What differences do you notice in younger students vs. older students?

Nursing Students General Students

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I'm curious as to whether or not those of you in school see a trend in the other students in your class. Such as (and these are only examples): do you see younger students not being as serious...out partying a lot? Do you see older students being easily frustrated with the younger ones? I think you get what I mean here....I didn't notice a whole lot of them when I started my pre-req's. For the most part, everyone was respectful of everyone else. I wondered if this is the norm. or maybe my school is so small that it isn't quite as bad or maybe it will get worse (and cliquey according to age) once I start the actual nursing program...........

Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.
...I've seen the typical, daddy dearest type of kids at school, and the adults that act like since there adults, and married with kids that they should have be exempt from certain situations. It all depends not on age, but on the mental capacity and ability. I've seen some REALLY dumb adults, and 'kids' (18-22), so that tells me its not age but how they are raised. BTW I do go to clubs and party (military people KNOW how to party, and still make it to formation at 6 in the morning and run 3-4 miles lol), but it doesn't affect my abilities at school, nor do I brag about it in class or to students. You may ask how I do it, but having fun shouldn't interfere with your studying habits or in retaining information. I see it as I'm only this age once in my life, so have fun while I can :) Everyone else should too, in whatever they do as long as they don't take it overboard and know the consequences. :)

Cherish, I agree with your statements. I also started school fairly young...graduated not too long ago at 23. We had people younger and people older. I think that all ages are a benefit to nursing... Both the younger and older students can do well, as cherish stated, it has to do with ability/life circumstances/priorities at the time, not age...I totally agree that it is possible to have fun (and yes, even party) while in nursing school. I did well in school, had fun when I wanted to, played college sports, had a job...you name it. Someone older is probably also busy with what they do-families, kids, jobs (partying???I know it happens :rotfl: )...I have seen both younger and older students pass and fail...generalizations can be made for any and all age groups...While interesting and entertaining to point out the differences between the ages, I personally do not think that age alone will determine if someone will succeed in the profession. If someone isn't ready for the rigors of studying and nursing, it isn't their age that is going to keep them from accomplishing their goals-it just may not be the right time for them... :) As far as trends go for the ages (here I go generalizing)... the younger students are just coming out to learn who they are, what they want, still experiementing, some are studious, some are out to have fun, some are both...older students can, of couse, still be learning who they are but generally have a few more responsibilites (house, jobs, payments, kids, families, etc)...of couse they have more life experience to draw from...I didn't see any difference on grades or study habits per se...every person has different priorites when it comes to school...some of the older students are struggling to realearn whole studying/reading school thing again...while the kids fresh out of high school are already in "learning" or test taking mode....I think that it is very individualized!

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I dunno the 20 somethings and the 30 somethings seem to kind of blend in at my school though, most of them got married at 17 and have ten kids already anyways. It is hard to make friends when you are the only unmarried childless person out there. I guess I shouldn't have moved to the south.
HAHA! That's really funny. I'm in my second semester at a community college, and out of a class of almost 40 I'm one of the only students without kids. And most of these girls are alot younger than me. The topic of conversation a couple weeks ago was how far along pregnant everyone was at their prom, lol.:uhoh3: I just can't relate. The other day I was talking to a girl in my class who is a grandmother at 35, and she just couldn't believe I'd been married for two whole years and didn't have kids yet. It must be the south!
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Aside from the generalizing the south, I really love the responses here and I am so glad that everyone has been open-minded and realized that I was not trying to make a distinction one way or the other on any certain "group" or "clique" of people. I am really enjoying hearing about your observations....thank you!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
It must be the south!

No, that kind of crap happens everywhere.

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No, that kind of crap happens everywhere.

ITA!

My high school had almost 1000 students and I can only remember 5 or so that got pregnant and dropped out. High school dropout rates and teen pregnancies are more a result of parent interest and involvement than location!

more on topic... in my rad tech class last year, it was mostly made up of "younger" students, 22 or younger. Most of them would talk about what they did over the weekend, who they were dating, etc, but there were only 2 that really got on everyone's nerves, partying all the time and talking about it loudly during study time, they were also the 2 that had the lowest grades, wonder why? other than that, the young and "old" (i'm including myself in that category, ha!) meshed pretty well.

A (who has been a southerner all her life)

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It must be the south!

:angryfire:

Biting my tongue.

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when did this turn into the "down the south" thread....I live in Alabama and I am proud to be a born and raised country girl. I'm 21 and I am NOWHERE near ready to get married and have ten kids. People think that I should be standin barefoot in the front yard with a baby on my hip or something.

Back to the original thread topic.....I went to a big university right out of high school...i was 17 at the time and of course I partied and drank almost every night of the week...that's why 2 years later I was back at home because my grades were so bad. I took a year off and worked a full time job and decided that I wanted to go back to school. This past year was my first year back and now I'm really ready to learn. My grades are great...I made the Presidents list both semesters. I definitely think that seriousness and focus comes with age. When you are young you have to get all the partyin done and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Moderation is the key..and unfortunately, like me, it's not a skill that is mastered so soon.

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Specializes in Cardiac/telemetry.

"...standin barefoot in the front yard with a baby on my hip..."

LOL, Hey Dixie... Do you "keep (your) Christmas lights on your front porch all year long?

Now wait guys... it is just a country song....relax. I'm from PA, and many of us are proud to be a "Redneck Woman." Doesn't really matter where in the country you are from!

Lighten up!

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Just thinking out loud here....

there are some students that come out of high school that I am sure immediately do great in college, but I wonder how many come out of HS and are away from mom and dad and just enjoy their freedoms? Straight out of HS, I was nowhere near ready to go to school. I had no desire to ever even do it. When I finally did go back after being out 10 years, I made the dean's list and missed my 4.0 by 2 points on the A&P practical. I was disciplined and ready to really do it. Now, I love school and cannot wait to go back. Isn't it something how the years changed me? I guess that's why I have been thinking about this. I have to say though that I am sure there are "older" partiers in school too.....

Another thing I am wondering out loud....do you think the programs that are perceived as "harder" (such as nursing) have more disciplined students?

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mauser-

LOL. no christmas lights currently. =) I do love that song...as well as her whole cd! She is great! It time that us country women have a singer to relate to instead of the more glamarous female country singers.

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That would make me very angry. Next time they say that, tell them that you know LOTS of nursing students with children at allnurses.com and they still manage to study and make good grades, even with kids. So maybe the problem is time management, not children.

Well said klone!!!! I went through my first degree program single and working full-time... got good grades. :rolleyes: Went on for my MSN -- married, 2 kids -- both in extra cirricular stuff and church stuff, and worked full time too -- got even better grades:) -- I agree -- children and hectic schedules CAN hinder studying etc, but shouldn't be counted as an excuse or a crutch to support someone's lack of study skills, time management skills or organizational skills. Some of us have been there, done that -- gotten the t-shirt and are living proof that you can do it all and do it all well! As for those who don't have children -- who's to say that they don't have other MAJOR factors that can detract from study time too!! (older, il parents, siblings issues, pets....)

OOPS! Was I ranting again?:uhoh21: I'll stop now.:p

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There is a group in my class that are younger, constantly skip, party down, then panic at the last minute and try to beg notes, charm themselves into study groups, etc.

All I can say is, 'your Kung Fu no work on me~!'

(tribute to old martial arts movies and not meant in a racist manner. :chuckle )

TOGA! TOGA! TOGA! :rotfl:

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