Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
Going back to college at 24?
As a bit of background information, my name is Brenda and I will be turning 24 in a few months. I come from a highly abusive family that never let me socialize. When I went to college (a mile from home - they wouldn't pay for anything else), they hovered over me incessantly and was expected to understand and refrain from questioning my family's position on roommates, sororities, athletic teams, and practically all other nonacademic aspects of the college experience. As this implies, I didn't get to do any of these things and was extremely lonely and depressed throughout college. When I finally graduated, I moved 2,000 miles to enroll in a Ph. D. program (partly on there insisted) but couldn't last more than 2 semesters there because I was extremely depressed. I was disillusioned to see that graduate school, unlike college, is extremely solitary and it felt like my opportunity for a good college experience was gone forever.
After quitting my Ph.D. program, I have been working in a variety of service sector jobs to make ends meet (right now I'm a maid at the Westin). Part of the reason I have to settle for these low-skilled physically demanding jobs was most definitely the recession, but the fact is - it's hard for me to find a professional position because the education I got in college (in a field my parents chose for me) is not easy to market, unless coupled with a more advanced degree. Plus, I took hardly any courses outside my major (no choice) and got mediocre grades because I was too depressed to study.
Right now I'm really hoping to go back to college (which I hope to finance by loans and possibly grants - since I'm 24 years old, my parents are officially out of the financial aid picture, so I am eligible for the benefits aimed at the low-income), both to get a quality education and an experience. While I have no doubt that I'll be accepted somewhere (I filed a few apps last year and got some acceptance letters), and should probably get by with loans - esp. if I go to a state school - me and my counselor (who really cares about me and is very accepting of this idea) are worried about some of the logistics. Like do you think they'd allow me to live in the dorms? If they do, could they pair me with an 18-year-old girl (a typical freshman), or would they put me in a cramped single and encourage me to explore off-campus housing? Would it be hard to join an athletic team or a sorority? Do I have a good chance at being accepted by other students? If anyone has any experiences (either from going back to college themselves or knowing someone who did), could you please share them?
9 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
They probably wouldn't put you in with freshmen and yes at 24 it would be harder to join a sorority but not an athletic team since sports team require various skill levels regardless of your age. Anyway I realize that you missed out on the typical college experience but a lot of people go off to college and don't have that typical college experience. They don't live in dorms, they choose to live at home or in an apartment.
Even at 24 you have a good chance of finding friends in college, but you probably shouldn't live in the dorms, a lot of people go back to college in their mid-twenties and late twenties. I'm going back to college at 27 years old, of course I look very young for my age and have no trouble fitting in. I usually try to find people around my age, although I get along well with 18 & 19 year olds as long as we have things in common.
- 1 decade ago
I think a lot of dorms have age limits, but you can always apply and see what happens! They would probably pair you with someone closer to your own age than the typical freshman. A few colleges have dorms especially for people over 24 or 25. I'm 22 and going to community college. I'll be transferring to a 4 yr university, but I'm not sure I'd want to live in the dorms. I mean, I don't think acceptance would be a problem for someone in their 20s, but you might find that you don't relate to a lot of college kids because of a huge maturity difference. I don't think athletic teams or sororities would disqualify you because of age...you're still young! Best wishes!
- 6 years ago
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Going back to college at 24?
As a bit of background information, my name is Brenda and I will be turning 24 in a few months. I come from a highly abusive family that never let me socialize. When I went to college (a mile from home - they wouldn't pay for anything else), they hovered over me incessantly and was expected to...
Source(s): college 24: https://tr.im/WRthc - How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
I don't think you'll have any problems being accepted into college life. Your experiences have aged you on the inside, but on the outside who can tell the difference? 24 may be older than most undergrads, but it's not "old" in any sense of the word, and there are no age restrictions on clubs and sports.
I do think that living in dorms could be a challenge. But I guess all you can do is apply for it and see what happens.
- Anonymous5 years ago
Everyone will tell you that it's never too late to start. I'm 33 yrs old and still trying to get my bachelor's. You're still a baby. Anyway, you may never be able to get a civil service job with the government and you may never be able to work in hospitals or with children or even to join the Army, but I know it's possible to get a job with certain companies because my brother who committed a felony when he was your age (grand theft) is now a computer engineer working as a executive for some big company making like a $100,000 per year. If you're good enough, companies will ignore the felony and keep you on their staff if you prove them (trust) worthy. Good luck and don't give up on yourself!!
- Anonymous1 decade ago
I've seen people who were 50 years old to get back into college. Granted, I've never seen them in the dorms or in a sorority, but they still went back to school to get the education they needed. At your age, it's fine to be in a sorority. You're only in your mid-twenties, and at that age people still have fun and party it up. As for housing, I'm not sure on those kinds of regulations. I think they would pair you up with someone your age, but again I'm not familiar with housing since I go to the university and live at home. You'll be accepted by other students just fine.
Someone in one of my classes is 50 years old, and she went back for her Bachelors. She gets along with the other students fine, and she loves looking for campus events. It's not a bad experience at all, and she seems pretty happy.
I commend you on your choice to continue your education and I wish you the best of luck. Don't worry about anything! You're still young, and I've seen people much older going back and doing great. You'll accomplish great things!
- Jonathan18Lv 41 decade ago
You're only 24. I definetely don't forsee any problems with them accepting you into a club or anything. The older students in my classes fit right in. I had a friend in his 20s and I never even knew that until the end of the semester.
- 1 decade ago
24? not 64.... so i think deres nothing to be scared or wadever ur'e feeling about.
