Will 24 be too old to make friends at University?

Hey guys, I never went to university after School, ended up dropping out of college at 18 but I'm going to take an access course and go next year, by which time I'll be 24.

I'm just a little worried that I might struggle to fit in at 24 in terms of making friends, everyone I know has just graduated or will be next year and I'm worried that because most people will be 18-20 I might really struggle to socialise there.

I'm not looking at University just as a way to make friends or anything but I don't really want to go through the whole course without making any.

I'm also concerned that if I do make friends with younger people I'll just be; "that weird guy who should hang out with people his own age".

Could anyone who is at / has been at Uni tell me if you think I'm worrying for no reason or if it will be a bit of a hassle? If I was entering now at 22 I wouldn't be so worried as hanging out with 19 year olds right now doesn't seem weird in the slightest.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 1

RandomGuy19

1

Original post by TinyRick

Hey guys, I never went to university after School, ended up dropping out of college at 18 but I'm going to take an access course and go next year, by which time I'll be 24.

I'm just a little worried that I might struggle to fit in at 24 in terms of making friends, everyone I know has just graduated or will be next year and I'm worried that because most people will be 18-20 I might really struggle to socialise there.

I'm not looking at University just as a way to make friends or anything but I don't really want to go through the whole course without making any.

I'm also concerned that if I do make friends with younger people I'll just be; "that weird guy who should hang out with people his own age".

Could anyone who is at / has been at Uni tell me if you think I'm worrying for no reason or if it will be a bit of a hassle? If I was entering now at 22 I wouldn't be so worried as hanging out with 19 year olds right now doesn't seem weird in the slightest.

I'm 19 (20 in a few weeks) my best mates from university are 23, 31 and 35. Definitely not too old mate, find someone who has similar interests as you and you'll make friends :smile:

No need to worry mate

Reply 2

kickingstitches

8

don't be daft. I bet you anything there'll be a ton of people the same age as you at uni. If not, there's always the societies and clubs.
besides, if you don't tell anyone your age, then why should it matter.
I'm in the same situation, I'm going to be 25 once I start uni, but I've already made a friend who's older than me!
my advice would be to make friends with people on your course on here to begin with. Let me know how it goes
:smile:

Kerry

Reply 3

+ polarity -

21

Definitely not!

you could always put your mind in a slightly younger body though

Reply 4

Dnkz7

12

Hey there,

I thought I would be too old for university. By the time I start, I'll be 19 years old.

defintely too old.

There will be heaps of students who are not 18 - many people go to Uni in their 20s, 30s, 40s and right up to retirement and beyond. You certainly wont be out of place at 24, promise.

PS> Mature students do really well at Uni - because they are older and have seen a bit of real life, and they usually have the best time of their lives and get high degree results. Enjoy it all!

Reply 7

TinyRick

OP

If it's at all relevant I actually look about 19 and get id'd at every possible opportunity. I also do MMA and have been asked by many people there if I was 16/17 when I was 21.

Reply 8

Lemon Haze

20

After 18, age doesn't matter anymore. For example I'm 19 and people in my 'main' friend group are ages 18-27 and honestly most of the time I forget we are all different ages.

Reply 9

TinyRick

OP

Thanks guys, this has made me feel a bit less worried about it !

Reply 10

jelly1000

21

My old housemate went to uni at 26, had no problem making friends. Even if you find that 18/19 year olds are too immature, there will be other mature students and very often a mature student society too.

Reply 11

JustGeorgeJ

16

Original post by TinyRick

Hey guys, I never went to university after School, ended up dropping out of college at 18 but I'm going to take an access course and go next year, by which time I'll be 24.

I'm just a little worried that I might struggle to fit in at 24 in terms of making friends, everyone I know has just graduated or will be next year and I'm worried that because most people will be 18-20 I might really struggle to socialise there.

I'm not looking at University just as a way to make friends or anything but I don't really want to go through the whole course without making any.

I'm also concerned that if I do make friends with younger people I'll just be; "that weird guy who should hang out with people his own age".

Could anyone who is at / has been at Uni tell me if you think I'm worrying for no reason or if it will be a bit of a hassle? If I was entering now at 22 I wouldn't be so worried as hanging out with 19 year olds right now doesn't seem weird in the slightest.

I can guarantee you are worrying for no reason, you are over thinking it. They are a few people on my course around that age and even older with families and they made friends just the same as everybody else did. Age doesn't matter, you are all there for the same reason and to study the same course and you'll share that interest with others and make friends as others do.
You won't been seen as weird for being older.