I sometimes feel like it kind of sucks that I’m 23 years old and still in college. I started right out of high school and haven’t taken any time off, but I am only attending part-time, so I am a little behind because of that. Of course then, I have my own reasons for why I can’t go to school full-time.
Hey, I’m twenty-three years old and I’m going to graduate when I’m around twenty-five. All of our lives take their own paths. Mental illness derailed mine, and now I’m working on transferring after being enrolled at an elite LAC. You can’t always control the circumstances you’re thrown into, but you can make the best of what you’re given.
Do the best you can for you. You are on your own path. Consider taking classes during the summer if you aren’t doing that now.
My son was in his 30s when he went back and finished up. My neighbor in her 50s. Many of us take courses all of our lives.
It’s a non-issue. There are many, many people older than you who are still in school. My son, 24, is one of them. Be thankful you are healthy enough to go to college at all, because my other son is not.
You are not behind.
You are attending college and will graduate when you graduate.
Do well, get a good GPA, and then get job.
What is your other choice? Be 23 and have no college?
@TheAverageJoe71 Most variations of your thread title have an older age than 23.
I was in the same situation. I was 22 and barely starting my junior year at USC - the spring semester at that. My path was a bit non-traditional. I was just the typical East LA kid that dropped out of high school mere months into the 9th grade. I was 14, I believe. I tried to do other things, but ultimately decided to get my GED a few years later (at 17). I was only a part-time student as well and it took me 4 years to get out of community college. I remember taking this one GE class where we did a group activity and people went around saying their ages. I felt so old being around all of these 18 year olds. I took summer classes to try and rush my graduation. I got to walk in the commencement ceremony, but I wasn’t done with classes quite yet. I had to take another summer semester and officially graduated just one month shy of my 24th birthday. I had quite the enlightening summer though. I found out that one of my lab partners was 27 years old! I sure couldn’t tell he was older than me. And that’s the thing. Nobody knows how old you are. You don’t go around wearing a sign announcing your age to the world. You blend in. I also took a gerontology class and it involved education and aging. It surprised me how many retired people actually go back to school because they want to try something new or simply because they didn’t have the opportunity to attend college when they were of “college age”. If anything, that class taught me that you’re never too old to get an education. Sorry if this was a bit long, but I was very much in your shoes. I actually wish that I didn’t rush my experience. My academic counselor estimated that I’d graduate Spring 2018, but I did everything in my power to make sure I graduated by Summer 2017 to ensure that I’d walk in the 2017 commencement ceremony. I could have enjoyed another semester or two, but instead, I let my insecurity over my age get to me.
I finished college when I was 24. It didn’t suck.
Where I grew up, people who do their undergraduate degree start at the age of 22 or older. They do not have problems doing well anywhere. Anybody who does a gap year and has a fall birthday will still be be in college at the age of 23, and there are many programs which take more than four years.
The difference between the ages of 24 and 22 is truly negligible, in comparison to your entire life. The important part is that you have that college education, and that you graduate. The difference is between those who graduate, and those who don’t, not between those who graduate in four years and those who take longer because they are attending part time.
In your case, the fact that you’re 23 and still in college is a major win, and something of which you should be extremely proud.
I feel like you are still young, there’s nothing if you graduated at the mid-20s or later than the said age. A lot of people at your age wants to go back to school, being a student is fun never rush things up.
Everyone moves at their own pace. You got this.
Average college student older than you.
Some of us are way older than you and wish that we were still in college or had the resources to get another degree. Enjoy it. Time goes too fast.
I graduated when I was 24. I could only take 12 credits per semester because I was working as well. You do what you can afford to do. You are not alone.
it’s funny - I remember years ago being in college at age 19 - and there was a gal who was 23 in my class. We all thought she was old, and wondered why she was still there.
fast forward 4 years – I was still in college at age 23. It turned out fine and fun; and got my dream job when I graduated partly because i had a few more experiences. There is VERY little difference between 21-22-23 – do Not worry over this. Stay strong, enjoy and keep at it.
How old are you going to be if you aren’t in college? It really doesn’t matter what your age is. What really matters is actively working towards finishing a degree.
Don’t feel bad. I know a person who is in 30 who is still in college.
Never rush thing, everything takes time. Trust me when I say that it will be worth the wait. I have a friend who has been kicked out of college then get back to school after a year of break. It did take her 7 years to get her degree but I have never seen her get disappointed about life.
Just wait until you’re over 50 and in a job where your manager is 20 years younger than you. That’s when you are old.