Going to college I know I can do well Educationally, Socially? I don't know.?

Question

Sorry for the long question but I need some help here. You see up till now I have been home schooled all my life, I did well educationally. I'm 17 and just finishing my junior year in high school if I was actually in high school that is.
Just this year (my junior year) I got into a program which is technically public school but it's a program that you can do at home. This program if you do well enough in grades gives you the option to go to college early. They give you funds to go to college and take classes so you can finish your senior year in college and get the credits to graduate from high school but at the same time start my college classes toward my associates degree. So it’s sort of like a head start for me. Only problem is I’m not sure about my social stand point because the youngest you can be to get into this college is 17, so I’ll be at the bottom of the food chain (so to speak). Continued:

While some people say that home schooled students lack social skills, it’s not really true my sister has too many friends to even count (exaggerated but you get the point).
I’m the shy guy especially around people I don’t know or a girl I like, I don’t fit in right away if I don’t feel welcome. I also get treated different, it’s hard to explain, but I look young for my age and it seems people underestimate me because of it or I get treated like the younger one even though I’m the same age or just a year or two younger. While you wouldn’t agree that I look young for my age simply because I’m 6 feet tall but if I’m sitting in class who can tell? And my face makes me look like a 15 year old. Its bad enough I’ll be the young one but to look younger makes it worse and I just don’t want to buy the guy in the class in the corner completely ignored. And yes my dating experience is virtually zero I blame my shyness.

Answer 1

17 is not young for college, many students go of to college at that age, it's not that irregular. Neither is being home schooled. This may sound bad, but is it important at this point that you do well socially? It sounds like you're just supposed to be finishing your high school credits. Believe me if you really look young you could be enough of a curiosity that girls will be interested if that's what you're worried about, but you could very quickly become the go to 'friend'. The one they go to when they've had a problem with their latest boyfriend, etc. So decide what you want to be before you get on campus. That's the beauty of being the new guy too... you can reinvent yourself. Maybe you can take a theatre class or public speaking just to help boost your confidence.

You may also want to think about getting a book called Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope. While I don't say that the colleges in this book are or aren't right for you.... it sounds like they could be. These schools also specifically welcome home schooled students and all the schools featured are small and built on a sense of community. They claim that everyone feels welcomed and included in campus life.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Don't be suprised to find some 15 year olds in college. Even a 12 year old now and then.

College life is a world unto itself. Outside it's like highschool parties all the time. Inside it's intenstive study by the neardy.

Party neards. Almost everyone in college are Party Nerds.

Smart kids who like to eat pizza, drink beer, listen to loud music and try and associate with the opposite sex as much as they can.

College libaries are generally open 7 am to 11 pm 7 days a week and most kids are there feeding dimes into the photocopy machines by the roll!

They often buy photo copy machine cards and put $40 on the card.

Not everyone socializes all the time or even 10%. But most do.

Many sit on the grass and study

Many play frizbee

Every college dorm picture I've seen has a Beer Bong

I think that's a class in colleges these day. Beer Bong 101

These people are NY Stock Brokers on the trading floor at Wall STreet working 6 hours straight without a break and when the bell rings they ALL run for the watering hole and party til 8 pm, then they stumble home and do it again the next day.

Most incoming freshmen as just as bewilldered as you are!

The average person can't make a resume and ULTIMATELY some teacher asks for one.

That's the whole idea behind college. You come in a stuplid little Highschool Nerd who has be coddled by the secondary system for 5 years and BAM! You're now writing 20,000 words a week and reading 100,000 words a week and going to the library and turning in papers annotated with 12 research references.

No more roll taking. Some courses you are in an auditorium with 300 students and the teacher never knows your name or face

Highschool DOES NOT prepare you socially for college.

Only 1 out of 20 kids from your class will end up in that college so you won't have GOBS for friends.

There are NO MORE true CLIQUES in College

Yes, there are the JOCKS (professional Sports Majors) but everyone else is a NERD or PARTY ANIMAL

There are no more Preppies.

Girls going to college are MORE selective than any girl in highschool.

In high school it's a cute jock or other cute guy. In college girls are more interested in getting a degree and hooling up with a guy who has some potential as partner, husband and father.

Girls don't totally BLOW you off in college.

Many will be your friend.

They are still selective who they date.

But in high school the cute cheerleader wants nothing to do with 90% the guys in school. They are either too young, not cute enough, too much a doper or Goth or Nerd and not buff enough.

That isn't college.

So you have no UNLEARNING to do

You have no RULES to change.

The Highschool Quarter Back Jock that is now a lineman on the College team will eventually drop his Cheerleader sweetie who isn't in college for the girl in jeans with no make up who's cute and knows College Math inside and out.

