In California, you only need to be 18 years or older to attend a community college. A high school diploma is not required, though you may have to take remedial courses offered by the college and some majors, such as engineering, may require a GED before you can transfer to a four-year university.

Is 18 too old to start college?

You can go to college at any age…but there are some things you can only do when you’re young and in prime physical shape. In my experience I made much better grades and got more out of learning when I went back to school when I was older (and paying for it by myself).

Why do people go to college at 18?

2 You’ll Be the Same Age as Your Classmates According to the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, 68 percent of freshman begin school at age 18. One of the most important parts of college is socializing and making new friends, and that project can be challenging for older students.

How old should you be for your first year of college?

According to a national study, Your First College Year (YFCY), the transition from high school to college is no easy task for most 18-year-olds. In fact, the YFCY study, which was designed specifically to track first-year students, found that not all new college freshman can make the adjustment.

How many first year college students return for second year?

In fact, the YFCY study, which was designed specifically to track first-year students, found that not all new college freshman can make the adjustment. Only about 75 percent of students at a four-year college make it to the second year and just over half of students at two-year institutions will return their second year.

What to expect your college freshman’s first year?

For many freshmen, this is the first time in years that they have had free time. Many of these students had maxed out schedules while in high school. They were often taking difficult classes and involved in a number of outside activities like sports and school groups that left very little time for anything else.

When did I teach my first college class?

In thinking about my experience as a professor (having taught college classes going back to 1994), it occurs to me that I might be reasonably well-positioned to provide some guidance to help incoming college students best navigate this important juncture in life. Are you about to start college – or know someone who is? Then this is for you. 1.