I’m worried about the age gap. I took the California High School Proficiency Exam and graduated high school early and will be attending community college in the fall. During high school I got far behind, would have been a 5-year situation, so I decided to take that test and finish early. I really want to make new friends and have a social life and enjoy college but I’m worried that my age will make people think I’m immature and not want to talk to me. My friends told me to lie about my age just in case. Also, I probably won’t have enough money to buy a car until the end of the school year, I’m working part time. I’m worried that that will also be a problem. If someone could shed some light on this and make me feel better I’d really appreciate it.
I’m sure you will meet friends. Seeing that it’s community college and only two years, you will meet a fair share of 18 year olds and maybe some 17 year olds with a late birthday. If it was a four year college, it would be much more difficult to relate to the experiences of other students.
In addition, because you are a commuter student, your experience won’t be drastically different socially from high school. You won’t be off on your own without parents.
I think you will definitely make friends. From my experience, most students don’t know how old anyone is when they are sitting in class together. Try talking to the people who sit around you in class, I found it easy to get to know them. As for working part-time, so do many other college students, it isn’t likely to pose a problem with friends, and shouldn’t be a problem with school as long as you plan out your days.
Really, I don’t think you need to worry too much. You will find some friends at college who don’t care about your age. Just enjoy your awesome experience. Hope this helped you feel better. 
Not true at all. At community colleges, you will find more older students - adults who go back to finish their degrees after gap years, or be trained for new skills.
I think you’ll be okay; I’ve never really questioned anyone’s age unless they looked like an extreme (really old or really young) bit for the most pary, at least in my experience, no one asks how old you are. To be honest I didn’t know how old most of my friends were until birthdays rolled around.
The obvious thing is that there are quite a few things you will not be able to do that your friends mighy (clubs, drink,movies if they check) but most people are understanding of that as many people aren’t big party goers.
Just be friendly and you’ll be ok
@oldfort At CC, you’re gonna be going to school, and coming home and likely with similar restrictions that you have when you are in high school (especially since the OP is so young for college). That’s what I’m saying. And I don’t get how having adult students changes your social life. You’re not gonna be interacting with them anyway.
I’m 15, and I go to a community college, and I don’t really have any friends. This is mainly because most of the kids in my class don’t talk, and being quite shy, I don’t want to start conversations. However, I think your experience could be different than mine.
How old do you look? Boy or girl? An older looking girl will have an easier time than a boy who looks young…just saying.
I think you can make friends, but you may have to work at it. Be friendly. Be brave enough to strike up a conversation with someone in class. Chat about the assignment or the weather or something common to the CC experience like registration. Form a study group or join one in a tough class.
Are there clubs or organizations you can join? Intramurals? Can you take a sports class? Learning a sport or art in a class is the kind of group endeavor that many people find to be bonding. Is there a cafeteria or coffee shop? Some sort of gathering place where you can hang out between classes?
I think it will tougher than at a four year, residential college, but still possible.