I’m 25 and just got accepted to transfer into university of South Carolina as an undergrad. I had been working/going to community college part time since high school. I applied to live on campus because it seems cheaper and I don’t know much about the school. I get along well with younger people but at the same time act as more of a big sister. I may be immature for my age and could have fun but I am worried that If I am paired with a teen they will be creeped out by the age difference or will be mad if I don’t buy them alcohol. I don’t want to be uncomfortable and I don’t want to get in trouble. People tell me I’ll be ok and to just try and blend with grad students but I’m wondering if that is really normal?
I was a transfer student who lived on campus when I was 23. My age rarely came up, but when it did it wasn’t an issue.
If you supply alcohol to underage people, you could be arrested. I wouldn’t concern myself with teens who get angry because you won’t risk going to jail for them. Just laugh it off like they’re joking and tell them, “Nice try, but no.” Repeat as necessary.
A 28 year old lived in my dorm when we are 18. We didn’t notice she was that much older, just seemed a little older.
25 blends with 22 year olds easy enough. Most people don’t care and are either studying, partying, or just don’t care.
Plenty of schools have a non-traditional student age of 27-28. Some schools that trumps 40 years old.
The downside to living on campus after being an adult is that it’s a PITA. Shared dorm shares are disgusting. Dorms are ridiculously noisy and small. Furniture sucks. Walls look like prisons. It’s overpriced. There’s not as much privacy. People smoke (vaping, cigs, pot). Dorms smell like a sewer. Shared rooms are hell. But, you’re there for an education- so long as you treat them decent and live your life to get an education, you’ll be out of that nasty sewer dorm soon enough.
At many schools, as a non-traditional student you can petition to be placed in graduate student housing instead of undergraduate housing. That can give you a “best of both worlds” solution - living with a peer group closer to your own age, but still living on campus. Contact the housing office to see what they can do.
I agree with @DreamSchlDropout. If you can’t get graduate housing, at least get upperclassman housing as it’s probably quite a bit better than freshman/sophomore housing.
As far as the age difference, I really wouldn’t worry about it. I started school at 23 (nearly 24) and also considered myself slightly immature, lol. I didn’t have much of an issue connecting with other students, and most of them didn’t notice that I was 5 years older than them. And I really doubt anyone would find you “creepy.” You’ll probably be surprised at how many other “older” students there are at your school.