Starting a Full Time Degree at 24

Heat_Wave

Hi all,

I am extremely down lately. I look at my friends and they have all completed college and they are all working in fantastic jobs. They have friends from college, friends in their workplace. I on the other-hand dropped out of college after one year and pursued a career in a completely different field. I made no friends during that time and I have no friends in my current workplace. I absolutely detest the career I have chosen.

I have no degree as I dropped out. I am now 24 years old and I am terrified to even think about the future as I know I am not going anywhere.

I have the option now that I'm over 23 to return to college as a mature student. This course is 4 years long and it is full time. I am terrified at the thought of returning :(

I will be 29 by the time I graduate. I am so concerned about the amount of debt I will build up by then as I do not qualify for any form of reduced fees, and I will have to pay double fees for first year. I am also terrified of how difficult it will be to make friends as the majority of students will be 18 years old. I personally would not like to be hanging around with 18 year olds and am concerned about the lack of other mature students.

This is an issue which is causing me severe stress. I cannot sleep. I keep crying and I am sick worried about my future.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Afroshack

Heat_Wave wrote: »

Hi all,

I am extremely down lately. I look at my friends and they have all completed college and they are all working in fantastic jobs. They have friends from college, friends in their workplace. I on the other-hand dropped out of college after one year and pursued a career in a completely different field. I made no friends during that time and I have no friends in my current workplace. I absolutely detest the career I have chosen.

I have no degree as I dropped out. I am now 24 years old and I am terrified to even think about the future as I know I am not going anywhere.

I have the option now that I'm over 23 to return to college as a mature student. This course is 4 years long and it is full time. I am terrified at the thought of returning :(

I will be 29 by the time I graduate. I am so concerned about the amount of debt I will build up by then as I do not qualify for any form of reduced fees, and I will have to pay double fees for first year. I am also terrified of how difficult it will be to make friends as the majority of students will be 18 years old. I personally would not like to be hanging around with 18 year olds and am concerned about the lack of other mature students.

This is an issue which is causing me severe stress. I cannot sleep. I keep crying and I am sick worried about my future.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly, I wish I had your balls to even consider going back to college - but seriously do it. It will be the best and most rewarding thing you will ever do. I wouldnt worry about the age gap, there were 10+ years between people in my course and nobody actually even noticed each other's ages unless they were actually asked. Once you're up for going to the pub and meeting people you'll have no problem making some friends, and I highly doubt you'll be the only mature student - the recession has led to hundreds of people reskilling and going back to college!

tldr: do it and best of luck!

TheBeardedLady

Could you do it part-time in the evenings? More chance of mature students doing it and you could fund your fees along the way.

Don't be stressing yourself over this though. Going back to college is a positive move and even if you did decide to go back full-time, there's sure to be at least a few mature students and I know a lot of colleges have societies for mature students for example.

Sounds to me like you're worrying yourself sick over something that might never happen. Deal with issues as they arise.

Heat_Wave

Thank you Afroshack for your positivity. It has cheered me up a little.

TheBeardedLady wrote: »

Could you do it part-time in the evenings? More chance of mature students doing it and you could fund your fees along the way.

Don't be stressing yourself over this though. Going back to college is a positive move and even if you did decide to go back full-time, there's sure to be at least a few mature students and I know a lot of colleges have societies for mature students for example.

Sounds to me like you're worrying yourself sick over something that might never happen. Deal with issues as they arise.

The problem is though I will be 28 or 29 when I graduate. That's quite an old age to graduate. I am afraid that I will never be able to aim high in life now because I have left it too late. By the time I qualify and get myself a job my friends will all be financially able to seek a mortgage etc., while I will still be paying off college loans.

ftl

OP, I'm 36 and currently in the 2nd year of a 4 year full-time degree course. My advice would be to bite the bullet and do the course. At the particular college I'm attending 33% of the student base is made up of mature students ranging from mid - late twenties all the way to mid 40's. Plus there are plenty of clubs and societies that will give you the chance to mingle with other mature students outside of your particular course/class.

LegacyUser

OP my friend was in the same place as you, stressing about starting a degree as a mature student but the difference was she was 44. She soon got over it and really loved really second of her course. Just take each day at a time and you'll be fine!

Rubberchikken

You're only 24. Start living the life you've dreamed of.

If college will help to achieve that then go for it.

Speaking as someone with a lot more than 24 years behind them, I guarantee the years fly and don' t waste them on a job that makes you miserable and don't waste them on regrets.

At 24 you have experience and common sense going into college and it will stand to you.
You'll get out of it what you put in so go there determined to do your very best.

