Living in halls as a mature student... ?

OP

Original post by SchadenfreudeDude

We have three mature students as old as you in our flat.

It's perfectly alright. It's not like you're ancient. So long as you don't refer to google as 'the google' and call rap music 'hippity hop', you'll be fine.

Haha no Im not that old, though the whole twitter thing has gone way over my head..

Reply 81

BigV

9

Original post by AidyD

Haha no Im not that old, though the whole twitter thing has gone way over my head..

Glad I'm not the only one...I also don't *get* twitter.. or facebook/myspace/ or social networking in genereal really.......

Reply 82

LewisH

6

I agree. I do have a facebook account I log into every 6 months or so. Generally, if I haven't spoken to you for 20 years there's a reason...

Reply 83

purplemooncows

3

Ha, I only use facebook to keep in touch with my friend who lives in America. :smile:

I'm not a fan of adding randoms from school...as you said above, if I was THAT interested in talking to you we'd have kept in touch.

Reply 84

Busby_Babe

10

I'm starting archaeology as well in sept, I'm 24 but probably less mature than the 18 year olds. They thought I was an A-level student at the open day so I'm not to worried.

Reply 85

LewisH

6

Whereas I, of course, look like someone's dad :-)

Reply 86

AidyD

OP

10

Original post by LewisH

Whereas I, of course, look like someone's dad :-)

Haha! I actually look my age for a 24 year old, though strangely I have looked 24 since I was about 15...

Just finished off my portfolio for moderation and next week is celebration time! Got my address for halls sorted, all set for an exciting year ahead now, will take the summer easily, working and saving.

Cant wait for September now, academically feel much more alive now than before the course and so quietly confident opposed to being nervous which I was last year at the prospect of going to Uni - its all good...

Reply 87

bluemoon14

Hey just came across this post im in the same boat this year! i'm off to the university of cumbria at the age of 23, and it looks like i will be staying with younger students just a bit worried about the age gap!! how did everyone get on with living with younger students?please let me no.

cheers

Reply 88

BrushieDuck

8

Original post by bluemoon14

Hey just came across this post im in the same boat this year! i'm off to the university of cumbria at the age of 23, and it looks like i will be staying with younger students just a bit worried about the age gap!! how did everyone get on with living with younger students?please let me no.

cheers

It was fine for me! I was 26 when I first moved into halls and I'm about to move back for my third year!

Halls have been the perfect choice for me:

•

Catered - so I don't have to worry about shopping, cooking or washing up in term-time. Saves a LOT of time and stress!

•

On-Campus, literally couldn't be any closer to uni!

•

Wardens and Hall Tutors around in case anything goes wrong (or when the neighbours decide to have a party at 3am and I needed to be up at 6... :rolleyes: )

23 isn't much of an age-gap really! You'll be fine!

Reply 89

wooderson

I've kind of got the exact same query, i'm 28 and going back to do engineering.I originally planned to get my own flat but i'd still like to do a bit of the social stuff.I've kind of left my old group of friends behind so it would be good to hang with some people I have stuff in common with.Really not sure what to do.

Reply 90

andy.man2k

3

I will be in the same situation and will be 30 when I get into University next year I am currently re-sitting my maths GCSE and Open University Human Biology Module as I want to be a Physiotherapist. I have done voluntary and a weeks placement at a local hospital. After getting some advice on here I am thinking of halls either studio flat, or requesting to be placed with mature students.

Andy

Reply 91

Feu Fleur

I will be just 21 when I start but I'm definitely going into halls but also definitely asking to be put with mature students.

I've always had friends older than me and now other than my school friends who I love dearly after 10 years of friendship but are also like my extended family (I love them, I'm always there for them when they need me, but other than that I generally try not to see them more than a couple of times a year) all of my friends are at least in their late twenties. I don't know why, I think because of certain stuff that's happened in my life I just find that I have a lot more in common with them than with people my own age, and so for me the thought of being back in a school situation where I'm forced to be with people that are pretty much the same age as me doesn't appeal at all. I will happily have lecturers with all the unmature students, but as far as living arrangements go I'd rather be with other mature students.

