I didn’t go to university right after high school but I’m currently considering going. Most freshman are around 18 years old, so what age would it be weird for someone to be a college freshman and be around other freshman. For example would a 20 year old freshman be weird, a 25 year old freshman? At what age is it weird to be a college freshman and do things with other freshman. So basically what I’m asking is at what age can you no longer really have the regular college experience/freshman year. Freshman girls what age would you consider to old 20, 25 etc? I’m not putting my age in the post because I want people to give an honest opinion what age would things be weird between an older college freshman and regular freshman?
Depends upon the individual in question, but age 21 is often awkward for those who leave the military to enter college as a freshman.
When you are in college, no one knows if you are a freshman, sophomore, etc., unless you tell them. If you are in a typical freshman class and you looked older, people would probably assume you are picking up a gen ed requirement that you missed.
You probably would be uncomfortable living in a freshman dorm if you are significantly older.
What age would you consider significantly older? @me29034
Not only does it depend on the individual, it depends on the university. There are universities near military bases that take a lot of those 21 year old miliary vet freshmen where they have their own support groups and fit right in.
On the other hand, an older student will stick out at a tiny liberal arts college with 900 students who mostly come straight from high school.
It also depends on what you’re doing with the freshmen. An older student pledging a frat might be weird, but your maturity and experience might be a great addition to dealing with university administration as a representative of student government, for example.
So, there’s no one answer. Figure out what makes sense for you – not only is it weird for a 30 year old student to pledge a frat, it’s weird for a 30 year old student to want to pledge a frat. You may find that being a commuter student and keeping some of your life separate from campus is something you’d prefer for yourself to hanging around 18 year olds just out of high school.
Since my statement is about how you would feel, I guess that’s up to you. Do you want to live on a dorm floor with a bunch of 18 year olds? Or would they drive you nuts with their immaturity?
Yeah I most likely won’t want to live in a dorm I’d prefer to rent my own place.
Too old for what? And why are you only asking the 17/18-year-old freshman girls? The opinions of the 21/22 year-old senior women don’t matter? What about the thoughts of the freshman boys?
College isn’t like high school where all freshmen are in class together. Except for English 101, most classes are a mix of class years, but I suspect if your concern was how you’d be viewed in the classroom you’d be asking all freshmen for an opinion, not just the girls.
Are you talking about dating? If so, the fact that you’re targeting freshman girls who are away from home for the first time is disturbing. What’s wrong with women your own age?
I’m a mom of 2 college kids; i remember when i was in college in the late 80s and there was a 23 yr old in one of my classes as a freshman. I remember thinking WOW; this person is old! Why is she here now? (So - the tables turned on me during those years as i graduated at age 23; and younger kids probably thought the same! )
Some colleges have dorms for upperclassmen, grad students or transfer students; perhaps that might be a situation of interest for you. But honestly, if you’re 21+ and trying for the first time to live with freshmen and befriend freshmen girls, — well that sounds awkward.
My husband was a 27-year-old college freshman. He did go somewhere where that was more common - Columbia School of General Studies. He socialized both with other freshman that were his age and were in the 18-19 range, as well as upperclassmen across. He was the drum major of the band and generally had a pretty good social experience. But I’d say he probably spent the majority of time hanging out with people closer to his own age (some of my graduate student friends, friends he made off campus, fellow veterans, other non-traditional students, etc.)
It’s never weird at any age to go back to college. There may be some ages at which it is both weird and undesirable for you to socialize primarily with 18-year-olds. For example, as a 30something, I can’t imagine that I’d want to hang out consistently with people under the age of 20 at this point in my life. But being a college freshman doesn’t mean you have to socialize with the freshmen: you can hang out with upperclassmen, or graduates, or people who don’t go to your college at all.
Older nontraditional students are common at community colleges and four year schools that have a significant transfer population or commuter population. Military veterans using veterans’ benefits are common examples.
There are plenty of 18-22 year olds in classes, but also mid-late 20s, 30s, 40s, and even older. The nontraditional students who do the best manage to participate in class in ways that respects the opinions of their younger classmates while still utilizing their life experience. Sometimes, that means knowing when to bite your tongue.
In terms of the “freshman experience,” if you mean a social life, well, presumably you’ve already had your first experience partying too enthusiastically, awkwardly asking someone you don’t know well out on a date, or joining a club to meet people. At orientation, you’ll be included in the same icebreakers as everyone else, but if you’re significantly older than other freshmen, you might find that what you’re seeking socially is different.
I’d say at 21+ you wouldn’t want to live in a dorm, eat cafeteria food only, go to a frat party. You’d want people your own age, who will drink socially not binge drink, cook, etc. However there’s be no difference in class till about 25 or so, as you’d truly look adult. It also depends on the university and what your life experiences have been.
Are you a man or a woman?
I think you are asking the wrong question.
Let us say you are 25. In 4 years, you will be 29. You can be 29 with a college degree or without.
I had a good friend in college who started college at 28. So he was 10 years older than I was, but we were good friends. I thought he was old but cool!
Then I went to grad school at 22 and met my future husband, who was 30. Thank goodness he came back to school at a late age! We’ve been married for 32 years. 
I agree with bopper. Get your degree. It can change your life for the better.
If the students do not seem socially matched to your current level of maturity, then apply for special permission (if need be) to live off-campus. While you may have no interest in partying with them, you will find the students are welcomed and welcoming companions when there is a task to be done— e.g., a group project or a study session.
There was a gray-haired woman in her sixties or seventies in my Spanish classes at Williams when I was there. She was very motivated and hard-working, and it was fun to work with and talk to her. I do not recall why or how she was taking the class (pursuing a degree or just taking one class per semester?), but she was great.
Some schools allow non traditional age students to get a single or live in graduate/family/faculty housing if they have those options. It may not say it on the website but it is something you can ask about. My freshman year we had triples and each room had a transfer student so we had 18-22 year olds on the hall. We all went to dinner together (whoever was around) etc.
In terms of academics I remember we had an lady who was probably in her 40s who worked at the school in my literature class. She told amazing stories that got us all laughing and made a 4:20 to 6:50 class so much more enjoyable. She did get in trouble for talking at times. I also had a few classes with a non traditional age student in my major. At first she was surprised that we included her in conversations but after that she fit right in. On rare times she would laugh at us for trying to figure out how/when we could get off campus to pick up a needed supply since she lived on campus and had a car but otherwise she blended right in. For whatever reason she was afraid to walk back to her car alone when it was dark out so she asked me and a friend to walk her to a car then she drove us to our dorm. Since we were used to walking around the campus much later it did seem a tad strange but we didn’t mind.
So would a 21-22 year old guy be seen as old by other freshman?
Obviously, it depends on the freshman. But in general, to an 18 year old 22 sounds old… not because it IS old but because 18 year olds are young 
That said, in college, you don’t have to hang out with 18 year olds. You can hang out with the upper classmen and grad students, people closer to your own age. In general, I think you’re making too much out of this age thing. It would only be an issue – perhaps – if you decide to live in the dorms with other freshmen. Even in that case, it would only be an academic year… all of 9 months at most… if you decide to move off campus.