So I just turned 22 and started this summer at my community college… I’m getting into engineering. I feel kind of left out for starting later like I’m out of the social circle because I’m older. Is 22 considered pretty old in college? Will I be left out of the loop? Anyone else experience this ?
When I made friends in college, I don’t think I even knew their ages until they had their first birthday while we were friends (or if ages just happened to come up in conversation, like if we want to do something where everyone has to be 21+). Most of the time, I just kind of assumed they were the age that most students are in their year, but if they took off time between high school and college or something, I just assumed they were older. Never once did it matter to me how old they were. It was more of an incidental finding when someone was older or younger than I thought they were. It’s not like I’m carding people before I become their friend. Don’t worry about it.
My husband just turned 30. He’s doing his bachelor’s degree now, after a stint in the military. He has quite a lot of friends on campus - of all ages - and participates in student groups; he’s even been elected president of one. They know he’s older than them (I’m not sure they know how old), but they like him anyway because of his personality and who he is.
22 is still quite young - you can make a lot of friends in college and have a good time at that age.
I started college at 25. I’m now 28 and still in college, and I’ve had a great college experience. For all practical purposes, there is virtually no difference between being 18 and 22.
You have not missed the boat. Really, no one cares about your age. Your classmates are your classmates. I’ve had friends that are 30 in my class and I’ve been in groups with those who are 22 or 24 or 27. Heck, even those who are in their 40s and 50s still have study groups with the 18-22 year olds in my class.
You’ll be just fine.
You’ll be fine. Just go there and experience it.
As someone else mentioned, a lot of people don’t even know the ages of their peers unless it comes up in conversation in some manner, and even then it still doesn’t matter.
Nope, not at all. Speaking from experience, I was 18 the first time I went to college and am now going back at 21 after taking two years off. I was really scared about not being able to graduate with my friends and being the odd one out with a group of people I didn’t know when I went back, but I’m finding that many are still there because of changing majors, adding a second major that will require they be there an extra semester or year, taking time off, etc. It doesn’t matter when you graduate as long as you get it done. I’ll have hopefully been in college for only 6 years by the time I’m done.
I’m thinking of a friend who started college at 22 because he had served four years in the Air Force. He was the first in his family to attend college and he could not have afforded it at 18. He was very popular. Especially with girls.
You will not be the only one. There will be many others entering college later just as you are. Are all of your current friends the same age as you? Probably not. Age really doesn’t matter. I was 21 when I started college, and also had a child. I had no problems making friends and you shouldn’t either.