Very worried about starting uni at 23.

So I'll be attending University in London starting this September at one of the RG uni's in London. I think most people starting uni are likely to be 18/19 and I'm worried the age gap may make me the odd one out, especially in halls etc.

I do look younger than my age and am quite friendly/polite if that's anything. Just wondering if the age thing will be a big issue?

Anyone else go to uni at a later age...how's your experience been?

Anon please.

Reply 1

SJ1708

3

I'll be starting uni at 22. I don't see why it would be a big deal. Don't worry :smile:

Reply 2

imjustnotnormal

10

A lot of people start university at a later age these days. I haven't personally started at that age but my sister started uni at 22 and she says that the people in her seminars are of all ages and shes not treated differently from anyone else. If you are smart enough to get into a RG university I see no reason why it should be a problem, you've worked as hard as everyone else to get in :smile:

Reply 3

StretfordEnd

15

At the risk of sounding snobby/a tit...at a RG Uni I think you're far more likely to encounter a more mature type of student. I honestly can't see too many people looking at you thinking 'Ew, they're so old'.

I'm currently at college and it's almost the other way around - I get on well with most of the standard upper A level students, but quite a few of the other mature students on my course look at me funny, as though I'm not quite old enough.

Course there's going to be a few immature tits here and there, as there are at my college, but not socialising with those folks is a blessing if I'm honest.

I'll be 23 when I start too by the way (this September).

Reply 4

419

14

Original post by StretfordEnd

At the risk of sounding snobby/a tit...at a RG Uni I think you're far more likely to encounter a more mature type of student. I honestly can't see too many people looking at you thinking 'Ew, they're so old'.

This.

No one care tbh.

Reply 5

Anonymous #1

OP

Well those responses are extremely encouraging. I guess I'm quite nervous as I haven't been in formal education for almost 4 years now, and sat my AS levels and now will be sitting my A levels as a private candidate. Just don't want to feel like the odd(old) man out you know..

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post by arson_fire

I was 32 when I started, and so long as you don`t act like a perv or give it the "when I was young...." then people seem to be fine with it. Don`t try and act like an 18 year old (cause your not) but don`t be afraid to join in with social things.

Living in halls can be hit or miss. My first flat was with 2 other mature students my age and they were a pair of boring buggers who moaned about everything. Second flat was mixed sex 2nd years and it was a pretty good mix.

There will be a load of people of different ages there anyway and you`re bound to meet some postgrad/Ph.D students your age as well

I definitely won't be giving any of those sort of speeches or anything. By being a perv meaning hitting on one of the 18/19 year old girls? Nah, that won't happen, I'm in a long term relationship, but I can see why that would be seen as weird...quite an age gap.

Reply 7

cid

13

started uni at 25, mate of mine started at 28, don't worry about a thing, if anything you'll have a good laugh at all the nervous as **** 18 year olds sat in lecture afraid to ask any questions or answer any of the lecturers questions.

Nights out of the lash exactly the same as if you were 18, if anything I'm glad I started uni at 25 instead of 18.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 8

AverageExcellence

20

I go to uni and see 30 year old men in some of my lectures and im friends with a 27 year old with a 4 year old kid.. nobody really cares if you're an easy going guy, if you're going to make it a big deal and bring it up how young people are then you'll probs scare some peopl aware.

In short just don't consider it and they wont either.

Reply 9

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post by cid

started uni at 25, mate of mine started at 28, don't worry about a thing, if anything you'll have a good laugh at all the nervous as **** 18 year olds sat in lecture afraid to ask any questions or answer any of the lecturers questions.

Nights out of the lash exactly the same as if you were 18, if anything I'm glad I started uni at 25 instead of 18.

You had no issues with being one of the oldest people in halls/flats etc?
Sounds like you had a great time at uni man, I hope mine is similar, nice to know I'm not going to be sticking out in a lecture of 150 people feeling odd...

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 10

LavenderBlueSky88

20

I started at 22 almost 23. It was great, no one cared I was a tiny bit older. In fact they always forget and it's only when I say something about school or TV shows they don't remember they're like 'Oh yeah I forgot you're older'.

Reply 11

Stannisbaratheon

12

Youll be fine im freinds with 22 and 24year olds

Reply 12

askew116

17

Original post by Anonymous

So I'll be attending University in London starting this September at one of the RG uni's in London. I think most people starting uni are likely to be 18/19 and I'm worried the age gap may make me the odd one out, especially in halls etc.

I do look younger than my age and am quite friendly/polite if that's anything. Just wondering if the age thing will be a big issue?

Anyone else go to uni at a later age...how's your experience been?

Anon please.

