<p>I'm a 23 year old Asian American guy from CT. I really have big dreams of going to a dream college someday in California or Florida someday. But I need your guys advice. Is 23 too late to start out at a community college? I am taking classes now and finally getting the grades I've wanted especially experiencing many years of marijuana use and sometimes even ecstasy. But i've been clean off of both things for about 2 years now and I just want to restore my life. Am I dreaming too big to try and get into Central Florida's Hospitality program or anywhere else that has a rigorous hospitality program if I keep up my A's? And will I be too old to live in the dorms by the time I would like to transfer? (25) Thanks for any advice or input, I'd really like to get into the hospitality business and make everyone proud after all the things I went into.</p>
<p>Before reading this, please bear in mind that I am no expert. I’m only going by whatever I’ve read online.</p>
<p>That said, community college seems to be a place that older people (definitely far older than 23) use to ease themselves into college. 18-year-olds do attend as well, but I’ve heard of plenty of parents of 18-year-olds going to cc once their kids have left home. Again, I’m only going by what I’ve read on various forums, so maybe reality is different, but no college places restrictions on student age, and it’s never too late to follow your dream Plus 23 is by no means old.</p>
<p>As for 4 year colleges, I think most of them are peopled by students just out of high school, but older students aren’t unheard of. In fact, just a while ago, there was a thread on this site about students with roommates a few years older than them - somebody posted saying their roommate was 27!</p>
<p>I’m in Community College and started last Fall at 26, so no its not too late. I’ll be transferring for next Fall and I’ll be 28. I’ll be quite a bit older than the students around me, but I won’t let that get to me. Most of the time people won’t really notice unless you say something about it.</p>
<p>I’m also a bit worried about being a bit older than the other students. I’m 22 and entering a four year school this fall. I think that most people will assume I’m 18, but I do hope that people won’t try to get me to buy them alcohol or something</p>
<p>Not sure if this applies to your situation, but from the age of 24, you are considered independent for FAFSA, so won’t need to include your parents’ income if you apply for financial aid. That can be a huge help to some students. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about age at all. It will probably be an asset when you apply for internships, since employers will think of you as more mature. I doubt other students will even ask you, unless you get to know them really well. It just isn’t an issue for most college students.</p>
<p>I got laid off when I was 23 after working pretty much straight out of high school. When I came back, I went to a community college where I got financial aid as an independent student (Since the rule is 24 years of age by the end of the school year, I qualified to not need my parents’ information). Now, I finished community college and am transferring to a university in the Fall. The school I’m going to (UC San Diego) has special dorms just for transfer students, of which many of them are of the non-traditional sort, and I imagine many other universities have arrangements such as this to ease transfers into the campus.</p>
<p>The most important thing for you to do is to get your time management skills in order and set up a plan for how you’ll take courses to transfer. Your school should have transfer agreements with local universities - make sure you discuss your plans with a university rep to see what classes will be required and read up on the transfer policies that university has.</p>
<p>Not too late at all. I’m leaving cc at the age of 30 for a cc. Yep, I’m sure ill have to work harder to prove myself but I’m up for the challenge. Good luck</p>
<p>It’s never too late to start college. I went right out of high school but didn’t graduate until this May at the age of 28. I got a great job before I even graduated. If you try hard, there’s no reason why you can’t excel. Employers may even give you an edge over other recent 22-year-old graduates due to your age.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply guys…I really should’ve never touched weed, smoked it on the weekends regularly, then turned into a everyday habit to me. Then got a dui while being high and was a big reality check for me, I knew I couldn’t keep living my life like this. So I decided to quit, it was a struggle, but I did it. Now my grades are back up and finding other ways to get high on life! For the guys who are older in the universities, what’s the social scene like? Do you guys still get involved in campus activities, or just hit the bars and stuff up?</p>
<p>That’s not too late at all. I started at community college last fall at age 25. There are plenty of students at my school in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and beyond. A couple years ago, an 80 year old man graduated with an associates of science from my school. I believe the average age of enrollment at my school is around 24.</p>
<p>There are plenty of students here that are fresh out of high school, but most of them don’t even realize that I’m 26 until they get to know me. I’ve never felt like an “outcast” because of my age. I have some concerns about transferring to a university and being a little older, but I’m not really that concerned about it.</p>
<p>I’m much younger than you, but I’m a transfer, and have hung out with quite a few transfers in their mid 20s, so I have a bit of familiarity with the social scene. At my school, the transfer students often have house parties or get togethers at various cheap restaurants. Depending on the school you might find that the older transfers are scattered around off campus, especially since many work full time on top of school (especially true at less selective publics such as my own). When you do transfer, join your school’s transfer association. Not only will it help you meet people in your shoes, but it will also expose you to the many resource the university offers. </p>
<p>By the way, the woman I’m renting from is in her mid 40s, works full time, has two kids, and is in her second semester of community college. My grandmother also takes classes at the CC, so don’t worry about feeling old lol.</p>
<p>One note of caution about college owned apartments. Depending on the school, they can be party central. Like you I’ve had a lot of problems with drugs and alcohol (used to smoke four times a day as well as deal) so living in a place where I’m constantly surrounded by it has been trying. For someone in your shoes, I’d recommend you investigate how large the party scene is at your transfer dorm. It can make a world of difference between staying sober and falling back into old habits.</p>
<p>Not too late! Definitely! I’m not from US, at the place where I come from, all guys have to go through mandatory National Service, which means that these guys only enter college/uni at the age of 21 or 22 minimally. I know of many other places where ppl only join college at a relatively later age too. I’m starting my first year at college in Washington State this fall, and I’m 21! not too far from you… and I know of many ppl around my age or older entering college with me. All the best to you and hope that your endeavor to study at a college works out!</p>
Plus 23 is by no means old.</p>