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How do mature students feel in the average uni class?

Mature as in age, or temperament too. I found that most students seem like they came to uni to escape from their parents and 'party'. I have no interest in doing such things right now, especially with random 18/19 year olds, so I feel like I might have made a mistake by moving out of the city to study in uni.

I will find ways to keep myself occupied no doubt, but I wonder how alien I seem to said students who place a greater emphasis on socialising. Do you have any stories where you have clashed with said personalities?

Reply 1

Klix88

I didn't worry about the social side of things. At 44, I was never going to be part of the full student social life - I did that when I was their age, so twice would be greedy!

I just studied and chatted to other students over the course of the first year. It was pretty lonely to begin with. However I was just part of the furniture by the second year. They got used to me and I joined their pub quiz team, went round to student houses for pizza + movie nights and enjoyed a couple of pre-Christmas dinners.

Just stay open, be approachable and see what happens. It might take a while, but that's OK. As a mature student, you have the resources to concentrate on your studies whilst things fall into place socially. I found that it wasn't something you could rush.

I never "clashed" with any of them - I had no reason to. There was no conflict between us. We just lived different sorts of lives.

Reply 2

CompSciEssex

I think it's a shame you won't do things with them purely on the basis that they are "random 18/19 year olds". Whilst going out every night probably isn't your thing anymore there is probably no harm in trying to socialise with them occasionally. These are just your university peers - age doesn't really come into it.

Reply 3

Thighs

I wasn't looking for advice as to how to interact with them, that is very easy as they are open to me however it is me who would rather not get to know them really. I was already at the end of force physical flirtation and I am just above university culture to be quite honest. I myself am not too mature, I am 20 but still, its quite sad how most people at uni are still on the same level as your average year 11 student intellectually. I thought uni would be a more serious atmosphere. Meh, I'll transfer to a uni in the capital where I live so I can just live my usual life when not studying.