Older Students Living on Campus

<p>I'm 27 and I plan to attend a university next fall; I will be 28 then. I am pretty poor, and I would like to live on campus because it would be cheaper than renting an apartment, not to mention more convenient.</p>

<p>My question is, how would most schools go about choosing a roommate for me? Would they just randomly throw me in with a 18 year old kid who isn't expecting it, for example? If the student was mature for his age and studious, I wouldn't mind at all, as long as the student doesn't mind.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any experience with this kind of situation?</p>

<p>Colleges often have university owned apartments and operate a "roommate wanted" section on the housing website. Maybe you could read over them and post your own criteria for a roommate.</p>

<p>Also, if you are really needy you would probably get financial aid.</p>

<p>Many colleges have reserved housing for older/returning/married students who don't quite fit normal dorm life. You could possibly be assigned an on campus apartment (by yourself or with roommates) or just a single in a dorm.</p>

<p>I think many schools understand that you probably don't want to be with an 18 year old and vice versa.</p>

<p>I don't thinlk so,i argue that if you were lovely enough, there will be many people who would like live with you.of cause ,if you can find a satisfied place where you can live alone and ,or with the person like you, there is nothing better.
in a word, as long as you can be honest and enthusiastic,i bet ,you can get better along with your classmates.
good luck</p>

<p>According to one of the RA's yesterday during move in there is a 40 year old women who was moving into one of the Residental Halls.</p>

<p>JohnM - do you mind if I ask what school you will be going to?? Depending on the school and location you also may be surprised to find that there may be some good off-campus options for you - and that financial aid can usually be used to pay for this type of option (just as it would for on-campus housing). You also may want to seek out grad students who may be looking for room-mates also - just a thought.</p>

<p>My own kiddo lives off-campus where she goes to school - it is actually cheaper and IS covered by her financial aid as well.</p>

<p>I was 25 and lived on campus. Don't do it unless you want to be treated like a child.</p>

<p>JOEV - actuall this is good advice - older students have to live by the same rules as the 17yo does - so can be a realy crink in lifestyle as well.</p>

<p>look at the bright side you will get first dibs at the innocent and horny freshman girls</p>

<p>Can you say "jailbait"?</p>

<p>actually I was talking about first dibs at forming study groups.....with them</p>

<p>
[quote]
JohnM - do you mind if I ask what school you will be going to??

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Right now my top pick is Cornell (a reach). I have not chosen my safety schools yet. I know that for bigger schools it probably won't be much of a problem since their is such a diversity of students. It's the 4 year smaller schools that I wonder about. I know there a lot of really good small schools, and I like the idea of small class sizes and teachers who spend most of their time teaching. But I would bet that such schools have a much smaller adult student population (in same cases maybe even 0?). So basically I want to take this all into account in my decision making process.</p>

<p>I don't think restrictions would be much of a problem for me since I don't drink or smoke. Essentially, I am going to be extremely academically focused. I am planning on majoring in engineering physics, so there won't be much time for anything else anyway. I'll be working too, and I will be away from campus during breaks.</p>

<p>I was 26 when I lived in the dorms at Kansas State before I transfered to UC Riverside. I had a pretty good time, but I felt as though I was corrupting the youth of tomorrow. Just be prepared to fend off freshman trying to get beer at 11pm. I had a pretty decent setup and since I was older and bigger than my RA my hall meetings were 'optional'. If its a money issue it would be cheaper to find a house or apartment to share around your school there are always signs up on campus asking for a roommate.</p>

<p>"Thats what I like about college girls, I keep getting older but they stay the same age!!!"</p>

<p>Good luck at school</p>

<p>I started college at age 25. I chose to live on campus because I always wanted the traditional college experience but never had a chance before then to get it. I was actually assigned to room with a junior, who had no problem with rooming with someone my age, but I actually went with the "blend in" strategy. Most people at my university don't even suspect that I'm as old as I am, and I don't tell them if they don't ask.</p>

<p>The only thing you have to be aware of going in over 21 is that underage students will try to get you to buy alcohol for them.</p>

<p>Also, to answer your funding questions, you need to fill out a FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov. If you are over 24 you qualify as an independent student (parental income is counted until age 24) and you are eligible for more aid.</p>

<p>johnM, don't worry about what "they" say. If you have to live on campus, then make sure people listen to what "you" say as long as you are peaceloving about it. "You" desire to live on campus and that is what "you" are going to do.
I am an older student also. And, even though I commute (I live with one of my younger brothers) I get odd stares sometimes from librarians because I will be asking about something and they will think I am a professor! But, I do not let that bother me. Listen to what bryce_fan said, just blend in and enjoy the experience.</p>

<p>Wow, I never expected this thread to be resurrected. :)</p>

<p>Well, when I started this thread I had no idea where I would end up. As it turns out, I got accepted to Northwestern with a great financial aid package, so I'll be moving onto campus this fall. Housing told me that it was likely they will put me in a single because of my age... But not guaranteed. We are supposed to hear about our room asignments in early August.</p>

<p>When I talked to housing, I told them that while I wasn't dead set against having a roommate, I was worried that the roommate might not like the idea of rooming with somone my age. They said they understood and will most likely assign me with a single.</p>

<p>But I'm definitely looking forward to living on campus. I've commuted to school for the last 2 years and I hate it. It's gonna be awesome to get up and have classes only a short walk away!!</p>

<p>JOHNM - CONGRATS to you and hope living on campus is all you want it to be - have a great year :)</p>

<p>Thanks JeepMOM. :)</p>