Starting Uni with people 2 years younger

I'm going to start university with people two years younger than me, someone who supports me so I don't give it so much importance?

Hi there! If I understand right, you're worried that you'll be two years older than your classmates when you start uni? Depending on the university you're attending, your fellow students will be a mix of ages and backgrounds, with all sorts of different life experiences. I don't think you'll notice any age gaps too much - it'll all be about finding people you connect with and whose company you enjoy.

Hopefully some other people here have had similar experiences and can offer some reassurance. :smile:

Reply 2

twingle

OP

2

Original post by Pwca

Hi there! If I understand right, you're worried that you'll be two years older than your classmates when you start uni? Depending on the university you're attending, your fellow students will be a mix of ages and backgrounds, with all sorts of different life experiences. I don't think you'll notice any age gaps too much - it'll all be about finding people you connect with and whose company you enjoy.

Hopefully some other people here have had similar experiences and can offer some reassurance. :smile:

Yes, I am worried about being two years older than the rest, I have never been able to connect with people younger than me and I am worried that it will continue to happen to me, I notice them as very immature and I feel bad for not being able to be with people my age...

Original post by twingle

Yes, I am worried about being two years older than the rest, I have never been able to connect with people younger than me and I am worried that it will continue to happen to me, I notice them as very immature and I feel bad for not being able to be with people my age...

People are all different and have had unique life experiences, and them being younger won't necessarily mean that they're less mature. As you get older, these ages gaps matter less and less. I don't think you'll notice the age difference too much, and many universities have students of mixed ages - at my university, for example, more than two thirds of the students were over 21. The best thing you can do is keep an open mind and look for people you click with. :smile:

Reply 4

twingle

OP

2

Original post by Pwca

People are all different and have had unique life experiences, and them being younger won't necessarily mean that they're less mature. As you get older, these ages gaps matter less and less. I don't think you'll notice the age difference too much, and many universities have students of mixed ages - at my university, for example, more than two thirds of the students were over 21. The best thing you can do is keep an open mind and look for people you click with. :smile:

Okay, that's very helpful :smile:

Reply 5

Anonymous #1

Original post by twingle

I'm going to start university with people two years younger than me, someone who supports me so I don't give it so much importance?

Hi, i'm also gonna be starting uni this year after a 2 year gap

Reply 6

TypicalNerd

18

Original post by twingle

I'm going to start university with people two years younger than me, someone who supports me so I don't give it so much importance?

You’ll be fine. Chances are your peers won’t know you are two years older than them unless you tell them outright.

I’m going to be the grumpy old man of my cohort (I’ll be 20 by the time I start uni in October), but despite being somewhat socially inept, I’m decently sure that I’ll find a select group of individuals who I can socialise with. I can understand why you’d feel it’s difficult to connect with younger peers, so maybe it may be worth giving societies a look, as members will have similar interests and you may find members the same age as you or older.

Reply 7

username6067071

13

it's not uncommon and you'll meet other freshers who are also 19/20
It won't be a big deal a month or so after you start. All the Singaporean guys I know at uni start 2 years later cos of military service but they're friends w/ ppl in their year of course

Reply 8

money-for-all

17

Are you serious or what??

You'll be 2 years younger and you're worried? HAHAHHAHA...

I seen people in uni on my course that are 35+ when they start, no one gives a fook..just chill, 2 years younger and your worried? AHAHAH, you are literally the same age - grow a pair.

Reply 9

twingle

OP

2

Original post by TypicalNerd

You’ll be fine. Chances are your peers won’t know you are two years older than them unless you tell them outright.

I’m going to be the grumpy old man of my cohort (I’ll be 20 by the time I start uni in October), but despite being somewhat socially inept, I’m decently sure that I’ll find a select group of individuals who I can socialise with. I can understand why you’d feel it’s difficult to connect with younger peers, so maybe it may be worth giving societies a look, as members will have similar interests and you may find members the same age as you or older.

im gonna be 20 as you haha. Yeah you're right , just that I didn't had good experiences.

Reply 10

twingle

OP

2

Original post by emmastonestoes

it's not uncommon and you'll meet other freshers who are also 19/20
It won't be a big deal a month or so after you start. All the Singaporean guys I know at uni start 2 years later cos of military service but they're friends w/ ppl in their year of course

Its not that common in Spain, there are always going to be someone but is not that common here in Spain uni

Reply 11

twingle

OP

2

Original post by money-for-all

Are you serious or what??

You'll be 2 years younger and you're worried? HAHAHHAHA...

I seen people in uni on my course that are 35+ when they start, no one gives a fook..just chill, 2 years younger and your worried? AHAHAH, you are literally the same age - grow a pair.

Dont judge or give opinions about why someone can feel bad or anxious about any stuff, in my case I have not had good experiences and I am just looking for some support to handle it better, its absolutely not about growing a pair lol.

Reply 12

University of Kent Reps

Official Rep

16

Original post by twingle

I'm going to start university with people two years younger than me, someone who supports me so I don't give it so much importance?

Hi there

At uni there is a wide range of ages so please don't feel worried about being two years older than the 'typical' age people are when they start uni. Universities are a diverse and inclusive environment and age really doesn't matter. What matters is the shared experience you have with your fellow students. In my flat alone the age ranged from 19-23 and it never came up in conversation. People start uni at many different ages so you wont be alone. Hope this helps!

Best of luck at uni

Joanna
-Uni of Kent Rep

18 and 20 is virtually the same age, don't worry about it.
When I first started uni I was 2 years older and it wasn't a big deal.

Original post by twingle

I'm going to start university with people two years younger than me, someone who supports me so I don't give it so much importance?

Hi there! I understand that this can be a bit of a worry as I was in a similar situation when I joined university. Some of my flatmates were a couple of years younger than me and I was so worried that we wouldn't have much in common because of this, (as well as the fact we had covid, so these flatmates had never really drank or gone out drinking before). Me and my flatmates got on really well despite the age gap, and I didn't really feel any different in age to them as we all had similar interests, so hopefully you have a similar experience.

When living with new people, it's normal to have differences, even if you are the same age. And if you don't want to go out as much as they do, or you don't want to do the same things as they do, this is absolutely fine! You will have so many opportunities to meet other people the same age as you and people who like to do the same things as you do. I recommend joining societies as soon as you can once you get to university as this will be a great opportunity to meet people with similar interests to you.

I hope this helps, and best of luck for starting university :smile:

Scarlet - Sheffield Hallam Student Ambassador