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Uni at 21?
Did anyone go to uni aged 21? How did you find it? Did you feel old compared to the younger students, or find that the younger students treated you differently?
Reply 1
13
Well I started my current degree at 21, and am finishing this year, just because I originally started another course and didnt like it, so I changed
It honestly wont make any difference, you'll find that lots of new students these days are 21 or over, and they dont get treated any differently. I reckon that when I started my degree, there was actually very few people there who had come straight from college, most had been on gap years or were mature students.
It honestly wont make any difference, you'll find that lots of new students these days are 21 or over, and they dont get treated any differently. I reckon that when I started my degree, there was actually very few people there who had come straight from college, most had been on gap years or were mature students.
Reply 2
Not personally, but loads of people take one or more gap years before going to uni, loads of people take some time to work first before doing an Access course and there are also loads of mature students of all ages. The good thing about uni as opposed to school is that no one cares how old you are. And people like me who are rubbish at guessing someone's age wouldn't even notice- after all, a 21 year old doesn't really look any older than an 18 year old, so unless you told people, they probably wouldn't know anyway.
Reply 3
Because I have a September birthday (ie I have my birthday just before the start of the uni year) and I took a gap year, I will be 20 when I start which is as old as some third years! Sometimes these things can't be helped and it's relatively common to be older than 19 when you start. As Kelly says, people probably won't know or care anyway so relax, no worries 
Reply 4
I started when I was 18 and felt very young compared to others. A lot had taken one or more gap years, or were mature students. 21 is not old at all to be starting uni, so don't worry about that. No one will know your age, and if they do they are unlikely to treat you any differently because of it. I am glad I am starting again as a twenty year old rather than at 18.
Reply 5
I was worried about starting at 21, but everyone seems to say that the age isn't an issue, especially at 21. Now all I have to worry about is turning 22 a few weeks into term, this september, and finding enough new people to celebrate with!
Reply 6
12
i121
I was worried about starting at 21, but everyone seems to say that the age isn't an issue, especially at 21. Now all I have to worry about is turning 22 a few weeks into term, this september, and finding enough new people to celebrate with!
I will be 20 (having had a gap year) and I can honestly say I am not worrying about it at all. It's perfectly routine, and when I was at my Durham Open Day where you stay over at college and actually get to know people, no one batted an eyelid. There isn't a huge amount of physical or emotional difference in maturity (maybe a bit of emotional, but that's actually good, it makes you better equipped!) so it won't be a problem.
Reply 7
age is definately not a barrier once you're at university. Whether you're 21 or 71, it's irrelevent
Some of my closest friends are mature students ranging from the mid 20s to the mid 40s
Some of my closest friends are mature students ranging from the mid 20s to the mid 40s
Reply 8
I started undergrad at 17 and will start postgrad at 21. I feel weird doing so because no matter how well I've done, no one takes me seriously anyway. Heh.
Reply 9
Ill be 21 a few weeks after starting uni, its never been an issue for me ive accepted that everyone will be different ages. Your bound to find people of a similar age to you when your there anyway.
Me too, i hope that people will want to celebrate my 21st with me
i121
I was worried about starting at 21, but everyone seems to say that the age isn't an issue, especially at 21. Now all I have to worry about is turning 22 a few weeks into term, this september, and finding enough new people to celebrate with!
Me too, i hope that people will want to celebrate my 21st with me
Reply 10
I had this same qurey as well, being 21 when I start in Sept and being left out because i may be older than the majority of students.
GD
GD
Reply 11
17
It seriously won't happen hehe, age doesn't matter. I took a gap year before coming, however I'm only 19. My friends however, are 22, 21, 23, etc etc. No one cares, it'll be fine. Enjoy!
Enjoy!Reply 12
12
Yeah, I was 21 when I applied, which was also really helpful because they don't care about your qualifications as much. I hardly ever tell people my age, because it just doesn't come up, but I'm sure no one would mind. They'd just be surprised because I look a lot younger. I wouldn't worry about it, especially not at 21, when it's really just a few years!
Reply 13
I'll be 21 when I start my foundation degree. I am so glad that I'm the age I am, because at 18 I wasn't at all ready to be the uni student I'm dying to be now. I tried uni when I was 18 and came home a week later!!!
I'm just glad that the min age for uni is 18 - I'm at college now with 16 year olds, and it's such hard work.
I'm just glad that the min age for uni is 18 - I'm at college now with 16 year olds, and it's such hard work.
Reply 14
my friend was 35 when he started and fits in just fine with the younger students
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