Graduating at 23, almost 24?
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Re: Graduating at 23, almost 24?It does feel like I'm at uni forever and everyone's graduating and whatnot, but tbh, it's been helpful for me personally to have extra time. You're only the year above everyone else, plus lots of people take gap years. Plus, if it helps, I'm in exactly the same boat: took a year out, 4 year course, and my birthday's in December. It honestly is common to have people of different ages at uni and what we're going through really isn't out of the ordinary, so don't worry. It'll be cool to be a bit older and a 4 year course can be an advantage anyway, given that you tend to use that year for a year abroad or year in industry or something.
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Re: Graduating at 23, almost 24?If I do as well as I possibly can at university, I'll graduate when I'm 22. In Scotland, the normal time for a degree is four years, and lots of people start when they're 18 or 19, so 22 or 23 is quite a common age to finish university.
Don't worry about it. If you're concerned, perhaps try to use your holidays well to get experience related to the jobs or courses you're considering after graduation. And study hard at uni to make sure you get the best grades you possibly can. -
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Re: Graduating at 23, almost 24?(Original post by Spairos)
In Greece the biggest proportion of students graduate yeeeeeears later because they get lazy during their studies and they only want to have fun. (there are no tuition fees and there are 2 free meals per day, free accommodation, free books, free transportation and university utilities, so their parents only have to pay for a few living costs). Most of the undergraduate courses' normal duaration in Greece is 4 or 5 years. So given the laziness of the students, the average time for a student in a greek university for an undergraduate degree is 8 years (graduating older than 26 years old. But this is only the mean of the population, which means that 20% of the students graduate at an age of at least 29 years old (or older). That's why you shouldn't feel old. I personally know a person who is 34 years old and still "trying" for his undergraduate degree. The situation that I described is very common here, and everyone blames the "difficulties of the university courses" for the late graduations. People write down on their CV that they "finish the uni in only 7 years" (!!!) . In addition, since there is 1 year of mandattory military service for the males, I let you imagine the average time that someone begins working...
However, although most of the greek students are like that, a small proportion (the good students) are equivalent to the good students of the rest of the world (For instance it is known that they have earned many certificates in international competitions and olympiads, and they have also posted some famous papers), but this is only less than 10% of the population. For example I am finishing my degree in 4 years and they think that I am a god or something (!), even though I believe that I only did what I had to do because if I stayed there for more than 4 years it would only be a waste of time.
8 years in free university? Heaven!
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I retook year 13 as I didn't get the grades I needed to attend a particular uni (needed AAA at A-levels), so I ended up starting uni at the age of 19, meaning I will hopefully graduate from uni next year at the age of 22.
I've know of PLENTY of people who have taken a year or two out, and you will definitely not feel the odd one out. Many have taken gap years. The fact that you will be 24 makes little to no difference.
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Re: Graduating at 23, almost 24?Ah don't say that(Original post by ginger_biscuits)
I took a gap year, which was probably a bad idea since I'm old for my year anyway, having a November birthday. So, I will turn 20 in my first term. My course is 4 years long.
I'm really worrying about this, in that it seems quite late to finish, and everyone we be so much younger than me.
Any thoughts from anyone?
it's not late at all, I'm in the same position and my course will be 4 years long, a friend of mine started last year at 19 and now retaking his first year.
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Re: Graduating at 23, almost 24?I'm contemplating quitting uni, waiting till I hit 90, and start my degree again just to beat you lot...(Original post by shaun12345)
2 people on my course were older than the lecturers. One turned 50 on the course and the other was over 50 and a grandparent.
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Re: Graduating at 23, almost 24?That isn't bad. I'm also on a four-year course. Got a friend who's 20 and will be the same age as you when we both graduate. Got a friend on a three-year course who turned 22 this year. I have a friend who started his second degree at 28. My friend shares some lectures with a woman in her thirties who has a kid and even brought her baby into a few lectures, and he's 19 and still talks to her. Likewise, I bumped into somebody in his thirties or forties with a little girl who studies at my university.
The beauty of university is the variety of people and ages you get there. Nobody will judge. It's really no big deal, there are people much older than you and you won't seem that old in comparison. They might make the odd joke, but that's standard uni behaviour. You'll be fine. -
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Re: Graduating at 23, almost 24?Born september, 3 years of A Levels, 20 on uni induction day, graduate july before my 24th, no one cares.
The majority of people at uni are 18-19 yes, but there are lots of older students be them gap year/A Level retakers or mature students deciding on a change of career. I met a guy who's just finished his first year after spending a full 10 years as a F/T Dentist...no problem.
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Re: Graduating at 23, almost 24?We rock the same boat, Honestly even i asked this on TSR a while back and found a lot of older people to. Age is not the factor to be honest, You will fit in well, Sometimes I do say my age a year younger so that I don't be the odd one out. Dont worry you will have a lot of fun. One thing that really bothers me is that are lot of immature kids out there and sometimes i get frustrated.
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Re: Graduating at 23, almost 24?I'll be 28, almost 29 when I graduate! There are such things known as mature students, you know.
Though I guess I'm lucky, I'm doing a course which appears to attract people slightly older. Lots of people who will be on my course in September are in their late 20's and 30's. -
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Re: Graduating at 23, almost 24?My brother was 24, almost 25, when he graduated and I was even older (27). Both of us started at 19 but things just got in the way and we had to change to part-time study (and I had to take two years out). Things happen.(Original post by ginger_biscuits)
I took a gap year, which was probably a bad idea since I'm old for my year anyway, having a November birthday. So, I will turn 20 in my first term. My course is 4 years long.
I'm really worrying about this, in that it seems quite late to finish, and everyone we be so much younger than me.
Any thoughts from anyone?
I know a number of people who graduated in their mid to late 20s. My ex-housemate (who is on TSR) also graduated at 27. Another TSR member took her first degree in Education at Newcastle and then did a Law degree at Durham as her second undergraduate degree. She was 27 when she graduated (from Durham) too. When I graduated there were at least three people doing my degree who were between 23 and 27. That's about one fifth.
One or two years really isn't a problem and there will be mature students doing first and second degrees graduating that year who are older than you.
it's not late at all, I'm in the same position and my course will be 4 years long, a friend of mine started last year at 19 and now retaking his first year.
