<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I am new poster but long time reader of this forum. My application is still pending for UCR and UCSD :/. I am a little nervous about getting accepted and transfering to a setting where I will be "older". I am 25, turning 26 in the fall. I've noticed that it seems that there are a lot of "traditional" (18-25) students on this forum. Are there any "non traditional" (26+) students on here? If so, where did you apply? What's you story? Do you feel apprehensive at all about transfering and being a "non-traditional" student?</p>
<p>I don't have much a story, other than being a big time flake when I was younger and mostly being a late-bloomer.</p>
<p>lolisaguila, you have plenty of company, there’s many UC students who are as old if not older than you are.</p>
<p>@ Oliver_Twist,</p>
<p>thanks, that is a relief to hear…I was having daydreams of being the oldest lady on campus…lol</p>
<p>I’m 28 and have applied to UCSD also as an environmental science major. Signed a TAG there so I guess I’m “guaranteed” to get in. I was in the Marines for a number of years and decided to go back to school after I got out. Are you not one of the older students at the school you’re at now loisaguila?
As far as being nervous, not really. I haven’t had much trouble making friends at the school I am at now so I don’t imagine UCSD would be much different.</p>
<p>I’m a little under 25. I applied to Cal (not released yet), UCSC (got in there), and UCD (not released yet). </p>
<p>My story: I was, likewise, a huge flake in high school, which I largely blame on my terrible high school and apathetic parents; though, luckily I had a decent teacher or two. I was attending a CC and getting a 4.0 when some personal things happened. I couldn’t get back myself into school until a few years later. Here I am.</p>
<p>I’m apprehensive to a small degree. I’m probably most disturbed in knowing that my GSI’s will be younger than me. I also know a maturity disconnect will likely exist between me and my peers. But mostly, I’m excited. My major is competitive (CSE), and I’ve been dying for big challenges and UD material.</p>
<p>One thing I particularly don’t like about being older is the obviousness of me being a transfer. I know there is a lot of hostility towards transfers.</p>
<p>Itsmashed,
I take a lot of afternoon and night courses. So usually, there is alot of older students in my classes (maybe about 1/2 the class is composed of older students). I visited UCSD a few weeks ago and def. felt a little “old”.</p>
<p>EmpathyinAnarchy,
Definently feeling you. My parents really didn’t care what I did, as long as I showed up to school. I kinow how you feel though. Midtwenties isn’t really that old, but life experiences make you old on the inside. If that makes any sense.</p>
<p>I’m 22 but I left high school at 16 to work full time. I’ve been working at a large media company for the past six years instead of going to school. For the past two years I’ve been attending CC part time and was able to get 60 units by attending summer and winter sessions.</p>
<p>I’m apprehensive about transferring because of my need for early morning or evening classes. I know there will be a class that I really need/want that will be in the early afternoon, which is almost impossible for me to take.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I feel like I have a lot more perspective than someone who went straight to college from high school. Juggling work demands with classes has forced me to adopt good time management habits which have helped me get through classes enormously. For better or worse I haven’t made friends at CC (though, I haven’t really tried) since I am in and out to get to work on time. We also tend to be at very different “life states”. I’m hoping this may change at a UC, but I don’t really expect it to. I’d love to meet more Non-Trads, perhaps we need a club! :).</p>
<p>It makes perfect sense. I think maturity is a source of strength if anything though. I’ve always looked forward to getting older because of this, but maturity not all upside as an undergrad.</p>
<p>I’m 35, married, two kids. This is my second real attempt at college. I spent most of my twenties partying and working, without any good idea of what I wanted to study. I worked for a number of years as a software developer in SF, then realized that I: a.) had a glass ceiling at work due to the lack of degree, and b.) didn’t want to work in computers for the rest of my life. That’s pretty non-traditional!</p>
<p>@ AMorrison — yes! we should have non-trad club!</p>
<p>hearing all these stories is great…i love to see where people are comming from</p>
<p>What are all of your majors? I’m curious what us weathered souls go back to school for.</p>
<p>Chemistry/Biochemistry. I have changed my major a zillion times, but this time I am sure I found something I love. I always put of completing my math and physical science requirements because I was scared, lol.</p>
<p>Yay, fellow non-traditional science geek!</p>
<p>Earth Science/Geophysics. Always liked geology and in particular wanted to study marine geology, but got really into tectonic theory and geodesy as well.</p>
<p>History here, though I’m also interested in Global Studies. I’m thinking that I’ll head to Law School after finishing the B.A.</p>
<p>Computer Science and Engineering. I do really love Chem and Bio though, in that they are more of an applied science than something like Physics.</p>
<p>Physics describes the nature of everything around us and is the foundation of many of the concepts of chemistry and bio. I don’t know how much more applied it can get. :)</p>
<p>I’m 28. Used to think of school as a punishment. I was such a slacker in hs and early as a college student. Had to drop out of my jc. Came back, though, with my head on straight and got A’s in all my classes except Calculus I with a B. I always knew I was a smart kid in hs but I just never knew how to get results. Thank God that changed.</p>