want to live in a cramped dorm instead of off campus. Plus, if you're going to invest the time and money as an adult, better take it seriously so it shouldn't matter how the others view you outside of class.

Answer 2

You will be in the minority, but you will not be alone. I reentered college at 30 and have had very few problems. I think I enjoy it more now than I would have at 20.

Freshman year might be a bit odd, but once you get through to the upper level classes, you won't have much to worry about. I can almost guarentee that there will be one or two others, even older than you going back to school.

As far as living on or off campus, that is entirely up to you, but check your options. Some colleges actually have dorms designated for non-traditional (older) students. Some have campus apartment complexes and suites.

Talk to Admissions and also Student Services, they should have all the info you need. Even the college website should be of help.

Answer 3

I think a 27-year old freshman is GREAT! This means you are on the right track to improving your life. You see your life so far as full of failure...I see it as shaping you into someone who is now ready to move on, better themselves and increase their opportunities in life. I'm on my way back to school and scared to death of what it will be like...I'll be a 36-year old junior. I think, from things I've read recently and people I've talked to, that this will be a positive experience. More and more adults are going to school for the first time or returning after years away, so you may not be the oldest freshman in class! I don't plan to move on campus, as I already have a place to live, but maybe for you it would be a good situation. Will you be attending full-time? Do you want to not only earn a degree, but socialize and have that "college experience?" Are you the type of person that would focus better if you were totally immersed in the situation? I'm not familiar with the University you hope to attend, but I say go for it and do whatever it takes for YOU to be successful. If you set yourself up for failure, you will probably fail. So do whatever YOU need to do to succeed and don't worry about what others think or say and do.

Best of luck - keep your goal in mind and you'll be part of the 2011 (?) graduating class!

Answer 4

Congrats on wanting to better your life- coming from a 27 year old sophmore! Believe it or not, there are many many non-traditional (older) students on campus' nationwide, including myself! I would suggest not living on campus, unless you are still in the party stage! My experience is most non-traditional students are attending college not to party, but to actually learn! Go figure! So to keep your peace of mind a little better during the hectic school year, try and live off campus. Do not worry about being seen as an outsider, I promise you will not! Go for it! YOU WILL DO GREAT!

Answer 5

I say good for you and it's never too late to go back to school. My mom finished her B.A. at 62 and when I was in college there were lots of older students. At 27, you'll hardly even stand out! Some campuses do have housing designated for older students and familes, etc... so check into that if you're thinking that you want to live on campus. Personally, I wish I had when I was 18-20, but wouldn't have wanted to once I got much older.

Answer 6

Never heard of Uhio U. I'd live OFF campus. Dorms are crappy, a lot of juvenile stuff goes on after classes. As for age, we had an 82 year old graduate with us. Its not uncommon now to see Mommies who are middle aged going back to school. The serious college student is looking to better themselves and get better jobs.

Answer 7

There is no problem with you wanting to go back to college. Yay for you! However, unless you still like to party, I wouldn't live on campus. I'm not even 21 yet, and I won't be living on campus because I don't want to be subjected to all the immaturity. Good luck in college!

Answer 8

I think it's great; my wife went to college in the evenings for 7 years until she graduated.

One word of advice; don't run off at the mouth in class because you have more life experience than the younger students. When I was going to college, it seemed like every student over 25 did exactly that.

Answer 9

I say good for you for taking your life back, I went to nursing school when I was 25. You would actually be suprised at how many non traditional students there are these days, don't be intimidated, you have a lot more life experience than they have. Don't give up, and good luck:-)

Answer 10

I would be surprised if you're the oldest in your class, and even more surprised if a group of wet-behind-the-ears 18 year olds had the wit to even notice that you're older and wiser than they are.

Fuggedaboudit. Do what's best for you, and let them worry about what they think, it's not your problem.