Okay, so I’ve been thinking a lot about this whole “starting college at 24” thing. Is it weird? Is it too late? I mean, I’m 24, not 84, right? But still, I can’t help but feel a little… out of place. I did some digging online, checked out some forums and articles, and you know what? It’s not that weird after all. I decided I had to give it a go and see for myself.
First, I started by looking up colleges. Not the fancy, big-name ones, just regular local colleges that offer the courses I’m interested in. I ended up picking a few that seemed decent and weren’t too far from where I live. Then came the application process. Ugh, paperwork. It wasn’t as bad as I thought, though. Most of it was online, filling out forms, writing a bit about why I want to study there, and sending in my old high school grades. Yeah, they wanted those. Who knew they’d still be relevant?
After a few weeks of waiting and biting my nails, I got an acceptance letter! Woohoo! I chose the college that was closest to my place, just to make my life a little easier. Next, I had to figure out the money stuff. Scholarships, grants, loans – it’s a whole jungle out there. I applied for a bunch of scholarships, but no luck. Grants were a bit better, got some of that. Loans, well, that’s what I had to rely on mostly. It’s not ideal, but hey, it’s an investment in my future, right?
Then came the fun part – picking classes! I sat down with a course catalog and felt like a kid in a candy store. So many options! I decided to start with the basics, you know, the required courses, and then added a few electives that sounded interesting. I even signed up for a beginner’s art class, just for kicks. Once I had my schedule, I registered for the classes online. Easy peasy.
Orientation Day
Orientation day rolled around, and I was a nervous wreck. I drove to the campus, parked my car, and walked into the main hall. It was packed with students, mostly younger than me, but there were a few older folks too. I picked up my student ID, a map of the campus, and some free college swag. Then, I attended a few welcome talks, met some of the professors, and even made a friend or two. We grabbed lunch at the cafeteria and chatted about our classes. It wasn’t so bad, actually.
First Day of Classes
The first day of classes arrived, and I was pumped! I got to campus early, found my classrooms, and settled in. The professors were cool, the classes were engaging, and I even participated in some discussions. Sure, I was one of the oldest in the class, but no one seemed to care. We were all there to learn, and that’s what mattered.
Study Groups and Late Nights
As the semester went on, I got into the groove of things. I joined a study group for my hardest class, which helped a lot. We met up a few times a week, went over the material, and helped each other out. I also spent many late nights at the library, reading, writing papers, and cramming for exams. It was tough, but I was determined to do well.
Exams and Grades
Exams came and went. Some were easy, some were hard. I studied my butt off, did my best, and hoped for the best. When the grades came out, I was pleasantly surprised. I did pretty well! All that hard work paid off. I even got an A in that art class I took for fun. Who would’ve thought?
- Started by looking up colleges and applied to a few.
- Got accepted and chose the closest one.
- Figured out the financial aid stuff.
- Picked my classes and registered for them.
- Attended orientation and met some people.
- Went to classes, participated, and learned a lot.
- Joined a study group and spent late nights studying.
- Took exams and got good grades.
So, is it weird to start college at 24? Maybe a little. But is it worth it? Absolutely. I’m learning new things, meeting new people, and challenging myself in ways I never thought possible. It’s not always easy, but I’m glad I took the plunge. If you’re thinking about going back to school, no matter your age, I say go for it. It’s never too late to learn something new and chase your dreams.