Good luck

thegreatgonzo

I went back aged 32 for a 4 year course and just graduated a few weeks ago. Before I went back to college I had the same concerns as you and I remember worrying that I'd be 36 by the time I graduated. A good friend pointed out that I'd be 36 in 4 years time regardless of going to college or not and at least I'd gain a useful degree in the meantime. Once I'd started college my age seemed irrelevant and there were plenty of mature students in my class, we actually outnumbered the young ones. Your age is the least valid reason for not going back to college, if anything you have an advantage over the ones coming out of school because you have seen a bit of the world and know what you want.

iusedtoknow

Heat_Wave wrote: »

hen I graduate. That's quite an old age to graduate. I am afraid that I will never be able to aim high in life now because I have left it too late. By the time I qualify and get myself a job my friends will all be financially able to seek a mortgage etc., while I will still be paying off college loans.

Why is the bolded part a model of success for you? There is nothing honorable about paying rent/mortgage to a bank for the sake of "it's what you do".

Go to college, you won't regret it. I was in college with people twice your age who had a blast and got something out of it.

LegacyUser

I'm exactly the same as you except I started back in September. There are way more mature students than you think and it actually works out well as we all tend to stick together so you automatically get a new group of friends! My advice would be to stop kicking yourself over the past and worrying about the future. There's no set timeline in life to do things. Your going to turn 29 either way, the only difference is if you go back you'll have a degree by then. I had all the same worries as you but since going back iv realised I was only feeling that way because I wasn't where I wanted to be. Make sure you check out all options grant wise. I initially thought I didn't qualify as they can be quite confusing. The fact that you dropped out before does not mean you won't qualify. I think you should do it, the more mature students the better!

onethreefive

I'd definitely go for it . There's about 25% of my course who would be older than 26 in 1st year

TheBeardedLady

Heat_Wave wrote: »

The problem is though I will be 28 or 29 when I graduate. That's quite an old age to graduate. I am afraid that I will never be able to aim high in life now because I have left it too late. By the time I qualify and get myself a job my friends will all be financially able to seek a mortgage etc., while I will still be paying off college loans.

People are graduating at all kinds of ages these days as people have to retrain in something else because there's no jobs in their industry, for example or they don't figure out what they want to do until much later. I'm back in university at 34 (online course via a good university in the UK - another option for you as you'll be able to work at the same time) and hoping to graduate with a master's in a few years as my degree is completely useless to me.

Times are very different now and there's more people going the non traditional route and trying out different things at other stages in their life.

In fact I'd say you have the advantage of being older now as you'll probably take the course more seriously than those younger than you.

28/29 is not old to graduate although it might seem like that to you now. And you'll always be unhappy if you compare yourself to others. A mortgage is not the be all and end all.

skallywag

Heat_Wave wrote: »

The problem is though I will be 28 or 29 when I graduate. That's quite an old age to graduate. I am afraid that I will never be able to aim high in life now because I have left it too late. By the time I qualify and get myself a job my friends will all be financially able to seek a mortgage etc., while I will still be paying off college loans.

This is not true at all OP, lots of people graduate at that age. So what if you will be a few years behind your friends, etc, you are still going to have the best part of 40 years earning.

Owryan

Do it, if its what you want you ll end up regretting it if you dont.

I'm 39 and have just started college. If all goes the way i want i could be 45 by the time i finish. Your never too old. A friend of mines mother went back to college at the young age of 62.

denhaagenite

My father went back at 45 first to do a BSc then an MSc. It was tough but I think he really blossomed, his self esteem went through the roof.

I'm in my second year of a BSc now, I'm 29 and will have my degree in two years. No culture of mature students here to speak of, there were about 8 people my age or older when I began and I'm the only who managed to get past the first year. Most of my classmates are 8 - 10 years younger than me but it's kind of refreshing actually. I have an opportunity to get to know a younger generation, and I think most of them would say they're happy to have me around because I'm a lot calmer than they are and lower their stress levels at exam time, and I'm much more capable of working in a group and pulling everyone together.

You're only 24, you wouldn't even really be considered a "mature" student (not in terms of grants I know, but in general). In Germany, most people don't go to Uni until they're 22/23 as they do public service, or work as au pairs. In many other countries people need to do military service for a year or 2 after they finish school. Sometimes people don't finish school until they're 19 or 20 anyway. 24 is nothing, as another poster said you'll be 28 anyway. It'll be hard work but you've got very little to lose and everything to gain. Do it now while you don't have any responsibilities. I do regret not doing it a couple of years earlier- having said that, I don't think I would have been able for it before 3/4 years ago.

BaZmO*

Heat_Wave wrote: »

The problem is though I will be 28 or 29 when I graduate. That's quite an old age to graduate. I am afraid that I will never be able to aim high in life now because I have left it too late. By the time I qualify and get myself a job my friends will all be financially able to seek a mortgage etc., while I will still be paying off college loans.

What's your alternative though?

ShowMeTheCash

Life is long, 24, 34, 44 do it if you want to do it.

Don't worry about the career aspect.

People after a degree could work 20 years to get to a place others do it in 5.

2011

24? You are only a baby!

I started a full time degree course in my late 30s and graduated at the age of 40. Best decision I ever made, I walked into my dream job & never looked back.
Go for it OP, you won't regret it.

Best of luck!

