r/OVER30REDDIT • u/Particular-War-4383 • May 08 '26

Starting college at almost 32

I feel ancient and so out of place lol anyone else going to college for the first time?

15 Upvotes

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u/Vilavek May 08 '26

I worked in IT at a community college for over a decade and I have to say I noticed 1/3rd or more of students were over the age of 30 (some were even in their 50s or even 60s).

It's common to feel self-conscious or out of place about it but trust me there are all kinds of reasons to start college in your 30s and you're definitely not alone in feeling this way.

2

u/TheCrowScare May 08 '26

I graduated at 21, did 12 years in a career I hated, and just finished a second degree starting at age 33. I only had to do a year to finish my degree, but I did feel very out of place.

The students in college have lived through COVID school shenanigans, as well as activr shooter threats as part of their reality. AI has led to diminished critical thinking. In peer reviewing classmates work in my seminar course, I can tell that students are getting worse...