It's a personal thing though and I'm also aware that not only will I be the youngest but when most people only think I'm about 15/16 I'll stick out like a sore thumb with the mature students. For me I just hope that being "mature" everyone will accept people for who they are, not how old they are.

Having said that I am a very social person so if I get stuck with a load of people that hate socialising I may cry. :wink:

Reply 92

Bodger & Badger

5

I'll be moving away for uni in september, I don't think i'd manage halls as i like my own personal space and like things tidy so will have to work abit harder at making friends :s totally crapping myself haha!

Reply 93

steve83

I am 29 and currently in my first year in halls, to be honest it has been more bearable than i first thought it would be. My flatmates are generally pretty good, 5 girls and 2 boys, 19-20 years old, we all get on pretty well, i just have to endure the banter of being called gramps, but it is all good hearted.

The things that annoy me on the other hand are: constant fire alarms, 5 times in one night at its worse, other people in the halls, screaming and shouting into the night, when you have an exam the next day. the walls are paper thin so you end hear everything, and i mean everything, and a few of my flats are quite lazy when it comes to cleaning their cutlery etc up.

I am glad i have experienced it, but i am longing to be in house for next year, hopefully with other mature, masters, phd students.

Reply 94

Tom2301

I'll be 24(ish) when I get to uni so there's not a massive age gap for me, and the social thing is appealing to me tbh... Then again I'm a solider living in the singles block since I was 16, so if they can hit the level of debauchery I'm used to I'll actually be impressed instead of annoyed...

Reply 95

Izzyeviel

19

The best flatmates I've had have been students.

Reply 96

spoofs

So I'm also 24, I've lived away from my parents for 6 and a half years and am wondering what to do in September with regards to living situation. I want to work hard and get a good degree but I also want to have a laugh. I'm not to worried about the noise as I ware earplugs at night (which are a life saver by the way!) Mess will annoy me because I am way beyond having a messy house, but i can get used to that. What concerns me is being put in with a bunch of 18 year olds who have never lived away from home and just don't know much about life. I don't want to become irritated/bored of them and end up isolating myself because we have nothing in common. But then I don't want to move into a house away from uni and miss out on meeting everyone.
Can anyone shed any light on their experience as a mature student first year in halls/mature student wing in halls/shared house away from halls?? Good and bad. Anything would be really helpful, cheers!

Reply 97

Tigrah99

5

I'm 21, technically a mature student but not too far off from the usual age really. I wouldn't miss the whole university experience for the world, so I'm getting stuck right into halls next year. It all depends on you, I suppose - if you're sociable, love partying and meeting new people then why not? The difference is, you're now mature enough to do all this without getting stupid and you'll know where to draw the line without seeming like too much of a grumpy old git. If you think the constant silly atmosphere is something that is likely to annoy you and alienate you from the others, it may be worth thinking about going private, but in my opinion I'd say you're at the right age to get through that first year and have a good time :smile:

Reply 98

dave_123

9

Original post by Tigrah99

I'm 21, technically a mature student but not too far off from the usual age really. I wouldn't miss the whole university experience for the world, so I'm getting stuck right into halls next year. It all depends on you, I suppose - if you're sociable, love partying and meeting new people then why not? The difference is, you're now mature enough to do all this without getting stupid and you'll know where to draw the line without seeming like too much of a grumpy old git. If you think the constant silly atmosphere is something that is likely to annoy you and alienate you from the others, it may be worth thinking about going private, but in my opinion I'd say you're at the right age to get through that first year and have a good time :smile:

Same here 21 when i go off to uni and having seen what a great time a lot of my close mates have / are having i can't wait. Those that stayed in halls loved it and i'm sure i will.

Obviously you could get landed with a load of tools but chances are they'll for the most part be normal nice folk who like our selves want to get on with education whilst not living under a rock.

If the social side of things was something someone wanted to avoid then i could understand going into mature halls but for me i'm sure i can handle living with people who are at worst 3 years younger than myself.

Worst part is waiting for it to come around...Bring on next September i say! :smile:

Reply 99

silversilk

5

How did everybody get on? im 25 about to join loughborough university, im thinking of doing halls for the first year