I am 55 and started college this past January.
I dropped out of high school in 1977. (My parents and I had a little falling out. So they kicked me out of the house when I was 16.) I traveled for ten years. I then took a course in computer programming and had a successful career. I got married, bought a house, had three kids. In 2008 I had an income of $80k and a net worth of $250,000. I lost my job in 2009. I have worked part time at minimum wage jobs since. We divorced in 2012.
Now I have decided to return to school and earn a BS or possibly higher in computer science. My GPA for the spring semester was 3.6. I am a member of Mensa. I was a member of the National Honor Society back in the 70’s.
I know that in the hallway I am generally mistaken for a professor. I guess it’s the grey hair and the glasses.
80% of my classmates are under 22, many are teenagers.
What do typical students think of someone like me? Am I weird, a crazy old man, an inspiration, or what?
Also, what do college women think about someone like me? I am single, however I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable. (I look pretty much like my avatar.)
Just curious.
You should take your photo off your avatar if that is you (that is the “confidential” part). 
I don’t think students will be put off or particularly inspired. They are fairly self focused at that age. I don’t think young women will care as long as you don’t hit on them. Have it together with understanding what behaviors and comments are considered misogynistic, and avoid them. Don’t try to date anyone under 30.
No, it’s not me but it gives you a pretty good idea. I’m 6’3" by the way.
I understand what you’re saying. People pretty much just go to class and mind their own business. In science labs however there is a lot of interaction.
I wonder if I should consider hosting a party in my off campus apartment.
I am always extremely polite and respectful to everyone under any circumstance, young, old, male or female. It has crossed my mind however that some younger women might be curious about different types of men. Obviously we are talking about someone over 18 and not too drunk to consent.
OK, I have to tell you that you’re sounding a little creepy. I would not be happy if you invited my daughter to your apartment for a party. Get your degree, but perhaps look elsewhere for dating opportunities.
If their children are living away from home while going to college, probably 95% of parents would not be at all happy with what their children are REALLY doing from Thursday night to Monday morning. So that’s not part of my question.
So what you’re really asking is what college WOMEN think about a 55 year old undergrad. Not college “kids” in general. My thought: the college women are not looking at you romantically.
You’re 55. They’re 22. Just don’t.
With a heavy math and science load, I’m much too busy to be a party animal. I think that the honor of America’s coeds remains just as safe as ever.
Don’t have a party at your place.
You can invite a group of students, male and female, and tell them you would be happy to host a study hour, but that’s it. Stick to the hour. Most students go to the “office hours” on campus. The parties my dd went to were frat and sorority sponsored or related to their major.
If you mention a “party” to students, you will be viewed as a creep factor.
Parties in off campus apartments are very common
http://www.uloop.com/news/view.php/121437/10-Parties-To-Throw-In-Your-Apartment
which is why some colleges have dorm residency requirements
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-lehigh-university-student-housing-20150709-story.html
Frat houses are the ideal location for partying because they are detached houses off campus, unsupervised by the school and less likely than an apartment to cause neighbors to complain about noise. But student apartments are also common venues.
I might make a little get together for my lab partners at the end of the semester.
So I go to a CC and many of our students are older. I personally think its awesome because it shows that there is no time limit for your dreams and for success.
That’s very kind. I assume you are recently out of high school?
I think you really are as young as you feel. I feel like 17. On a good day.
If I was one of your lab partners and you invited us to a little ‘get together’ there would be all sorts of alarms going off in my head. I think it’s great when anyone goes to get their degree, no matter what age. But I would be very wary if a man old enough to be my father was trying to interact with me as if he were my peer.
^ Yes, awesome. Sometimes older students with previous careers get carried away in class discussions talking too much about their past experiences. But some of this discussion is valuable. Sure, you can invite your class over for a party but you might want to invite the prof also since you might be contemporaries.
Ok, I respect that. But when a frat guy invites you to a party there are no alarms? Seriously?
Sure there are, and I’m careful. But it would feel especially uncomfortable coming from someone so much older than me.
Also, this gets closer to my main question. Am I the crazy old guy who should accept being shunned by everyone? Perhaps so.
I doubt whether you are being shunned. You are probably being treated like someone’s dad, who happens to go to college now.
I have actually been older than most of my profs so far. And they seem a little square. I could invite some male and female students.
I am someone’s dad (my oldest is 14 btw) but I am also a fellow student with teenagers. So what does that make me? A freak? We accept today that color, sexual orientation, ethnicity no longer define and limit people. But does age and to what degree?
Also by the way, I do generally sit in the front of the room and participate in class to a great extent, however I am always careful to let other people get a chance. I don’t usually bring up personal stuff too much; how much can you in chemistry or algebra?