Take3

Open question:

Let's define a non-traditional student as any student who is at least 24 years old (e.g., outside the usual college age range.) For example, a non-traditional student could be returning for an additional degree. They could have served in the military before going to college. They could simply be a late bloomer.

To what extent can a non-traditional student get involved in campus? For example, can such a person get involved in campus activities? Is it even OK for them to try? Can such a person realistically be accepted by other students who they meet? Or is a non-traditional student's experience realistically limited to attending class and going home afterwards?

After all, these kinds of personal growth experiences are part of what university is about.

skybax22

Nobody will know how old you are, and when they find out it will just be like "Oh, that's cool" and then you go about your business.

Take3

Thanks for the input.

Although do you think there is realistically an upper limit above which people aren't just like, "Oh, that's cool", and above which it would be difficult to get involved in activities?

skybax22

I'm not sure if partying and the like would be awkward or not, but if you can't connect with undergrads you could always try to get involved with the graduate students, who tend to be older.

chuck19

i was at a party at my friends college and one of her friends was 25 and no one cared

Dawnie Min

i know a guy who's at least 60 and he's in our quantum mechanics class. i don't know how involved he was in student activities, but in class he was pretty much the life of the party. always had cool stories to tell too

RockStar4341

I am returning to school after a military stint and will be 30. I will be grad student so I know that will be different, but when I was undergrad I don't ever remember shunning older people unless they tried to act like they were 18.
Don't try to pick up freshmen with your impressive ability to buy beer because that makes you a tool.
If you want to get involved in the campus community more power to you, college kids are remarkably welcoming of real people and perceptive of posers and losers, just act your own age.
We had a lady who would come into the Riv bar at Michigan State who had to be in her 70s, and people just accepted it. She was a crazy, interesting old gal.

Take3

Thanks for the input.

In my case, I'm not really concerned about partying. But it wouldn't be any fun to be shunned by most classmates or to be unable to participate beyond attending classes.

Nor do I have any intention of trying to act 18 again (-:

Dichabao

I believe you are worrying for nothing.

In college no one cares and you will be welcomed as any other student!

Good luck.

excelblue

It's OK for the non-traditional students to try, as long as they don't try too hard and remain themselves.

I have a couple of friends who are non-traditional students in their mid-twenties, and they are involved in a lot of the stuff that goes on on-campus. The difference is that while they do a lot of things, they don't exactly partake in everything (eg. wild parties are out of consideration).

Take3

OK, thanks for the input.

I'm not that interested in partying. Still, I'm curious as to exactly where the lines are drawn as to what a non-traditional student may do. Does it depend on the school?

Honestly, the four-year universities I attended prior to attending McGill were not socially inclusive. It was very frustrating to be a pariah. I couldn't deal with being a pariah again, especially after spending the last few years in inclusive environments.

Kulakai

28 year old here, heavily involved on campus and I get invited to all social events but I usually pass on most parties since I got work to worry about. Age doesn't matter honestly as long as your are nice and good at socializing.