Starting College Young!

TudorIce12

Repost!
I will be turning 17 this September and I am going to do Science here in Maynooth University. What are other people's experiences with starting college young?

I have always been one who wanted to go through school really quick while at a young age so that once I finished I would still be young to travel the world and do whatever I want. I tried to get into Theoretical Physics and Maths which was a course that i was really interested and also would have meant that I would have been out of college by just 19. Sadly I didn't get the points that I needed.

Just so you know, I skipped 4th class as a child and was supposed to skip 5th class too but my principal said I would have been too young to go into secondary school.

Yeah I know that I shouldn't be in a rush but I can't help it. But I still want to have fun in college, due to my age difference it meant that I couldn't really go out in 6th year except for my graduation and the 2 debs that I went to. But in 6th year that was still ok because I lived like 5km from my friends anyways and also MY single mom had to work quite a lot of the time so most of my time was spent at home scrolling through all the facebook pictures. But now that I will virtually be free, the only thing restricting that social aspect of college is my age sadly.

Going out isn't my main priority but I don't mind it and I feel like it would be nice to make friends that way in the beginning of the year. Especially because some of the events might be 18+ only

Simpson2

Fascinating. I don't know of anyone who is in the same situation as you.

I'm also going to do the MH201 science degree so maybe we'll be seeing each other in classes.
Out of interest, what subjects will you be picking to study?

Giacomo McGubbin

I went to college with a lad that was in the same situation as you.
Looking back the mistake he made was trying to drink, party and imitate the so called 'fun' students that were older than him.
I slowly watched him change from a sensible mature hard working young lad to a very immature waster of a 20 year old, but thinks he's a smart arse, and he's still that way today. Make your ma's hard work pay off instead and make her proud.
Stick with perfecting your studies and sports/activities, choose your company very very carefully, and after that you won't go too far wrong.
You are/will be the company you choose to keep. That's especially true in college. There's plenty of time later in life for everything else.
Good luck and best wishes for college.

TudorIce12

Simpson2 wrote: »

Fascinating. I don't know of anyone who is in the same situation as you.

I'm also going to do the MH201 science degree so maybe we'll be seeing each other in classes.
Out of interest, what subjects will you be picking to study?

Yeah maybe we will. I will be doing Mathematics, Computer Science, Mathematical Physics. And the last is between Chemistry and Experimental Physics. I liked chemistry in the leaving cert but only got a C1 and that was my disappointing grade. Liked physics as well but I always preferred the mathematical side. Got an A2 in physics and a B1 in Applied Maths

TudorIce12

Giacomo McGubbin wrote: »

I went to college with a lad that was in the same situation as you.
Looking back the mistake he made was trying to drink, party and imitate the so called 'fun' students that were older than him.
I slowly watched him change from a sensible mature hard working young lad to a very immature waster of a 20 year old, but thinks he's a smart arse, and he's still that way today. Make your ma's hard work pay off instead and make her proud.
Stick with perfecting your studies and sports/activities, choose your company very very carefully, and after that you won't go too far wrong.
You are/will be the company you choose to keep. That's especially true in college. There's plenty of time later in life for everything else.
Good luck and best wishes for college.

Thank you for the advice. I will definitely try and keep it in mind when making friends in college. I don't even drink at all, its the getting into the venues that bothers me, kind of. I don't want to stay inside all the time while everyone else is partying but I also don't want to get Black Out drunk either. I would party in moderation but I do not plan on drinking at all

Giacomo McGubbin

TudorIce12 wrote: »

Thank you for the advice. I will definitely try and keep it in mind when making friends in college. I don't even drink at all, its the getting into the venues that bothers me, kind of. I don't want to stay inside all the time while everyone else is partying but I also don't want to get Black Out drunk either. I would party in moderation but I do not plan on drinking at all

Yep, a bit of socialising is essential and healthy, clubs, societies, sports, or activities are the best form, shared meals, outings etc., and of course the pubs and clubs. Top tip for pubs and clubs, is the best craic is always to be had in the first few hours of the night, after that things tend to go pear shaped and down hill rapidly. Enjoy yourself !

TudorIce12

Giacomo McGubbin wrote: »

Yep, a bit of socialising is essential and healthy, clubs, societies, sports, or activities are the best form, shared meals, outings etc., and of course the pubs and clubs. Top tip for pubs and clubs, is the best craic is always to be had in the first few hours of the night, after that things tend to go pear shaped and down hill rapidly. Enjoy yourself !

Thanks but I highly doubt I will be getting into any clubs at my age haha.

Subcomandante Marcos

the reality is that you will still drink at home/in friends houses and you probably will get into clubs/pubs every now and then, unless you look very young, just don't go mad.

A good way to meet people and make friends (much better than pubs!) is to join as many clubs and socs as possible that interest you, and the first few weeks of lectures introduce yourself to the people sitting around you, everyone will be in the same boat and most will appreciate a friendly hello and someone to talk to.

Ave Sodalis

I don't know about Maynooth as I've never been but I was 17 the whole way through first year of college too (UL) and it was fine! But our student card doesnt have a date of birth on it, and the student pubs generally don't ID on entry.
Other than that, there wasn't any real difference between going at 17, and going at 18/19 that I could see.

TudorIce12

sup_dude wrote: »

I don't know about Maynooth as I've never been but I was 17 the whole way through first year of college too (UL) and it was fine! But our student card doesnt have a date of birth on it, and the student pubs generally don't ID on entry.
Other than that, there wasn't any real difference between going at 17, and going at 18/19 that I could see.

Thanks but apparently our student card has a massive stamp that says under 18 on it so that might be an issue but it would still be fine though I hope. I guess you guys are right, it turns out Maynooth even has a Society for people who don't drink

Ave Sodalis

TudorIce12 wrote: »

Thanks but apparently our student card has a massive stamp that says under 18 on it so that might be an issue but it would still be fine though I hope. I guess you guys are right, it turns out Maynooth even has a Society for people who don't drink

I also don't drink, but what I've found with them societies (again, may be different) is that some of the are less "we don't drink" and more "anti-drinking".

But then, that's the great thing about college. You're rarely the only person who does something. There were plenty under 18 in first year, and there's plenty of nondrinkers.

XxMCRxBabyxX

Unless someone has re-set up the Hangover Free Society it's not currently active. I was the one who set it up years ago and my whole point was to make sure it was not an anti-drinking society. My aim was to provide events and meet ups where people weren't drinking. Unfortunately, however, the society didn't pick up well for a number of reasons both within the society and outside, but if anyone would like to revive the society I would be winning to help although I don't live near Maynooth anymore to be on site.

ismiselaurie

I'm in the same boat in terms of age, won't be 18 until the end of April but I'm not really bothered about it to be honest. There will be plenty of things to do besides drink!

TudorIce12

ismiselaurie wrote: »

I'm in the same boat in terms of age, won't be 18 until the end of April but I'm not really bothered about it to be honest. There will be plenty of things to do besides drink!

Its nice to know that there will be someone else on my shoes. Will you also be going to Maynooth? If so what course will you be doing.