Worried about starting university late

This sounds really stupid but I’m so worried for starting university at the age of 19. I know it’s only a year but what if I don’t get on with people year younger than me?

Anyone here who joined in halls at 19?

You’ve nothing to worry about, there will be plenty of other students who have either taken an extra year at college or a gap year, and besides, even if there wasn’t, there simply isn’t a significant enough cultural difference between 18 and 19 year olds that you will be able to tell when your fellow students are a year younger than you, and likewise that they will be able to tell that you are a year older than them - I would actually argue there is zero cultural difference on account of that one year age difference - why would there be?

I mean it’s pretty wild to think you’d only be able to get on with people who happened to be born in the same year as you - can you imagine living your whole life unable to relate or get on with anyone who isn’t your exact age? That would be madness and insanely limiting.

I’ll be going to uni this September at the ripe age of 21, am I worried about there being some sort of age barrier? Not at all! I work with people younger and older than me who I get on with very well, and when I was in college I was in classes with people younger than me, never bothered me or them.

This sounds really stupid but I’m so worried for starting university at the age of 19. I know it’s only a year but what if I don’t get on with people year younger than me?

Anyone here who joined in halls at 19?

Remember when you were in nursery or infant school and you used to say you were 5 1/4 because the extra bit really mattered?
You need to get your worries into perspective. Rather than it being a big thing it is a nothing and you are wasting energy worrying about it.

1. Nobody will know if you dont tell them or wear a badge declaring you are worried about being late.
2. Plenty of people take gap years.
3. Plenty of people start much later after returning to education and we are talking 20s,30s40's etc.
4. the difference between an 18 year and 19 year old is negligible and one can easily be more mature than another.
5. Do yourself a favour and start looking at social skills as well as greater self esteem as that will mean you will worry less, be more confident and maximise your chances of making friends.


Ps My tip is dont make a thing of it with flatmates or potential friends as they wont care and you could become the person that person and known for going round telling everyone they are 19 and different. Cant stress enough for virtually everyone they wont care, so you certainly shouldnt.

pps sorry for all the previous posters who am sure offered good advice to this perennial issue.