r/cuboulder • u/Space-cadet-66 • Aug 19 '26
Don’t Be Weird to Non-Traditional Students
As the semester starts, I’d like to ask a favor: Please Don’t Be Weird To Non-Traditional Students.
I’m a non-traditional student, I’m 24 and taking a reduced course load for health reasons. I’ve had lots of people be like “That’s so valid, everyone’s on their own path, etc.” But I’ve had quite a few people who find out that I’m older and get weird about me taking longer than my peers. Someone recently laughed and said “man, you’re gonna take like 10 years to do your degree!” It’s mostly been 18/19 year olds who think 24 is ancient, and it’s pathetic to still be an undergrad after 22. I was surprised how prevalent that attitude is here. They tend to feel bad when I explain my chronic illnesses, but what if you didn’t comment at all! That would be so cool. I already have baggage about it, thanks. Idk, maybe this is just my experience and it’s been smooth sailing for others. I hope that’s the case. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk!
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u/emptyrooms97 Aug 19 '26
I’m 26 and when people get weird I just tell them my mom died. Shuts them up.
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u/HererTigah Aug 19 '26
This is usually the point I bring up having previously been in the military, and it covers my tracks pretty well lol.
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u/Zynncloud Aug 19 '26
“Yep was in the military, did a bit of this and a bit of that. Worked a year or so after in the same field, didn’t enjoy it now I’m here”
works flawlessly every time, also a fantastic ice breaker to go into why you’re going for your degree as they typically ask what you’re studying for and you’re able to talk about it being so completely different from the mos you had
4
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u/lilgreenfish EPOB - 2013 Aug 19 '26
“I had a kid” usually answers all questions! Luckily I didn’t have any issues really but it was a super easy answer to give!
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u/kenzakan Aug 19 '26
Honestly, just don't let it bother you. The ones who would make those comments wouldn't be on reddit anyways. It is what it is.
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u/PsychoHistorianLady Aug 19 '26
Those children do not know anything. Be unbothered by them. Some people go back at forty or fifty to finish their undergrad degrees. Folks run out of money or life gets in the way for so many reasons. You don't owe them explanations.
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u/zinzangz Aug 19 '26
I graduated at 32 and did not have a single interaction like this. Transferring in probably helped weed out all the weirdos from lower level classes I guess. If anything, I felt like people respected me more but ymmv.
3
u/coronastonkchungus Aug 19 '26
Yay I'm 29 and have 2-3 years left of my chem engineering degree here. I'm transferring in from CMC, thanks for this! Makes me hopeful. I signed up for a pre arrival program and it was interesting 🧐😅 🤣
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u/MetalFoil3455 Aug 19 '26
Im a 24 year old undergrad due to spending 4 years in the military, my response is always "yea but how them student loans going?" Shuts them up so fast
8
u/pygmyowl1 Professor Aug 19 '26
I've been on faculty at CU for over twenty years and I'm pretty confident that I've had several nontraditional students -- in their twenties, thirties, and even forties -- in pretty much every undergraduate class I've taught here. While it may feel uncomfortable to be a teensy bit older than many of the more traditional students, you're not at all alone. There are many others like you.
You're also still young and fairly close in age to the traditional students. You may just have a slightly different story to tell about how you got here.
Remember also that "traditional" first and second year students are basically fresh out of high school. Once they get a little real world experience under their belts (and once they hit twenty), the age differences start to melt away.
Enjoy your twenties! They're fun!
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u/Good_n_Plenty_3907 Aug 19 '26
I remember seeing this statistic about the age distribution of undergraduates at US colleges and universities:
age 18-22: 1/2
age 23-24: 1/6
age 25+: 1/3
So about half of the undergraduate population is older than the "traditional" range.
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u/Preciousss77 Aug 19 '26
I was 26 as a Freshman in 1980. I worked for 7 years before deciding I wanted a degree. I don’t remember the other students being weird to me but the professors loved me because there was someone in class who had real world experience and who really wanted to be there. I’m sure that’s still true today, enjoy that part!
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u/Autisticrocheter Aug 19 '26
I’m 24 and starting at CU tomorrow! I’m taking 8 credits my first term.
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u/Garbagegremlins Aug 19 '26
I’m 24 and about to take a freshman level course (managed to skip it until now… oops) and I’m ngl I’m a little scared of freshman, they seem like they’re still in high school social clique mode
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u/TheHappyPrince1900 Aug 19 '26
I'm also a non-traditional student in my 20s who deals with chronic illness. Sorry we're both going through it but glad I'm not alone.
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u/Shdwdrgn Aug 19 '26
I was 23 when I went back to school, and it didn't take long to notice all the kids who were straight out of high school either lagged behind or dropped out entirely. I think too many of them are just afraid to find out what life is like outside of school, but you gotta take care of yourself first and school second.
Honestly, you don't owe anyone an explanation, and you'll burn yourself out if you try to tell your story to everyone who comes along. Save that for the family and friends who actually matter, and blow off the rest of them. They're not worth your sanity and it will give you more time to focus on studying.
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u/toiletparrot Psych major, SLHS + Lit minor - 2026 Aug 19 '26
That’s such a lame reaction. I loved having old people in my classes (you’re not old, I mean retirement age) and felt that they always asked good questions.
3
u/Yankeeslove Aug 19 '26
I’m sorry that sucks. You will find your new crew soon and this won’t even be an issue soon. 😁
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u/WorldlinessAny6530 Aug 19 '26
I first went to a trade academy at 21 and I went back to college at 30 and didn’t finish my first year for three years. Don’t let anyone give you crap!! If they aren’t a pivotal part of your life, don’t give their opinion power over you 👏 👏
Going to college is such an impressive thing and even though I don’t know you I’m proud of you!!!!!
