How does this work for academic year/university?

[kmo0416]

If someone was born in August of 2006, that means that when they were at school their classmates were born between September 2005 - August 2006.

Anyone born after August 2006, was a year group below them; anyone born before September 2004, was a year group above them.

Growing up, a person born in August 2006, would have been socialised with their age mates ie those in their year group. They would have done GCSEs/A-levels at the same time; gone to university at the same time (unless they didn’t go or took a gap year); would have taken part in the same championships and competitions due to the same age etc. This means they would have much in common.

When someone born in August 2006, was at school and in say, Year 13, for example, they would have likely thought they had much more in common with other Year 13s than someone in Year 12, even if that Year 12 was born in September 2006 (so only a few weeks after them).

This is as such person, even though a few weeks younger, would have been behind in terms of a year of education; would not be eligible for the same championships or competitions if they were based on year group etc.

All of this leads people to strongly identify with their academic age mates.

So, I wonder how this functions in university. Imagine if someone took a gap year and so the majority of the students in their cohort were not their age mates so a year group below, even if only a few weeks or months younger, they would not be their age mates. So, would this mean that such a person would profoundly find it difficult to relate to or understand such people because they weren’t part of the same academic year group?

How hard do you find it to relate to people who are not your age mates?

You have some of the same cultural references so might laugh about the same things or reminisce about the same things eg taping off the radio in the 1980s but otherwise you might get on well with people from their 20s up to their 90s when you are 50.

That said, there was a study that found that if you look at a work canteen, people will mix in virtually every way - but not necessarily by age - ie younger staff congregate together and older people do. That is quite interesting.

By the way are you the same poster who posted about deferred places and your dd being offered money to take a gap year? If so - she should do it.

Duh. Because the year 13 students have studied the subjects longer

seriously OP do you honestly think anyone older than you is smarter than you? Abd more developed and more advanced?

How do you explain world leaders who are if all different ages. Or professors of all different ages. Or people who are self made billionaires by 28?

im either thinking this thread is a complete piss take it you struggle with some sort of cognitive function

OP it might help to post clearly what you are actually worried about.

Because it can’t possibly be the odd year or two age gap between student?

If you are about to start uni as a mature student please don’t worry, all the mature student I knew at uni got on really well.

What are you getting at here?

Obviously age is not the only (or even the most important) factor in either friendships/socialising or academic ability.

It is merely one facet of a person’s makeup.
Why would it be more important than life experience, personality, interests, common institution memberships, life goals, upbringing, values, stage of life etc. etc. ????

What is worrying you @kmo0416?

Y13 usually have more subject knowledge than Y12 because they have studied for an extra year. On average. Not because they are a defined amount older.

Averages have outliners tho.

Some Y13 will be "thick" (sorry for crude language) and may be less intelligent than the average Y12.

Some youngsters, Y11 or younger, are hyper-gifted and more intelligent than the average Y13.

The vast majority of those who go to uni (from England) have studied for 5 years in secondary school and 2 years at college or sixth form. Doesn't matter their actual age.

Some will have taken a year in industry and gained a lot. Some may have many years work experience. Some may gave more social experience from a year out. Some may be straight from A Levels. And some may have dossed around and done nothing for a while.

Their age doesn't affect their intelligence and won't affect shared interests and friendships.

So what is your actual point? Because we might be able to help ease your worry.

Am completely baffled by your post, OP, or what you are asking. I was in the wrong school year (changed countries where education systems were different). Was friends with people in my class. By the time I was in 6th form I was friends with people in my year, the year above and the year below. When I went to uni I was friends with all sorts, and did classes and lectures with people from all years (US uni -- slightly different system), some of whom were mature students. Was friendly with many of them.

I am now 53. My bestie (who has been my bestie for 30+ years) I met at uni: I had just started post grad, she was in her second year of undergrad. We met at work (earning money as students).

Over the years have I been friends with people who have different levels of knowledge than me about some things? Yes, of course. I am now working with someone who is 10 years younger than me who knows way more about lots of stuff than I do. I know more than her about other things. We make a good team.

Are you asking about academic performance? Ability to make friends? Having things in common?

None of those things are related to age.

@kmo0416 if you are the poster constantly fretting and tying themselves in knots over missed opportunities and varied uni options - I’m afraid you are using the subject of this thread as yet another way to put hurdles in front of yourself.

Nobody cares.

Take the Cambridge Foundation year.

Or take a year out and get a job.

Either way, stop sitting in your room making up reasons why you cannot proceed with normal life.

Just Do It.

