Going To University As a Mature Age Student?

[NotYourCinderella]

I'm 23 and will be 24 in July. I recently finished a couple years of study in childcare and for the last 2.5 years I've been working a paid job in a nursery as an early childhood education assistant and childcare worker. I'm applying to go to study at university later this year using my formal credentials as a mature age entry pathway in to a degree. I have many university friends I've met and got to know through my job and through volunteer works I've done but I'm anxious about taking it all on at university and feeling 'old'. 😅 I did attempt university when I was 18/19 for a year after completing my A-Levels and graduating high school but dropped it for health concerns I had and I worked in Retail for a few years and then got in to child care the last couple years and now I feel in a place ready to try and pursue a degree again. A different one this time. Any advice?

[MTC29]

Don't give it another thought. There are people of all ages at universities; including some who will be much older than you. Life offers a lot of interruptions, making a university degree is a start-stop-start process for many people. Glad you are back on track. Good luck.

[NotYourCinderella]

Thank you. This is good advice. You sound very wise. 😊

[JuanVeIasco]

She is still in time to start any career, except medicine, for medicine she is already old.

[NotYourCinderella]

Lol what?

[Anonymous]

Going to college at 23 or 24 years old is totally normal. I don't see why that would make you "old." When I was in nursing school, one of my classmates said she was older than some of the professors, and no, the professors were not in their 20's or 30's.

People go to college at any age, so I don't think there's any age which makes people "too old" to go to college, at least not in the United States. My family came from another country. My mom was looked down on when she attended first year of college at 21 or so after re-taking the college entrance exam yearly for 3 years, to score enough for an admission to the college and major she wanted. I think that was pretty admirable, but people didn't see that. They saw an "old" college student.

Anyway, people go to college at any age, so your age is totally fine, even if someone was 40 years old. They're not quitting and still studying to get a second or third degree, I think that's admirable.

[SignedAutographs]

I went back, and am still trying to get my degree. I've been back multiple times

[NotYourCinderella]

That's awesome. All the best. 😊

[Preeti161101]

Congratulations 🎉

[NotYourCinderella]

Thank you

[Preeti161101]

Your welcome 😃

[Wise4myage]

That’s should be a bonus.

[NotYourCinderella]

I hope to use my experiences and extra credentials as an asset to my higher study but I do feel a bit embarrassed and someone behind to be going to university only now and trying again, even though I know there's nothing wrong with it and all kinds of adults go to university. There's some unnecessary stigma around mature age university students.

[Wise4myage]

Don’t feel embarrassed, lots of people a lot older than you go back to College or start at an older age.

[NotYourCinderella]

This is true. Xx

[Wise4myage]

Thanks.😊