Finding study buddies as a nontrad

[INTPThinker]

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One of the things I am kind of worried about is being able to find someone to study with. I will be in class with a bunch of undergrads. I know how I am. I absolutely need a good study buddy to meet once a week with me to make it through challenging classes. I have always been this way. I wish I didn't need to work with anyone. How are other people dealing with being the older student amongst the undergrad population?

 

[allover]

the things i type.....

 

[Klemptor]

I have a few thoughts here.

1. As a nontrad, I found group study difficult until I learned this: try to forget that you're a nontrad when you're around trads. I'm not saying you have to go out and party with them, but try to find a group whose personalities you can mesh with and who you can relax around and don't mind spending a lot of time with. If you set yourself apart mentally from the get-go, it'll definitely show in your interactions with your group members. For group study to really work, a synergy needs to develop between the group members, and that doesn't happen easily if someone is standoffish. By doing this, I found a really great group with six other people, and we were really able to help each other through some difficult material. As a bonus, these guys are my friends now, even though there's an age gap.

2. If you're an INTP (based on your username), you've got a natural talent for fitting yourself to different social situations. You may be introverted and not prefer a lot of social interaction, but as an INTP you can get along with a wide group of people when you try. (My boyfriend is an INTP. Hates planned social events and is pretty introverted, but people gravitate toward him wherever he goes because he can get along with anyone.) I mention this because there is definitely a social aspect to group study, and your personality type can be a real asset for you in that regard.

3. Get over yourself a little. I don't say this to be mean, but it's definitely a lesson I had to learn. It took me a long while to get out of a business environment mindset and into a relaxed college headspace. But once I did that, it made group work of all kinds much easier.

Just my $0.06; hope it helps. Good luck!

 

[DrMidlife]

Two things on this, from my experience.

1. A genius is an asset at any age. Identify the wicked smart kids and target them for study groups. Screen for crazy, though.

2. Some of the normal-aged students are freaking loud. I mean, LOUD. I think this is my biggest problem in being around my classmates - the howling laughter at things that are the teeniest bit funny. The shouting across corridors. Yes, I was that insecure and unaware once, but good lord I can't stand it now.

Generally though, finding people you can study with is less about the age of your classmates and more about personality and work ethic. Finding people who want to *work* instead of pontificate or bully or emote or complain is the challenge.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Chevy Chase Fan]

maybe I'm alone, but I've always found studying with others to be almost a complete waste of time. there tends to be way too much discussion about pointless things like "Do you think he'll ask this on the test?" or "Hopefully he grades this one more leniently b/c the avg was so low last time." Also, I don't see why you'd want a student to explain things to you when you can go to office hours and have the expert explain it instead. at least the professor can see how hard you're working that way, remember your name, etc. Those things matter. Also, in a study group I feel like being silent b/c I'm working on a problem for 10 minutes is awkward, which clouds my mind and makes it harder for me to concentrate. The solitude of my bedroom, where I can talk things out to myself and take as long as I want without the fear of sounding like a crazy person or seeming rude, is much preferred for me.

That being said, if studying in groups works for you, keep it up. I just felt compelled to rant about my experiences with group studying.

 

[descartes1982]

i'm in the same boat! I graduated in 2005 and I'm in a class with undergrads who have just finished their year 2 of undergrad and are planning to apply for med school. I am taking a prep course right now and yes I am the oldest person in my class at 27. I don't think I know anyone in my situation.

 

[mommy2three]

Two things on this, from my experience.

1. A genius is an asset at any age. Identify the wicked smart kids and target them for study groups. Screen for crazy, though.

2. Some of the normal-aged students are freaking loud. I mean, LOUD. I think this is my biggest problem in being around my classmates - the howling laughter at things that are the teeniest bit funny. The shouting across corridors. Yes, I was that insecure and unaware once, but good lord I can't stand it now.

Generally though, finding people you can study with is less about the age of your classmates and more about personality and work ethic. Finding people who want to *work* instead of pontificate or bully or emote or complain is the challenge.

Best of luck to you.

this + a million


it really is not about age but finding someone who has the same work ethic as you and those people can be found at any age.

 

[katiemaude]

I worried about this a lot when I started back to school last year to do my prereqs. Because of financial and other circumstances, I went to a community college. I was lucky that my classes had a mix of ages, although more than half of my classmates were 18-21 and the large majority were under 25.

I hooked up with a couple really smart kids, a couple somewhat smart but funny kids and two oldies like myself (I'm 32; the other oldies were 31 and 38 and everyone else wasn't of legal drinking age). We formed a motley crew but our personalities meshed and we helped each other through gen chem 1 and 2. My favorite lab partner was a really mature 18-year-old guy. Actually, I wouldn't even call him mature, because he could be quite goofy, but I found him the easiest to relate to.

In human anatomy and physiology, my best study partners are two other non-trads like myself, both guys in their late 20s. We sometimes review lab maerial with two other girls who are 19 and 21. The only person who seems and acts really young is the 19-year-old but that's just her personality, not a judgement against her age group.

I am probably going to a four-year university in the fall and I'm not so much worried about the coursework being more difficult as I'm worried about being in class with almost ALL traditional students. But I figure I better get used to it, because my med school classmates are going to be younger too.

 

[INTPThinker]

maybe I'm alone, but I've always found studying with others to be almost a complete waste of time. there tends to be way too much discussion about pointless things like "Do you think he'll ask this on the test?" or "Hopefully he grades this one more leniently b/c the avg was so low last time." Also, I don't see why you'd want a student to explain things to you when you can go to office hours and have the expert explain it instead. at least the professor can see how hard you're working that way, remember your name, etc. Those things matter. Also, in a study group I feel like being silent b/c I'm working on a problem for 10 minutes is awkward, which clouds my mind and makes it harder for me to concentrate. The solitude of my bedroom, where I can talk things out to myself and take as long as I want without the fear of sounding like a crazy person or seeming rude, is much preferred for me.

That being said, if studying in groups works for you, keep it up. I just felt compelled to rant about my experiences with group studying.

For me its like once a week study groups not everyday...thats too much