advice needed about college and so forth

DarkSymphony

basically, I'm 26 starting college this spring (January). I'm excited because I know precisely what I'm going for and all the good stuff. Problem is I'm a bit affraid of not being able to make many friends. Being that I'm not 19, I figure now is simply the wrong time to be going and I missed my chance (well, for a college social life that is). I'm very good with people and excellent at actually making friends, but I feel I may be out of place a bit. Is this a rational thing to be concerned with?

as far as my living situation will be, I'll be a small distance (definitely within walking distance) to the campus. Most of my friends are 19-25 and I'm not sure if this feeling is justified.

Raneados

26 isn't too old to make friends at college unless you'd outgrown all the people you meet

which you won't have

you'll be fine

DarkSymphony

hmmm, that brings me to another question then. Since I won't be living on campus, what kinds of chances will I have while at school to meet people? I know college is structered differently than high school so that's why I ask. I definitely plan to throw some good parties, but before that happens I wanna know what it'll be like.

Raneados

talk to people in class

if you smoke, talk to smoking people

join clubs

go to parties

ask girls working at the book store if they want to go out



it's pretty much the same as outside of college

Daxon

I've got 26-year old friends at uni and I'm only 19 (18 until recently) so it's not exactly weird. Besides, I can't really tell the differences in age in my year anyway and there's a range of pretty much 18-28.

wenchkilla

I had people in my major that were mid 30s, mid 40s, and mid 50s (they were a minority, obviously). It was never awkward to communicate with them, and by graduation I just thought of them as fellow students, except with kids of their own.

I made pretty good friends with a guy 4 years older than me, we still hang out.

If you don't treat other people in an weird way because you are a few years older than them, neither will they. I mean Christ, you're 26, not 76. Just regale them with tales of the Sega-Nintendo console wars, and they will ooh and ahh.

DarkSymphony

sounds good to me. I just maybe had the wrong idea of how the social part of college worked. I always had the mentality that if you simply weren't the standard age you'd stick out and not have the easiest time getting into social groups and what not.

Kyougu

College is nothing like highschool. There's no cliques, no cool kids, no outcasts. I found that if you're just social and friendly, you'll meet plenty of people.

MichaelLC

No, college is one of the few places where age doesn't matter. Well, it doesn't anywhere, but there's a perception elsewhere.

As long as you get out there through clubs and events, you'll find interesting people.

1ddqd

College is also not like the movies. Unless you make it that way, in which case, you'll get thrown out (I'm looking at you, Van Wilder)

For instance, when I moved into the dorms, I seriously had NO idea what to expect - it wasn't party central like I thought, it was actually really quiet.

Classes are also very non-committal - you won't be forced to go unless you make yourself, so be sure to be disciplined and stick to it. Going to class is the only way you're going to get some value out of it.

RUNN1NGMAN

Join clubs that you're interested in. Ditto for club sports. Especially ultimate frisbee. The learning curve is not steep, even if you've never touched a disc before, and ultimate teams are always full of cool people and cute girls. And pretty much every college has an ultimate team.

Casually Hardcore

I'm 25 years old and in College and let me be the first to say that you wont have any problems meeting new people. In fact, being older haves some advantages; I.E. it's easier to hit on TA's and communicate with professors.

The only major disadvantage is that while you're in a sea of teenage girls, the dating pool for you is a bit shallow; unless you don't mind dating 7 years below your age. Even so, there's plenty of women who're, at the least, at the drinking age.

Some minor disadvantages includes being stuck with 18 years old unmotivated lab partners and trying to remember stuff from way back in HS that haves no purpose outside of academia (two spaces after the period?! Who cares?!).

But take my word, you'll have no problems at college. If anything you'll be at an advantage because you know exactly what you want and not simply going to college because it's something you do after H.S. .

Iceman.USAF

Kyougu wrote: »

College is nothing like highschool. There's no cliques, no cool kids, no outcasts. I found that if you're just social and friendly, you'll meet plenty of people.

What college did you go to? That hasn't been my experience.

To the OP, people will see right through if you've got an agenda (not saying you do/don't, just making the point). Just be honest/yourself and you should find a group of perfectly normal/sane folks like yourself. There will also be groups of weird/nerd/goth/insertstereotypehere folks around campus. Some are pretty cool, others less so. It's all subjective of course. Just relax and have fun.

