Question to older college students & regular young students?

Question

I would really appreciate some feedback! :)
I'm 25 and will be 26 when I start college. I was home schooled as a child and still live at home (cultural thing, I can't wait to move, lol!).
I don't want to be the college joke pretending to be 18, but I'm curious how far off my experience will be from the typical college experience. I don't dress like a preteen but I dress normal/young hip and look young for my age. Can any 18-21yr olds share their view (honestly) on how they view older students or any older students share their college social experience?

P.S
I did very well with my SAT and I study incredibly hard so I am not going only to "hang" out. I've always been mature for my age so I'm not expecting wild sex and drunk nights.

Thanks everyone! :) I'm 100% committed to my education, my question is more about the social aspect. I'd like to know the experience of older students in terms of making friends and socializing. My college only has a few older students and they are mostly 10+ older than me so that leaves 10+ or 18-23yr olds and I'm just curious what to expect in terms of being included in certain things. When age does get asked is it like ackward "oh we can't hang with you" sorta thing or what?

I relate mostly to ppl my age but oddly due to being home schooled I can still relate to younger students as well, assuming they aren't totally immature.

Answer 1

You will do fine. I am 23 now and went to college when I was 18. What my big surprise was that half of my class was 40 years of older. You are not old at all. I am going back to college now. all what I think now is good for you and do your best and I wish you all the best in College.

Answer 2

I was homeschooled when I was a kid as well, and only went to "normal school" from age sixteen to eighteen.

Just from the perspective of a twenty-one year old who has been in college for three years, you will probably have trouble relating with the Freshmen. I can hardly believe now just how immature and silly I was three years ago, and today only a few of my friends are freshmen. People can always prove themselves to be exceptions to the rules, so I'm sure you can find some freshmen who are mature and who you can relate to, but you'll probably have better social experiences if you hang out with Juniors and Seniors. During the final two years, students tend to grow up alot, and have a much better idea of what they want from college and from life.

Good luck, and have fun!!!

Answer 3

I went back a little later and I, too, worried about not being accepted by others, so I hung out with the older students, most of whom where about 20 years older than I was. Now that I look back on it, it was a little ridiculous.

I'm now a faculty member at a university at which most of our students are of traditional age,18-22. However, we do have students who took some time out for whatever reason and came back to school later. I've never heard anyone complain about most of what are called nontraditional students; some of my best students lately have been your age, and they seem to be respected and appreciated by their classmates. In many cases, the younger students don't even realize that the nontraditional student is older than they are.

The one exception I can think of was an individual who was completely insensitive to the needs of other students, monopolizing class discussions and trying to buddy up too much with the professors, figuring that their common age gave him some rights over the other students. The other students felt that he was taking their school experience away from them and resented him for it. As I've said, though, that is the only exception I've run across in almost 30 years in the classroom.

Answer 4

I am in college I started in 2003 fresh out of high school now i am 23 I am still in college, I go to a junior college still it sucks one thing is there are a lot of older students nowadays that are going because some people like me just didnt make it at the beginning out of high school I went back in 2005 and I am done this summer then on to bigger things alright enough about me I think that you will do fine because of older people being there its not high school darling and you seem to present yourself very well so you'll fit right in just make sure you go to class everyday because the majority of instructors think that their words are golden and they test from there notes the books are good for resources too just dont rely on them to pass you (the books I mean) alright good luck

Answer 5

I went back to school at age 23 to get my BS 3 years later at 26, MS at 29, and PhD at 34!!!!. You will do fine and will be the envy of the bunch since you are a devoted student. Don't give a hoot what anybody says....are you going there to get an education or to be popular?

Answer 6

Im a 20 year old student in college and let me tell you alot of my friends are older than me! You will fit in fine because there are ALOT of mature young ppl...you will find them in school activities such as student organizations and clubs. I mean unless you want to chill with the dopey kids who drink all the time and dont go to class you will be fine. I hope this helps! Goodluck and welcome to the college life!!!

Answer 7

dont even worry. im currently in college and ive had group members in classes who have kids my age. if you want to hang out with people there as well, they will if they enjoy your company, not if u are their age. hope you do really well with your education!