Any mature students starting uni this month?

Naf

DeezerDeer wrote: »

Hi there,
I'm 40 (nearly) and about to start on the first year of a 4 year Zoology degree. I'm terrified actually! The learning doesn't bother me, I love acquiring knowledge, it's meeting so many new people!
I'm a bit of an introvert and would be very happy if it were just me and the tutor in the room tbh, but obviously that's not going to happen so I'll just have to suck it up and get on with it!
Anyone got any tips for handling the social side of Uni? I have no interest in pub crawls or getting wasted and don't really have the time anyway, even if I did want to. I want to really enjoy the whole experience and get the most out of it but I'm worried about the age difference and whether I'll just be seen as the swotty mumsy type who no one wants to play with!
Chronic shyness is sooo c**p. You'd think I'd be over it by now at my age! My kids have been my reason to be a part-time tigress for the past 10 years and without them there I think I'll revert to mouse-dom.
Should I bribe people with cakes?! Lol.

Kinda depends what you want out of it.
I'm taking the view that my study comes absolutely top priority, and I'd rather people took me as a bit of a swot, but I come out top of the class, than I try to fit in and end up mediocre. If you're comfortable with the 'mumsy' label, take cakes along; it doesn't mean you'll not integrate in the group.
At the end of the day, Uni is mostly full of people with a much more mature attitude than 'school' was, so its much more relaxed and friendly.

Prospero_2

Thought I'd add my 2p worth. I'm about to start an MA next week and am 47. I went to a taster evening this summer, had to rush like crazy to get to it after work, arrived boiling hot within 5 mins of kick-off wondering whether I had enough time to find the loos or get a drink of water. While considering these options, suddenly various 30ish yr old young men appeared in front of me to introduce themselves. I dutifully shook their hands, introduced myself, and wondered what on earth was going on. I chose a seat, somewhere away from all these eager young blokes.

In the same week, it being in the middle of the summer, I'd gone to various corporate summer parties where a certain amount of networking is the norm although it's usual to have some sort of connection with the person or to be introduced by someone else rather than simply marching up to total strangers. I'd partly gone to all these corporate events as a bit of practice in meeting large groups of new people -- not something I'm much good at.

So whatever else happens 'socially', I doubt it can be more confusing or peculiar but whatever else does, I don't really mind. I am looking forward to being a student again because it's a huge luxury I am determined to enjoy.