Late Start At Uni?

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I'm 19 atm and am planning to attend music school (on my path to become a music librarian) but am starting late at 20 years of age, with a GED.

Has anyone else started uni/college "late"? I feel a bit worried of being looked down upon for starting so late. (compared to 18 yr olds) :/

Hey do't worry, it's the focus to the destination that is the most important in our lives. Chill.

It's not as if you're a generation gap older, and even in aspies there are mental and behavioural abilities that don't gel properly until the third decade.

Think of it like this: those kids straight out of school have a ravening appetite for experience and you've got an edge over them in that.

Even though I started at 18, the vast majority of people I know at my uni took a year or two out before joining. I even know several who started in their late 20s/early 30s.

I dont know what the uni you've applied to is like, but i'd imagine the reaction (if there is one at all!), is more likely to be along the lines that they'll think you'll just have a bit more maturity about you.

i started uni at 17 (i was 17 for two first months) and i think its way too early because i had no idea what i wanted to do . I'm 19 now going in 3rd year i changed programs after 1st year and still not really sure if its what i want to do. If the years not going to university helped you find what you really wanted to do then i would say it was definitely worth it. (I know alot of people who completely changed programs after 2 years). The way i see it , you need to figure out what you want to do and you can do that in or outside uni. A lot of people your age will graduate before you, but with high chances of being in something they don't like doing and suffer at work till retirement.
And starting at 20 is not "so late" a lot of people start at 22-25 or later.

I started college at 20, but I was a part-time student, so I was actually the youngest. All my classmates were in their 30s or even older, which I liked. I started at another uni at age 21, full-time, so most kids were like 18ish. I did feel somewhat strange during the introduction period, because eveyrone talked about hhigh school and such, which I'd left two years before. But the rest of being left out had to do more with the other kids going out and not me, etc., which I think would go for students my age, too. I'm now 23 and dropped out of college two months into my uni program, but may go back someday (I now distance learn a little). I'm not sure.

I teach at a large public university and I see students of all ages, ranging from fresh out of high school, to late 20s, to middle-aged students going back to school. I wouldn't worry too much - a 2-year difference is really negligible in the grand scheme of things.

^ Classic statement; ^.^

People change careers and go back to school at age 40. Trust me... 19 is nothing.

So don't get cranked p over your age...

I started university with an access course at age 23, and am starting my degree program in September at the age of 25 so am going to be about 7 years older than most on the course. I've met quite a few "mature students".

I started at 21. It just took a few years to experiment and figure out what I wanted to do. Nothing to worry about.

I wouldn't worry about starting out late. Some people should actually wait to start college because they are not ready to "buckle down". College is to expensive to piss away.

If you go to a regular metropolitan public uni then you will find MANY mature students.

'I wanted to work for a little while.'

Dorm mate asks, 'Did it work out for you?'

'Sure, it was alright. Working at Best Buy is . . working at Best Buy. [medium humor, flow of conversation] [or, still keeping it light, 'wasn't exactly the greatest job in the world'] Now, how about you? What's the last job you've had?'

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That is, use measured honesty, try and keep it brief, and ask them about themselves.

Some people may pull back. Maybe they really, really didn't like their job for personal reasons they cannot talk about. Or, maybe they've never had a job and are embarrassed about it. So, if they pull back, give them space. You don't need to know the reason. Just, out of respect, respect their need for space.

Most people will be happy to talk about their experiences.

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Dorm mates, many of them, not all of them, will be curious about you. Being a year older will be interesting, will be a medium deal, or medium texture about you, about who you are. For most people, it will not be a big deal.

Most classmates will be 'over-peopled' and will generally ignore you. This is sad, but this is generally the way it is. There are all kinds of happy exceptions. Be ready to reciprocate if someone strikes up a conversation, even if you are doing something else. Social is a happy bonus, just be light touch about it. (I have not always followed this advice, sometimes wanting to think about topics.)

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focusing on Yourself : 10 seconds
focusing on Other Person: 10 seconds

focusing on Yourself : 15 seconds
focusing on Other Person: 15 seconds

focusing on Yourself : 30 seconds
focusing on Other Person: 30 seconds

focusing on Yourself : 2 minutes
focusing on Other Person: 2 minutes


This is an idealized view, but what's happening is that you're switching back and forth and the periods of time are becoming longer. With a good friends, the period might be half an hour, maybe even longer if something important has happened to you or to your friend. I have jumped levels and have had too long of conversations with people I'm just getting to know. This is both the strength and liability of Aspie communication style. The boundary between you and a stranger feels less. You kind of just jump right in there. They're a fellow human being, right? Yes, they are . . . however, you've still got to take the time to get to know them. You need to respect emotional boundaries and perceive emotional boundaries (and the first step to perceiving them is respecting them). So, the strength of the Aspie style helps you as a writer, artist, journalist, counselor, maybe as entrepreneur being open to what your customers are experiencing. But, like anything else it has positives and negatives, and it can make it awkward to meet a new person in a comfortable, nonpressure friendship process.

Nothing to worry about.

I've taken classes with people 18-65, nobody has ever mentioned or made an insulting comment.