<p>Well, see, I'm a sixteen year-old high school senior, and my birthday is in September. I'll be starting college through an intensive summer program, so I'll still be sixteen while most of my classmates are seventeen and eighteen. I'll also be living on campus once the Fall semester starts. I'd like to think I'm mature for my age, but it's always an issue to me because people don't seem to take me seriously. (I have honestly been told I look/sound like a fourteen year old)</p>
<p>I want to know what you guys think. Is it easy to overcome barriers like age? And, was anyone in a situation similar to mine? I'm kind-of socially inept, I'd like to know if it's a lost cause.</p>
<p>I was 20 for the first 5 months of graduate school.</p>
<p>In class, I felt very comfortable. I was treated like any other student apart from some friendly jokes about my age from classmates and professors.</p>
<p>Socially, I’d say that I don’t fit in too well. Part of this is because I do not try to. I’m at the same place where I did undergrad, so I have a bunch of other friends here who I prefer to spend time with.</p>
<p>If you are concerned with social acceptance, I would suggest joining clubs that interest you. People with similar interests are usually more welcoming toward one another. If you make an effort to overcome age barriers, I do not think it will be an issue.</p>
<p>If you think it’s necessary, you could perhaps not mention it, and let everyone think that you’re as old as they are. Then when you meet people and they get to know you, you could stop hiding it it and mention it if the situation arises. That way their image of you would have already been formed, and there would be less chances of that image altering because of your age.</p>
<p>I’m in a similar position to you, well actually I’m younger than you, but I’m not really worried. I have overcome age barriers my whole life, it’s like fear and babies -or was it animals?- if they smell your fear, you’re done. Well, this is the same, if you believe it is going to be a big deal, then it will.</p>
<p>I started a program which was the equivalent of full time community college when I was 15. People take me very seriously (I work as a peer tutor on campus). You won’t have a problem, in fact, you’ll be seen as the smartest.</p>
<p>I agree with psychomni. I have a friend who’s two years younger than me but in my grade. I didn’t learn about the age difference until a while after we had become friends. Now I can see it–she can be somewhat immature in certain social situations–but the age difference certainly didn’t make me think any less of her.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about it too much. As long as you don’t act really stupid people probably won’t even notice the age gap. As smart as you seem to be (college at 16), I doubt you’ll have any problems.</p>
<p>People don’t normally notice an age gap that small unless you say something about it so I wouldn’t worry to much about it.</p>
<p>I’ve met a few kids in college ranging from age 14-16. Often I’d ask (after introducing myself first of 'course) how old they were so that’s how I’d know. I’d say definitely the difference between 17 and 19 is far less recognizable than 15 and 19. 17 years is not an abnormal age to start college at. Age 17-19 is typical for a freshman. If people notice that you’re a little younger than most they’re still not going to care. </p>
<p>Basically, you’ll be fine. You’re not going to be any worse off socially than an equally socially inept 19 year old.</p>
<p>I’d actually say the difference between 17 and 19 is astronomical, but the difference between 17 and 18 (when most freshman start) is almost non-existent. It may be more the fact that most 19 year olds I know have lived away from home at least a year, but there is even a freshman I know who everyone always thinks is a sophomore before he says it, and he’s nineteen. (Took a year off) These people don’t know his age either.</p>
<p>So I really wouldn’t worry about it because everyone is starting off just as clueless as you.</p>