Is it normal to turn 23 before graduating college?

[doetwin]

Or is it unusual?

[Deleted]

Odd question, but that's pretty normal, especially with the trend of red-shirting kids when they start kindergarten. Also a lot of people take a fifth year in college, and others take a year off to travel and whatnot.

[brandienee]

I think it's normal. I was 28 when I finished college. Late bloomer and all

[Deleted]

I'm 38 and I'm just now working on my degree. I didn't start until 5 years after I graduated and just kept going off and on since then. I do have a regret of not starting college right after high school, but I just didn't want to continue my education at the time. It just depends on the person and their place in life.

[gamechanger22]

Take your time. Some are blessed with parents that will fund their schooling. I have worked full time since high school to fund mine. I'm 26, and 18 credits away!!

[CrazyLucky]

I went to a five year school (18 months of co-ops) and so I graduated a few days before my 23rd birthday. I would guess most of my classmates were 23 when they graduated. DH went to a traditional 4 year school, but he did a 6 month internship. He was 22 3/4 when he graduated. So I don't think being a 23 year old graduate is unusual.

[chickadee77]

Meh. I work in higher ed, and there really is no normal. I saw your other post, and one thing I've noticed is that the "traditional" college students are typically more apt to get involved in activities on campus. Older learners likely already have a family, a job/career, other hobbies and interests - so they're not looking within the college environment to make those kinds of connections. Often, adult learners are less visible, but absolutely still there. They show up, do their coursework, keep their heads down and their eyes on the prize.

[ksun]

I was 23 when I graduated.

[awick14]

My younger sister graduated at 23, closer to 24 though. She did a co-op, and a foreign exchange in college. She graduated a year behind her classmates but she got to have some amazing experiences and she said it was so worth it.

[fernweh]

I think it's becoming more and more normal. I was 22 when I graduated but I had taken Summer classes for 2 years. Had I taken all summer's off I would have been 23-close to 24 when I graduated. It's getting harder to finish in 4 years these days, thus making people generally older when they graduate.

[lexmunchkin]

It's totally normal. Even had a genius 16yr old who graduated with me as well

[hocus2]

I think I was 22 when I graduated. IF you start school elementary based on the cut offs, don't take any breaks and do all your coursework in 4 hours you'll probably graduate before 23 but I don't think finishing at 23 or 24 is all that uncommon. Sometimes people take a year off between HS and college. Other folks might fumble at first and need to take a semester off or transfer schools. Some folks do 5 years of course work.

[mattt]

It is normal