Gap year students? Anyone slightly older starting their first year?
I'm 21 (and American) and will be starting my first year at Durham University. So, I'm a little nervous about being older than everyone. I took a gap year here in the US, then I attended one semester at an American school before financial aid fell through and I decided I needed to transfer. I'm basically starting over. Although I'm excited, I am concerned I'll be the odd one out. Anyone else in a similar situation?
(edited 9 years ago)
Scroll to see replies
I don't know about this uni specifically, but I was older than others at my course and now I'm restarting first year so I'm even more older, but there were tons of people at my university who were older and honestly, you can't even notice the age differences so don't worry about it 
I'll be 21 when I start, and have been wondering the same. I did a year at a different uni, dropped out, and am now on my second gap year (I spent some of this time at college in the U.S.). I really don't think it'll matter though; during my time at uni in the UK and the US I socialised with people of different ages and in different 'year groups' through societies, theater, classes, etc.
Lots of people will be in the same boat as us I'm sure. There'll be people who were in 6th form for 3 years, people who have done one or more gap years, plus mature students.
I got asked my age by a bus driver yesterday, so apparently I look borderline 15 anyway. I'll fit right in with the 18 year olds! :-P
In any case, uni is the time when people are no longer defined by where their birthday falls :-)
Lots of people will be in the same boat as us I'm sure. There'll be people who were in 6th form for 3 years, people who have done one or more gap years, plus mature students.
I got asked my age by a bus driver yesterday, so apparently I look borderline 15 anyway. I'll fit right in with the 18 year olds! :-P
In any case, uni is the time when people are no longer defined by where their birthday falls :-)
Ah. Such a relief to hear from you guys. In the US, gap years are virtually unheard of. Most people look at me funny when I say that phrase. What programs/colleges are you all in?
Original post by bluesharpies
Ah. Such a relief to hear from you guys. In the US, gap years are virtually unheard of. Most people look at me funny when I say that phrase. What programs/colleges are you all in?
I'll be doing engineerjng at Josephine Butler :-) what about you?
Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by Laniday
I'm doing social sciences at castle.
Original post by bluesharpies
I'm doing social sciences at castle.
Yuhh
Posted from TSR Mobile
Hi! I'll be 23 when I start at Durham, I'm on a sort of gap year as well - more like a working my ass off after my first degree year 
- plus I'm from Italy, so I'll be a mature and international student. I'm doing anthropology and sociology at Castle and I can't wait to meet you all 
(hopefully)
- plus I'm from Italy, so I'll be a mature and international student. I'm doing anthropology and sociology at Castle and I can't wait to meet you all (hopefully)Original post by ale192
Hi! I'll be 23 when I start at Durham, I'm on a sort of gap year as well - more like a working my ass off after my first degree year - plus I'm from Italy, so I'll be a mature and international student. I'm doing anthropology and sociology at Castle and I can't wait to meet you all (hopefully)
- plus I'm from Italy, so I'll be a mature and international student. I'm doing anthropology and sociology at Castle and I can't wait to meet you all (hopefully)Oh wow. I'm working too after I was in university. And I was an anthropology student here in the U.S. I'm doing combined honours at Durham and will definitely be taking some anthro classes so we have that in common. I'm also in castle.
Original post by bluesharpies
Oh wow. I'm working too after I was in university. And I was an anthropology student here in the U.S. I'm doing combined honours at Durham and will definitely be taking some anthro classes so we have that in common. I'm also in castle.
Great!
I did my third year in the US on an exchange - at UCSB- can I ask you what State you're from? Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by ale192
Great! I did my third year in the US on an exchange - at UCSB- can I ask you what State you're from?
Posted from TSR Mobile
I did my third year in the US on an exchange - at UCSB- can I ask you what State you're from? Posted from TSR Mobile
California? How did you like it? I'm from North Carolina but I live in Florida currently. Where in Italy are you from?
Original post by bluesharpies
California? How did you like it? I'm from North Carolina but I live in Florida currently. Where in Italy are you from?
Yeah I was in Santa Barbara, I absolutely loved it! I'm from a small town called Forlì in the north east - near Bologna (not sure anyone will know either of them, they're a bit far from all major Italian cities
)Posted from TSR Mobile
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by ale192
Yeah I was in Santa Barbara, I absolutely loved it! I'm from a small town called Forlì in the north east - near Bologna (not sure anyone will know either of them, they're a bit far from all major Italian cities )
Posted from TSR Mobile
)Posted from TSR Mobile
I've definitely heard of Bologna. I've been to Rome, Venice, Siena, and Florence but nowhere near Bologna really. How'd you decide on Durham?
Original post by bluesharpies
I've definitely heard of Bologna. I've been to Rome, Venice, Siena, and Florence but nowhere near Bologna really. How'd you decide on Durham?
Oh cool
how did you like it? Well that's not an easy question. Long story short after finishing a BA in modern languages for interpreters and translators I realized that it wasn't exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life -although I do love foreign languages and I would love to learn another one or two - and I was so disappointed in the Italian university system that I decided to try my chances with British universities. My top choices were UCL and Durham, and I managed to get into the latter, so here I am
what about you? Why Durham?
As a current student I can reassure you that age gaps don't mean a lot once you're here! There are genuinely students of all ages (including under 18 in some cases) and 21 isn't so old! Gaps years are fairly common here, especially since some students in the UK are taking more time to decide on whether or not to go to university since the fees increased. It took me three years to realise a couple of my friends were older than me - age really just doesn't come up very often.
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Accommodation
- Would I be too old to live in halls?
- What age did you start university at?
- does taking a gap year make it harder to make friends
- Is it too late to start Uni at 21?
- Going to uni at 21?
- Older than most at uni?
- is it embarrassing to finish a four year degree at 24?
- Uni at 20?
- Oldest a 17 year old can date
- The Gap Year Thread 2023-24
- 20 in First year
- I need some help
- is it weird to go to uni at 19?
- Need Uni Advice
- average age of first year med students/should i take a gap year
- Envying new born cousins and just envying relations
- Starting Uni with people 2 years younger
- Will I be too old?
- Should I take a second gap year?
Latest
Trending
Last reply 1 day ago
Official Durham University Offer Holders Thread for 2024 entryLast reply 3 weeks ago
I got rejected from Durham for not having "good enough achieved grades"Trending
Last reply 1 day ago
Official Durham University Offer Holders Thread for 2024 entryLast reply 3 weeks ago
I got rejected from Durham for not having "good enough achieved grades"