CelestialBadger

26 is totally in the normal range. You'll have no problems making friends. Most people will not even be able to tell by sight that you are older than 20. People are generally bad at guessing ages.

The only issue will be yourself. If you think that everyone is childish and you are a fish out of water you will have problems. If you go into the situation with enthusiasm and an open mind you will be fine.

jpeg

One of my best friends my first year out at college (which I started when I was 17) was 26, turning 27. S'all good, it didn't even come up at all for a long time.

Killgrimage

Iceman.USAF wrote: »

Kyougu wrote: »

College is nothing like highschool. There's no cliques, no cool kids, no outcasts. I found that if you're just social and friendly, you'll meet plenty of people.

What college did you go to? That hasn't been my experience.

Yeaaaah, for me anyway, college was almost exactly like highschool, except no one knew me and I could get a fresh start at making friends instead of trying to work against negative stigma that had been following me since first grade. There are still cliques and cool kids and outcasts, but the pool being that much bigger in a school means that there IS a clique for you that you will be accepted in.

I don't understand why people think there will be "no cliques" as they get older. Humans being the social beings they are will ALWAYS have cliques and groups. It's just that in grade school we are isolated from the rest of the world where you can find other people who will accept you.

Dog

Kyougu wrote: »

College is nothing like highschool. There's no cliques, no cool kids, no outcasts. I found that if you're just social and friendly, you'll meet plenty of people.

:^:

Seol

I'm just about to start my second year of university. I'm 30, virtually all of my uni friends are 20. It's never been an issue for me.

Improvolone

I didn't find out untill knowing the guy for almost a full year that he was 7 years older than I was. I also became very close friends with a grad student who taught a class my freshman year. A few other upper classmen friends didn't know how young I was until it came up almost a year after knowing them.
Again; doesn't matter.

Demerdar

It's only a problem if you are such a complete and utter social outcast that nobody can relate to you.

Otherwise.. you'll be fine.

The LandoStander

Clubs are highly recommended.

Hitting on TAs is NOT recommended. For serious, you can get in trouble for this. I was a TA while getting my Master's and we had nice little workshops about just how academic the process for kicking me out of the program was if I got inappropriate with students I was involved in teaching.

One other thing and I'm sorry for being a real downer amidst all this encouragement but it should be said that being a part of under age drinking is also not a good idea. I was one of the first guys in my dorm back in undergrad to turn 21 (thus meaning alcohol could be present in my room provided it was mine). I quickly found that I was the "owner" of a bottle of Jack, an assortment of vodkas and a few cases of Natural Ice. People threw up in my room and I got to have a nice sit down with my RAs and Campus Life and security. Granted I went to a sort of small college but still, just a heads up.

Other than that the typical "Be yourself" advice applies. You seem like you're putting effort into this and college so that bodes well for you. Good luck!

sirchrissypoo

Clubs, clubs, and more clubs. My friend Josh is one of the most socially-akward people I know and, by joining clubs, has met a lot of cool people at college. So look at what different clubs your college offers, and go to as many that interest you. The best part is that you know you are going to share at least a few interests in common.

Passerbye

Most of my friends in Uni were older, in the 25-30 range. Some were in their 40's. I started when I was 17.

Don't worry about finding friends. Uni's one of the best places for it.

DarkSymphony

well being that every single person is saying it'll be all good, that does make me feel better about the idea. The thing is, i'm very good with social settings and I make friends very easily so that part of me was never worried, it was more just because...well I'm 26, 27 soon and that's not something I can change.

Iceman.USAF

Just keep yourself aware of surroundings. If you end up at a gathering with underage folks and there is alcohol present, you need to leave. Being the only one of age, you just supplied all those kids with booze. Its stupid, and a ridiculous judgment for cops to make on the spot but it happens all the time.

I'm not saying don't go out and have fun and party, but you need to assess the risk involved.

t_catt11

Eyep, you'll be fine. 26 is far from too old for college. You'll find a lot more people closer to your age than you are expecting.

The fact that it is NOT high school is precisely what wil work in your favor.