I’m 48 and just got admitted to nursing school. I haven’t had any special problems so far. I’m part of study groups, and even the Anatomy instructor started saying things like “let Cubster help you with that” in lab. However, most of the other students are non-traditional as well, usually in their 20’s and early 30’s so this might not be typical experience. In my pre-req courses, I did get teased by the youngest students (age 18 or 19) about making the highest score in the class on tests, but I just grinned and told them to study instead of partying. It wasn’t anything serious, and I helped several of them study for the finals.
I think you will find many people with whom you fit just fine. By the way, best of luck with your education, The Sausage Creature.
I found that some of the younger students could really get under my skin. Not to pick on the younger folk, I was one of them at one point, but I guess it’s because I’ve already been where they are so it grates on my nerves to see them doing the same stupid things I did at their age. On the other hand even though I had a similar attitude when I was their age I was wise enough not to voice them in class.
I hated it when students didn’t show up to class prepared. In classes where the instructor has a lot of discussion over the material I get a lot more out of it when other people present their own views or ask questions I might not have thought of otherwise but that doesn’t happen if they don’t read the material. It wasn’t just a matter of being shy as many of them would brag about how they didn’t read the material for whatever reason.
I don’t like hearing them piss and moan about how this class doesn’t directly relate to their major. We’re not just in college to learn a trade we’re trying to produce students who are well rounded and can think about a variety of things even if it isn’t directly related to their major. I was particularly annoyed by a student (in his late 20’s so youth is no excuse) who kept making stupid comments during class and would periodically ask the instructor “when will we ever use this in real life.” Damn, he was annoying.
As a student I believe we’re all in this together so I don’t mind helping others out when they have questions. When people asked me what their final project had to include, such as the format, works cited page, photocopies of sources, etc. they’d sometimes tell me “Well I hand wrote it so the instructor is just going to have to accept this” or “I don’t have works cited page, oh well.” Well, don’t be surprised when you fail for not properly citing your work.
I’m not just picking on the young it’s just that they’re the ones I typically see pulling this kind of thing. THe most outrageous thing I’ve heard a student say in class was said by a woman in her late 30’s or early 40’s. Upon hearing our first composition assignment due the day after next she exclaimed quite loudly “When am I going to do this? I work for a living!” As if the rest of the people in the class aren’t taking a bunch of other classes or working as well.
Over all I’ve found that most of the younger students were ok. I didn’t make any friends because we were at different places in our life but I did become friendly enough with them to chat in class. Never needed to form a study group.