Entering college at 16...problem?

<p>Hey guys, I just had one question. Since I skipped my junior year of high school, I'll be going to college when I'm 16. I've got a ton of friends in high school and have always made friends really easily, but my mom says that if I tell anyone my age they might shun me. In a way I think she's wrong, seeing as the majority of my friends are 18 (or about to turn 18), but college might be different than high school. Do you think I'll have a problem?</p>

<p>My D turned 17 the month before she went to college and has had no problem. Loads of friends and no one sees her age as an issue. She's quite mature though.</p>

<p>well do you turn 17 before the first semester is over? because lots of people are 17 in their first year. im 17, and i do just fine (i started school early, so i just turned 17 this spring). its not really that bad, unless you act blatantly "16".</p>

<p>I'm graduating a year early too. I'm not worried too much (I'll be 17 when school starts)... I doubt anyone will ask, "How old are you?" on the first day, most likely they will assume you are 17 or 18 just like them, and things will be just fine! As long as you don't look like a 12-year-old :p</p>

<p>I am seventeen and I started college this fall without a problem.</p>

<p>It's a good thing...when you make friends with people a couple years older than you, you won't be left behind when they graduate! A lot of people act so immature anyways-- no worries.</p>

<p>Just don't act stupidly. In 10th grade, two kids were surprised I returned because they thought I had been a senior (I am mature, smart, and big, hehe).</p>

<p>i just started college, and i won't be 18 till june. people won't know unless you act immature. a few people who found out about my age were a little shocked at first, but it didn't really change anything. sometimes people make fun of me for being a child (for example, i can't buy my own porn, darn!), but it's all in good fun.</p>

<p>i turned 17 in august and I'm in college. It's really not a problem. I've been around people older than me since 1st grade. I don't look younger I don't act younger. And if people find out, they never shun me. That's a mid school attitude. this is college, people are mature.</p>

<p>I'm somewhat older than many of the people in my dorm. I'm 19, most of them are still 18 and a few just turned 18. I missed the cutoff at my school by four days. In high school, people used to joke around somewhat because all my friends who graduated with me were born in 1987 (how I didn't get close to other 86ers is a mystery to me). They used to kid me that I was an old man and would be AARP eligible before they were. I did get to vote last year and they didn't, so that was one advantage.</p>

<p>It does vary. I know someone who's a sophomore at high school who could pass for being in her 20s because of maturity (though she looks like a teenager). I also know some sophomores in college who act less mature than not only this particular HS sophomore, but also several other sophomores and juniors in high school who I know well.</p>

<p>From what I hear it also varies on the college to a degree. I have some friends at other schools who insist their school maturity quotient (if that's not a statistic, I just made it one) is higher than mine. The SMQ doesn't seem to vary according to public/private either, or even by how conservative a school is. It just has something to do with predetermined culture that most people don't find out about until they actually go to the school for a month or two.</p>

<p>For you 17 year olds, definitely look at the school and see if you'd fit in. If the SMQ is important to you, be sure to do your homework better than I did. Age is just a number after all--I'm 19 and my best friend is 31, yet that doesn't make a difference to us or to people who know us.</p>

<p>(I'm liking this SMQ term...US News should use it when they rank colleges)</p>

<p>im 15 turning 16 in december and im in college now, been studying for about 5 months now and i dont really see a problem, the only problem is that all the chicks are older than me lol..</p>

<p>i was about to say, this is probably less of a problem for girls than for guys.</p>

<p>I don't think it's a problem at all. People at college usually ask what year you are, where you are from, or what your field of study is, (or where the next party is) more than they ask your age. Even if they do ask, as long as you're mature...it shouldn't be a problem.</p>

<p>I don't think you'll have that many issues. Most people just assume you're 18-22 and don't bother asking.. they'll ask what year you are rather than your age. The biggest problem I can think of that you might have is if your friends want to go to an 18+ club and you'll have to explain to them that you can't go because you're a minor.</p>

<p>one of my suitemates was 16 when she started...no one could tell b/c she acted as mature as we did...if you tell people, they may tease you (a lot of our close friends did :)), but it's all in good fun </p>

<p>you should be fine</p>

<p>even if they find out whats the big deal, maybe thell tease u for a week and stop..</p>

<p>Chkoo,</p>

<p>How well do you feel that you fit in with your classmates? Just curious.</p>

<p>Age isnt as big of an issue as maturity...but theyre related. This kid in my college just turned 17 and I must say that I hate the kid, he is the most annoying person Ive met, mainly becuase hes immature. But just becuase your 16-17 doesnt mean you cant be mature.</p>

<p>I went to college at 15 and didn't have any problems, although people were usually shocked when I told them my age, since I acted/looked nothing like it. It even go to the point where they wanted ID as evidence, haha.</p>

<p>
[quote]
i<em>wanna</em>be_Brown i was about to say, this is probably less of a problem for girls than for guys.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>GOOD point. so true. if you people think about it, a 16 year old girl would be able to blend into a college population alot better than a 16 year old guy.</p>