How bad does it look to attend your freshman year of university at age 20 or 21?

Question

will I be a total outcast? should I care?

Answer 1

No one will know unless they ask you and you tell them the truth...At least you're going to college. It would look worse when you're 30+ and all your peers went to college except for you, then you'd be a real outcast. You should not care what these loser 18 year old freshmen think about you anyways. You want an education which can further your pursuits in life. You should be proud! Just continue on with your course of life. Good luck with college!

Answer 2

Not bad at all. I started at 18 only to find out I wasn't quite ready for college (more so on the emotional maturity side than the academic side), so I ended up leaving and did not return until I was 20. I got the same degree as everyone else at graduation; they did not say when I walked up there, "Oh, you are 24 that is too old"

When you are younger the years between people are a bigger deal. For example, if you were 13 you probably would not want to hang around with 11 year olds. However, would a 30 year old be bothered about hanging around with a 28 year-old?? Just a thought.

Answer 3

After I retired from the Army I went back to college full time. I was 40 years old and I didn't do the evening degree completion thing - I did the whole full time day student thing with the regular just graduated from high school students.

Some thought of me as "old guy", some adopted me as "uncle" because they were far from home and needed an adult sometimes, some became friends. Most of the students considered me a peer, most of the faculty considered me a peer too. It was an awesome experience that I'd not trade now.

But, like you, I was worried at first about how I'd manage to fit in. It was no problem at all. At 20-21, you're not going to be "old" at all. :-)

I'm still in school full time by the way. I like this school stuff, it really beats working...

Answer 4

Nobody's going to notice. Not only will you not be the only 20-21 year old freshman you probably won't even be the oldest person there. There are plenty of people that began their college education late, what with people working a bit before starting college, going back to school in their later years, etc.

And no, you shouldn't care anyway. College isn't high school. You're not going to find many cliques and whatnot in college unless you actively go searching for them.

Answer 5

I doubt you'll be an outcast. Why should you care? I went back to college to finish undergrad at age 30, and at 37-I'm working on my MBA. The instructors liked me, because they knew I was serious about my education--not on a four year party paid for by my parents. Life experience counts!! Have fun at school!

Answer 6

It depends on the college. If it's a small, liberal arts school where almost everyone there was an upper-middle-class overachiever, and there's not much else to do in town but hang out with your classmates, yeah, you might stick out a little. If it's a large public university, no one's going to bat an eye, and no one's going to expect you to be around as your fellow freshmen go through their first kegstands and all that.
It looks much worse NOT to go to college than to go "late," so don't sweat it.

Answer 7

I don't think that it should matter, since the whole idea is to go to school and to be able to learn.

Why should it matter, when we have people in society who have gone back to school when they were as old as in there 50's or more.

The whole point is to get an education to better your self.

Relax, and applaud your self for going and doing some thing good with your life. It shouldn't matter to you what others think.

Best wishes to you for going and doing whats best for you!

Answer 8

Once you're in college, there's such a range of ages that nobody will think you're weird for being a 21-year-old freshman.

Answer 9

at university, the attitude is totally different. you are just another human being endeavoring higher learning.
i think you'll find that you are junior to many of your new peers. unless you get intimately involved, age won't even be a factor....just your ability to accomplish your endeavor.
it's all good and no you shouldn't care.
i wish you the strength to command the power of your mind. carpe diem.

Answer 10

You should be proud that you are continuing your education. Don't worry what anyone says or thinks. They won't be there when you are succeeding at your chosen profession, feeding your family, and building a life for yourself!

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! ! ! ! ! !