I started uni at 26, and was in Halls for the first year - I loved it :biggrin:

The worst issue was people hogging fridge/freezer space, which was easily sorted. I would say that it helps if you're the type who enjoys socialising and nights out, but if you're not, it still shouldn't be a nightmare.

Having said that, it really is luck of the draw as to who your flatmates happen to be.

Reply 13

Anniembm

I'm starting this year and I'm 25. I can't wait! Don't worry about what anyone else thinks though. At the end of the day it's your life and your degree!

Reply 14

DeceitfulDove

19

They won't even notice :smile:

I'm 23 in first year :smile:

Reply 15

Simonion

5

I'm 25 and a first year undergraduate. I had all the same worries as you before I started uni. Then I got here and realised how ridiculous it was.

Nobody had a clue of my age until it came up in conversation. If anything its a great talking point with people. I feel at an advantage in terms of my ability to respond in lecture/seminar.

You will blend in with everyone else, as depressing as that sounds! I have to lol at the comment about being too old for an 18 year old.. can't tell if srs? You're in your early twenties, get a grip!

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 16

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post by JennaEmBee

They won't even notice :smile:

I'm 23 in first year :smile:

Ah there's always this. Very often people mistake me for being a teenager...been called baby faced by so many people its ridiculous :redface:

.

Original post by Simonion

I'm 25 and a first year undergraduate. I had all the same worries as you before I started uni. Then I got here and realised how ridiculous it was.

Nobody had a clue of my age until it came up in conversation. If anything its a great talking point with people. I feel at an advantage in terms of my ability to respond in lecture/seminar.

You will blend in with everyone else, as depressing as that sounds! I have to lol at the comment about being too old for an 18 year old.. can't tell if srs? You're in your early twenties, get a grip!

Posted from TSR Mobile

Thanks for the post mate, very encouraging to hear. The being with an 18 year old thing...I'm with someone whose 25 and tend to fancy slightly older women so for me that's just a no go...guess I didn't express myself very well there.

Reply 17

Clip

19

Original post by arson_fire

I was 32 when I started, and so long as you don`t act like a perv or give it the "when I was young...." then people seem to be fine with it. Don`t try and act like an 18 year old (cause your not) but don`t be afraid to join in with social things.

On the other hand, there comes a point when you just have to own it. If you are 20 years older than the other students, and you're inevitably socialising, there's no point keeping stumm. "When I was young...." is actually very funny in many contexts.

I also reject the whole perv thing. It's ageism and really more related to appearances than anything else.

Reply 18

cid

13

Original post by Anonymous

You had no issues with being one of the oldest people in halls/flats etc?
Sounds like you had a great time at uni man, I hope mine is similar, nice to know I'm not going to be sticking out in a lecture of 150 people feeling odd...

Nah no issues at all, you will probably not even be the oldest person in your social group, there will be other mature students, masters students, students resiting a year and even international students (some of whom do not normally start uni until 20/21)

Reply 19

JJasper

5

I started my undergraduate degree at 20 when everyone else was 17 or 18. No one knew I was slightly older unless I mentioned it. I lived in a nearby town with my partner in a house that he owned, so I really didn't see other students outside of class. While I was perfectly happy with my living situation (it would have been weird and a bad idea to move out of my partners house to another town when we were perfectly happy living together), it did mean that I was pretty isolated. I didn't really have any friends at uni until the last couple of years (BAs are 4 years in my country). My partner had to move so this year I've lived in private housing near the university and I've made good friends.

I think there will be some situations where it is a little weird. I don't know about you, but by the time I was 20 I had already finished my partying days so when lots of students in my year were going out binge drinking on weekends (or weeknights) I was not at all interested. I feel like there's often a certain difference in the maturity level of 18 year olds and twenty-somethings. Having said that, I'm sure you will meet lots of younger students with whom you'll get along. My uni is tiny (2500 students) and I've found lots of people with similar interests who are mature and serious about their degrees.

I would suggest getting involved as much as possible in social activities or else it might be a lonely few years. You will definitely find lots of people to hang out with, and I'm sure there will be several other older students. Taking a couple years off first was the best decision I ever made. In Canada you don't even have to pick your major until second year, so tonnes of students start uni with absolutely no idea what they want to take and end up wasting a lot of time and money. By taking a couple years off I knew exactly what I wanted to do and was able to get through quickly without much trouble. You'll have life experience that younger students don't so sometimes it might be a little tough to relate and tempting to "share your wisdom"... but I would say don't make a big deal out of your age difference and you'll have a great time, when you meet the right friends it will hardly ever occur to you that they're a few years younger.

Very worried about starting uni at 23.

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