Answer 3

Perhaps. Most of today's teens' parents are of the Baby Boom generation. When they were teens, progressive education was just being introduced, where education is centered around the students (like it is today) rather than the teacher, and children are left at their own pace to develop, instead of having to be good at the 3 Rs or else be condemned to stupidity. Plus, here (I'm not sure if it applies to the whole of NA), high school is only 4 years now, rather than 5 to get kids out there as quick as possible into the working world since a lot of the BBs are retiring. Now, kids as young as 18 - just newly legal - even 17 are entering university when before, university freshmen were on average, 19 years of age. So yes, I think it has changed. We have to deal with so much crap now b/c of all the past mistakes. -_- School is fast. I think I'm pretty clever and sometimes I have trouble keeping up (but maybe that's just because I am lazy :P). And... socially, it will get better. Senior year beats freshman year (and all the others for that matter) by FARRRRRRR.

Answer 4

Ok, so your shy, and around 17. Who cares? This isn't an issue about how smart you are. I think it's great a youngster is worried about his/her education. The social stuff is just that - Social stuff! Your frettin' about things that you will learn naturally. You'll do fine as long as you take the high road and do it with honor and dignity. It may be a rough and bumpy road, as a matter of fact, I'll bet it will be. True, you'll find it hard to find dates and such your age in college. I can't say that I know anything about home schooled youngsters, as I don't know of any personally. I would think that home schooled youngsters would have a hard time getting a handle on dating, etc. I'm not saying it's right or statistically correct. I am saying that it would be logical. Have a talk with your parents about this dilemma. I found out even at age 40, talking to my folks about problems is a good thing. They are older than me and they usually have some pretty good advice. Good Luck!

Bear

Answer 5

You haven't actually asked a question. What is it that you want to know? If it's a good idea to go to college even if you're shy? Sure. Don't worry about fitting in or being welcomed. You're worrying a little too much about yourself than about those around you. Spend your time focusing on the work, the environment, on knowing the people even if you never meet them. I NEVER fit in but didn't feel badly about it. Too many other things in life to think about.

Oh, and not having really dated at the age of 17 is really not a big deal. Dating has its roots in courtship--finding that someone you will marry. Now, 100+ years ago, it was totally normal for teens to marry, which is why courtship happened in the teen years. I doubt you are planning/hoping to get married soon. ;)

Answer 6

Binary options let users trade in currency pairs and stocks for various predetermined time-periods, minimal of which is 30 seconds. Executing trades is straightforward. The system uses user-friendly interfaces, which even an 8 years old kid, can operate without having to read any instructions. But winning trades is Not easy.
Binary trading is advertised as the only genuine system that lets users earn preposterous amounts of money in ridiculously short period of time. Advertisers try to implicate as if you can make $350 every 60 seconds; if it was true then binary trading would truly be an astonishing business.
However, does it make any sense? Can every trader make tons of money in binary trading? Who is actually paying all the money or the profit to traders?
The first challenge is finding a trustworthy binary broker; secondly, you need to find a binary trading strategy, which you can use to make profits consistently. Without an effective trading strategy, there is no way you can make money in this business.
Learning a profitable trading strategy is possible, You should watch this presentation video https://tr.im/4f450
It's probably the best way to learn how to win with binary option

Answer 7

Lots of guys look young for their age. Try not to worry so much! It's awesome that you have a head start! I think that everything will be fine. For the most part, most people feel unsure about themselves. Try to keep that in mind. Another word of advice, if you are going to a community college, take some night classes. It's a totally different and more mature atmosphere at night.

Answer 8

Where to begin... I can't really relate to the whole homeschooling thing but I am going to college this year and I have also always been quite shy around people that I've never met. I think the best thing would be to try and open up and be a bit daring... but don't stray away from your true self. Wow, that sounds cheesy. Anyways, don't be too concerned with what everybody else thinks because it doesn't matter all that much. You seem intelligent, so you shouldn't have much trouble academically. Overall, take the risk and worry about the finer details later on when they happen.

Answer 9

Hello!!!
WOW! I am home schooled myself, I'm in the 8th grade.
anyways, I've been put down so many times being home schooled, by my own FAMILY! I've been told I will never graduate cause I'm not in regular school, and I've been told I'll never meet a B/F. =(.

Don't worry about what people think of you! Congrats on going to college early! Hopefully I CAN do something like this.
There is not one thing wrong with being shy, I've been shy all my life. I'd rather be shy then all LOUD and mouthy!! you know? everyone is shy deep down. Yeah and me and boys so far the whole bf thing is well lame.
But you seem like a nice person, and all so I wouldn't worry..
and yes I wrote all this and it probably didn't mean anything to you.

OK,
God Bless!
-Emily

Answer 10

well, it will probaly be awkward for the first few months and you might wanna leave but just stick through it and trust me, you'll make friends. Even just sitting in a class with someone will give you something in common that you can talk to them about. and pretty soon, i'm sure you'll have plenty of friends. also, you might want to try to join a club of some sorts and that will give you more common interests with people. You'll do fine!