college at 22?

Question

i am 21 i'll be 22 in a couple of months i feel so lost i have been out of high school for almost 3 years i've done a year of city year and worked 2 years i am thinking about going to college but feel that i am too old to be starting college i sould be in my 3 or 4 year will it be weird because of my age will it be differant because of my age

Answer 1

It'th never too late for college.

Answer 2

If you enroll in night school or weekend college you will likely be in classes with a much more diverse age demographic than a room full of 18 year olds as a full time day student. You may also want to explore internet college as an option if you are really bothered by the age thing.

If you know what degree you want - Go for it. If you expect to have a career working in a Corporate environment, you will find it much much harder to move up, and much harder to get hired, if you don't have a degree that if you do. Is that unfair? Yes. Is it reality? Yes.

Another thing to explore with whatever college you are considering - is there is a way to translate your work experience into some college credits, so you hit the ground running. Many colleges do have programs for johnny-come-latelies...ask.

Good luck

Answer 3

I did it at 21.

Here's a question: do you want to enjoy the college lifestyle? If you do, live in the dorms and pick out a hall that has a good mix of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and even grad students. That way you'll have a variety of people to hang out with and help you find your niche. You can get a university phone directory, and place a phone call to each hall director to ask them what their dorm is like, and ask them to recommend one that they think you would fit in the best. I've found that the staff at most universities is really willing to help.

When you get there, look for the things you have in common with others, instead of pointing out how much older you are. Three years isn't too big of a difference to overcome. If you have a good set of dorm-mates, you'll feel comfortable and finish your first year with a lot of new friends.

If you like a quieter lifestyle and simply are going to school for an education and not for the lifestyle, look for a quiet off-campus apartment. I know several people who did that. They were happy with their choice, but, many of them felt kind of "disconnected" from the university - because they were so far away from the rec center, the student union, and all the campus events.

You might be used to more income than most college students have. If that's important to you, spend some time searching for jobs before you move to your college town. If you're willing to travel to the nearest big city, your chances are better for finding good pay. On campus, there are usually plenty of jobs, but for the best situations there is a lot of competition. Plan ahead.

Be clear about what you want to get out of your college experience (the academic part AND the social life), and seek out people to talk to about it.

Answer 4

What's your goal in college, to get an education, or to make friends? People go back to school later in life, certainly much later than 22, for a variety of reasons.

Now that you've been out of school and worked for a few years, you probably have a better idea of where your interests lie, as well as more discipline to complete tasks. Rather than looking at your age as a detriment, consider it a plus. You may not fit in entirely with the 18-year-olds...but do you need to? Talk to people at the school that you want to attend. See what the student population is like. Odds are good you'll find people that you relate to of all ages.

Answer 5

Today people of all ages go to college. My son was in the Navy after high school, and then he went to college. He thinks that he got a lot more out of college because he was older and more mature. Professors that I know enjoy having older students in their classes because they are usually better students. So don't hesitate about going to college because of your age. Good luck.

Answer 6

Don't worry about it. I graduated from college when I was 21 - but I was most certainly a minority. If you're at all worried - go to a school with a high percentage of "nontraditional" students. You'll find that at a lot of public schools - there are many people in your same situation!

Answer 7

People in this century are going back to college at all ages, in their 20s, 30s, 40s . . .
Tripping on age is a total waste of your time. If that is your focus, you might want to wait until you're a bit more mature . . . college is expensive and you don't want to waste lots of $$ if your focus is like high school mentality instead of learning.

Answer 8

You're never too old to go to college. A lot of people these days are going to school later because of the high economy. So, the most important thing for you to remember is at least it is for your benefit.

Answer 9

You should go for it. Better to start college now, then when your 30 or 40. Most people don't finish college in 4 years anyways.

Answer 10

Many people start college after the "traditional" ages of 17-19. Most likely, you will value your education more, and have a firm idea of what you want your degree to do for your future. Go for it, and good luck.

Answer 11

People of all ages are in college. If you want to go, you got to accept some or most of the people will be younger than you.