Saipanne

Heat_Wave wrote: »

Hi all,

I am extremely down lately. I look at my friends and they have all completed college and they are all working in fantastic jobs. They have friends from college, friends in their workplace. I on the other-hand dropped out of college after one year and pursued a career in a completely different field. I made no friends during that time and I have no friends in my current workplace. I absolutely detest the career I have chosen.

I have no degree as I dropped out. I am now 24 years old and I am terrified to even think about the future as I know I am not going anywhere.

I have the option now that I'm over 23 to return to college as a mature student. This course is 4 years long and it is full time. I am terrified at the thought of returning :(

I will be 29 by the time I graduate. I am so concerned about the amount of debt I will build up by then as I do not qualify for any form of reduced fees, and I will have to pay double fees for first year. I am also terrified of how difficult it will be to make friends as the majority of students will be 18 years old. I personally would not like to be hanging around with 18 year olds and am concerned about the lack of other mature students.

This is an issue which is causing me severe stress. I cannot sleep. I keep crying and I am sick worried about my future.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

I went to uni at 24. I had an amazing experience, did really well grades wise and got a good job, so I could pay my student loans off.

Nothing special about me, I can assure you. You can do it too.

PS. There are other mature students there. They tend to group together. :-)

Stavro Mueller

You know, I thought a bit like that when I was your age. I changed careers in my mid twenties and thought that at the ripe of old age of 27, that I was over the hill. In hindsight, what nonsense that was. Even at 29 you'll still be quite young and at a good age to be jobhunting.

I'm seeing so many positives for you going back to college.

• At 24 years of age you're a much more mature person than you were as the teenager who dropped out. You've been out in the workforce and the experience of that is something you can't learn in any college. When you go looking for a job at the end of your course, the years you spent working will stand to you even if they're not related to what you're doing now. Employers like to see that their potential employees are capable of holding down a job and working with other people

• Because you hate the career path you've gone down, you're going to be even more motivated to make a success of this

• Going back to college as a mature student will show employers that you're a hard-working, motivated person who's prepared to put your money where your mouth is

• OK so you'll be in debt for a while but what the heck? Hopefully at the end of this all you'll get a decent job and you'll be able to organise your finances so paying back this debt won't cripple you. Does it really matter if you'll find yourself a few years behind your peers. In the long run you'll catch up. Especially if you land a good job in a field you actually like.

It's very hard at 18 or 19 years of age to decide what course you'd like to do anyway. In hindsight it might be for the best that you dropped out of your course and found yourself in a career you dislike. It may mean that it's easier for you to change.

These days there are a lot of mature students in college. You may find some on your course. Even if there aren't, you'll find plenty of them around the college. Keep your eyes on the notice boards. I can understand why you'd be stressed but I'd be astounded if this turns out to be anything other than a positive experience for you. Good luck!

Smarmy

I'm 32,was 28 going to college and I just completed my degree this year and I'm currently doing a H Dip. I'll be almost 33 when I finish college. Of those of us graduated, about half of us were around my age although age doesn't make any difference. I went to college, like you, scared. I knew nobody. I made friends from college that I will have for the rest of my life. One of them is a lad ten years younger than me. In college age doesn't really matter.

I have no regrets going back to education when I did. I had no interest or maturity for college after leaving school. It would have been a waste of time and I would probably have dropped out like you. Kids at 17 or 18 or expected to know what they want to do with their lives. Some haven't a clue and that's why a lot of colleges have a good amount of mature students not just your age but late 20s and early 30s and even older.

Do it. You will not regret it. I am a completely different person than I was when I started and I can say the same for the friends I made in college. You seem to know what you want to do and if you like and enjoy it, it will be a relatively easy four years.

Turtwig

Unless there is a course you ABSOLUTELY want to do don't bother with college. Op, please pardon me if I misunderstood you. Is there any particular discipline you have interest in? If you just want to be in a similar position to your peers then you've got your priorities mixed up. Don't focus outward, focus inward! Outward focus is toxic. If you allow yourself to preoccupied by the circumstances of others you'll lose focus on your own circumstances. Don't get wrong, awareness of others is important just not to the point where it impacts negatively on you. Forget your age, forget your friends( you don't even know if their jobs are as fantastic as you think anyway), forget everything but one simple question:
What you want to do?

Life isn't a sprint. It's doesn't matter when we get to where we want to go as long as we get there. Most important thing for you right now is figuring where exactly that is. In two hundred odd years you and your friends will be dead. The friend's job, college, the age you were, will have meant sweet butter all. What matters most is that you were content doing what you did. Find what interests you, make a plan, then pursue it. If that's college then so be it. If it's not; then pursue what is!

Kathy22

OP there is no strict rules in life to say you have to do this or achieved this by a certain age. Everyone does things differently. You are still young and will still be young when you graduate. Take the opportunity, learn something new and keep an open mind. If you don't do it this year you will regret not doing it again this time next year. Its only by taking the chance will toy know if you made the right one.

I agree with an above poster about checking out option of doing it part time so you can fund yourself. Don't worry about what other people think, just do what is right for you!!