are other mature students experiencing this?

[Dolly]

I'm a mature student and I just wondering if other mature students are experiencing what I am. I'd be the oldest in my class. The other students are late teens. It's all very in a click or group that people are in. I've no interest in being in a click or a group and I just do my own thing. The very odd few of the people in my class will say hello/goodbye or even acknowledge me. I might as well not be there. I get ignored/blanked on a daily basis and there are times when I get sick and tired of it. Some of them are extremely rude. I've done nothing or saying nothing to them for them to be like this towards me. It's annoying and hurtful at times.

I understand that their going to want to be around people their own age, but I'm getting close to my 30's which isn't old, but I do feel that I'm being singled out. I've tried talking to them, but I get nothing back. Their just not interested, so I don't bother anymore for most of the time. There are times when a meeting is needed for some of my classes and the whole class is to get together and do work etc, but nothing happens until the last minute and when I ask where the meeting is going to be held, no one tells me or I get a half assed answer. I will admit it's quite lonely at times, even though I'm in a society for older students, were all in at different times, so I don't really get to see them.

Another mature student that I've spoken to in a different college, is going through the same thing. She's told me that they ignore her everyday, never speak to her, she's left to do all the work and they always sit away from her or if their's a classroom and most of the seats have been taken, they'll still sit a few seats away from her. She's a nice person and I feel it for her, because I told her that I'm experiencing the same thing. I know that everyone has their own life and doing their own thing and honestly I'm not interested in knowing what they do or where they go, but it would be nice to get a hello back from them when I say hello to them. I'm up for at least a chit chat and be respect. I never feel welcomed, even though I do my best to make them feel welcomed.

Any mature students out there feeling this way???

[braveflock084]

I have been a mature student both through undergrad and masters both in the UK and the US. My husband is an undergraduate at Yale right now. Neither of us has ever found any difficulty in mixing with the other students although it is hard to have a serious social life with them when you want to go to bed at 11pm and this is when their day starts.

Personally I think today's teenagers are fabulous, far more open minded than we were and very accepting. I suspect you are giving out an unfriendly vibe somehow.

By the way, the word is 'clique'.

[Deana]

I don't want to make you feel any worse, but you seem overly concerned with this. It almost sounds like you are the teenager here.

I understand that when there are group projects required it could be frustrating for you trying to get things arranged. I doubt though that the younger students are intentionally trying to shut you out of the meetings. It just be that they make arrangements over social media of some sort and they assume you might do the same.

If that continues to be a problem talk to the professor and ask if he might assign people to work group projects together rather than letting the class sort it out themselves.

Really though don't let social elements or concerns about cliques dominate your educational experience. These are people of a different generation who probably feel they have nothing in common with you and don't have the sense to realize how much you have to contribute. It is their loss not yours.

[harwarda]

I think that's much more of a problem in the U.K. than it is in the U.S. The average age of students at my university is 27. It's very common here for people to get out of high school, work for a while, and then go to a university. I think there are universities in the U.K. that have more mature students, but apparently you're not in one of them. Not getting to know you is a real loss to the younger students, but there's not much you can do about it. Just remind yourself that they will be your age eventually, even though they currently seem to think they'll be 19 forever!