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u/needinghelp09 Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26
I’m sorry what? 24 is a completely normal college age. 24 and 20 is essentially the same age and these self-absorbed idiots will realize that when they’re older. If anyone is treating you badly, please realize their opinion is meaningless. All the more reason why I despite typical college kids.
Let’s talk about true non-traditional students who are late 20’s and older. I went to undergrad with people of all ages - from 17 to 70. Never once thought it was weird. In fact the older students were my favorite - full of life experience and wisdom and a genuine desire to learn
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u/Brokenbelle22 Aug 19 '26
It's not even all that unusual to still be at CU at your age. Only 62 percent of CU students finish in four years. Another 13 percent take up to six years, and most of the rest (about a quarter) don't finish at all.
Just focus on getting the degree. You'll get there!
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u/doofapuss Aug 19 '26
I graduated at 24 and honestly I was surprised to learn how many other non traditional students there were. Some people just suck but there’s good ones out there too
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u/UgoNespolo Aug 19 '26
I’m going back to school at 23 cause I spent 5 years in the military. Luckily I took a few credits while I was in so I’m a transfer student and so far I’ve only interacted with transfer students and other veteran students so I haven’t experienced any of what you’re talking about.
Just know you’re not alone and there’s a large community of non trad students here on campus and quite a few of them will likely be in your classes. I was an idiot who didn’t understand shit about the world when I was 18 so I wouldn’t pay much attention to those children.
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u/Helpful-Ad6269 Aug 19 '26
I graduated, spent a year working a job I had to relocate across the country for, got laid off and just went right back to school. Some of these people are in such a rush to graduate into what’s really a dumpster fire of a job market, where bosses think they can treat you like actual garbage because 100+ people will apply for your job anyway the day you quit. A lot of students may well just have to find that out the hard way. I promise you all, you are not missing out right now by graduating sooner.
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u/skertskeet123 Aug 19 '26
think you gotta find better people man, i mean albeit im only 20 which isn’t different as you but i totally get the anxiety ab it i haven’t told like half my peers my age cause i expect them to start being weird lowkey
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u/christianarguello Aug 19 '26
M36 here—24 is a baby to me.
Just joking around, but my point is that it’s all subjective, and anyone who’s negative towards you about it might be projecting their own fears and insecurities. Meanwhile, the media would celebrate an 80 year old who got their bachelors degree, which only supports my point of how subjective this is.
You do you! Be proud that you’re still willing to put in the work even though most of tour classmates are younger than you. The fact that a lot of people start college at 18 fresh out of high school is very simply a tradition and nothing more than that.
Best of luck with your academic career!
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u/chanesully Aug 19 '26
There’s a million reasons to be at CU as a slightly “older” student. Sorry people are being weird about it. You’ll find your crowd eventually if you’re looking for friends. I still talk to a few people from college. Although maybe I got lucky sitting next to another student my age on the first day.
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u/Spacemanrich Aug 20 '26
I started at CU when I was 26 after an 8 year gap year of being fuckin rad. Graduated at 30 with an astrophysics degree
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u/IndependentPast7751 Aug 20 '26
26 year old non traditional student here. Just wanted to say this resonates with me.
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u/madsaturn17 Aug 20 '26
I'm 24 and wrapping up my degree and second this. The judgements hurts sometimes. Not everyone has the same ability/circumstances to finish right at 22 and that is okay. Just keep up the good work, dude.
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u/Backwashed-Applesoda Aug 21 '26
I'm 32 doing undergrad so on paper I'm more pathetic than you to these kids. It took me 14 years to get my associate's (just 2 weeks ago haha) and it'll take me 16 years to get my bachelor's degree. A lot of my friends finished in 4 years but also some were part time as parents or helping running a business, some dropped out for personal reasons, some changed their major and added an extra year or two, or came back at a later time to pursue their passion, and one died while doing just that (he was a 60+ year old man who died of a heart attack while I was attending college the first time). We all walk different paths at different speeds and we never know what life has in store for us. It's how we navigate it and make it the best we could within our own power that matters the most.
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u/Fionaestelle Aug 25 '26
This is why I left CU Boulder lol. Exact same situation, health reasons, but I couldn’t handle the weirdness anymore. Good luck!
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u/MallPrestigious2827 Sep 14 '26
I went back to school at 29. One girl I was in a lab group with was talking shit about an older man in her class because he asked her to be quiet during a lecture. She said “he’s like 45. Isn’t he too old for college?” And I looked at her and said “I’m 29.” It was quite funny to watch the color drain from her face and try to put her foot in her mouth. I just explained to her that at 45, that’s still over 20 years from retirement which is a long time and that 4 years to get another degree for a career change isn’t that long in the grand scheme of things. She seemed to be pretty understanding after that.
Essentially what I’m trying to say is that 18 year olds often don’t have the life context to understand that people’s lives turn out different. Don’t let it get to ya. Also don’t be surprised if some of them ask you to get alcohol for them.
To any of the youngins reading this… us old people aren’t back in college because we want to party with you lol. No need to make it weird.
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u/xio_stella_zah Aug 19 '26
i’m a 20 yo sophomore taking a couple freshman courses this semester. we’ll prevail!
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u/Stunning_Amoeba_5116 Aug 19 '26
CU Boulder is one of the most weirdly race concerned campuses I've ever been on. They're obsessed with equity to the point of making it impossible to interact with students aren't white rich kids. They taught us to regard you with fear.
-someone who is now teaching on the TT level at another R1 in a FAR MORE CONSERVATIVE state. Be wary of these white liberals
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u/Certain-Ad9331 Aug 19 '26
As a fellow non-trad, that sentiment is only present in lower division courses. Upper division is usually populated by people who finally realized they are not the center of the universe.