Yes @kmo0416 is the poster with the offer of a foundation year at Cambs. Op being a year older is not a reason not to take the Cambs offer.

None of what you are saying is an issue. Have you had a very isolated life? My dc by age 19 had friends from other school years through hobbies such as sport, drama, Scouts and Guides. And as others say, it’s utterly not an issue once you leave school.

I cannot believe you ask that about someone born in 1970. It’s fine. Approach this with a positive attitude and it can go really well. As @TeenToTwenties and others say.

Is this for real? Year 13 students aren't necessarily more intelligent but they will usually be ahead academically because they have been studying for a year longer than someone in year 12. Assuming they don't study during their gap year then yes, the year 12 will have caught up and they will be at the same starting point academically at the beginning of university... Although the year 13 may have more life experience.

They’re not ‘more intelligent’. They’ve just learned more and further developed their skills. They are not intrinsically ahead of the year 12 student - it’s nurture not nature by this stage. Surely if you’re clever enough to have any sort of Cambridge offer this should be obvious to you?

When these 2 hypothetical students start their degree course together, the younger one who didn’t have a gap year may possibly be at an academic advantage over the older one if the latter has forgotten content and not kept their skills honed (this is sometimes cited as an issue with maths, less so with other subjects). But the older one may have developed a wider skill set or just be a bit more mature, depending what they did in that year. The age difference is pretty much irrelevant versus the other factors.

DD is a July baby, just turned 18. She is best friends with 3 other girls, one June so same academic year and two are autumn born, so a year below.

She is also a Scout Explorer and a Young Leader. Currently on camp and socialising with her fellow Explorers and the other leaders who she knows as they aged out from Exporers one or two years ago, so the age range is 16-20 mainly.

At her drama club she spent time and socialised with other students who were all in the 14-18 age group and also amateuer actors from the main group who were between 5-10 years older than her.

School is not all, I would say she does better with older people as she is ND and can't stand drama and what a typical 14-17 teen is up to.
I don't think she will have an issue with students at her uni who are older because of a gap year or the ones she will meet at societies who will be in years above.
Friendship/social circles aren't bound by the school admission rules.

DD's friends are mostly from her sports team. They are UG's of all years, Masters and PHD's. So age range 18 to 28ish. She had a 56 year old on her Masters course, they all socialised together.

Age is pretty irrelevant when you are at uni.

You are massively, massively overstating this imo. I'm especially baffled by the 'taking part in the same competitions and championships' bit in your OP.

When you're 11 or 14 or whatever, the details of very specific things you have in common with your year group will seem like a big deal. But in any case they are still only things you have in common with people in your year group in your own school. You might well find you had as much in common with people in the year above or below you in your school than with people in your year group in other schools.

Once you go to uni it all becomes pretty irrelevant. One or two years of age difference are pretty much insignificant compared with all the other differences - nationality, culture, background, religion, hobbies, which part of the country you come from, what kind of school you went to etc etc.

I've been a secondary school teacher for decades and it's not especially uncommon for kids to have friends in the year above or the year below.

This is a very odd question. Students don't become more intelligent in Y13. They've just learned more!

Dd is August born, took a gap year and met students both older and younger in her first year at uni. Made absolutely no difference socially and most would not be aware. Now in postgrad the majority of her intake are older, some much older.

You seem unhealthily hung up about this. Intelligence is not age related and you will come across people you may become friendly with, or not, at different points during adult life, older and younger. Maturity enables you to look beyond specifics such as age.

I don’t think it’s that they usually stick with their age but their school cohort - university life is very different

My kids are in mixed classes in a 3 tier system school. So when they're in year 3 they are with year 4s. The year 4s go off to middle school. The year 3s become year 4s and new yr3s join the class. They've mixed with kids a year above and below through their school life.
It's an invaluable skill and makes the kids very sociable at a young age.
Your worries about whether 18,19 and 20 year olds can mix is ridiculous.

I am a lecturer. Students start socialising with those who are not exactly their age through classes, hobbies, societies, people inside/outside the uni. It's a bit like adults do. But of course many, most, of the connections/friendships are with people from their course (at least initially). Encourage kids to branch out and join activities through uni or beyond (sports, etc).

It matters not a jot at uni! Many have gap years, there are mature students. All will be well

How hard do you find it to relate to people who are not your age mates?

By time they go to Uni, most people can show a lot of social flexibility... which was probably always there, anyway.

When I taught at Uni my youngest students was 18 and my eldest was 66, and all ages in between. You generally found that those 18-21 would hang around together 21-30 would hang around together and those 30 plus would hang around together.

Its pretty irrelevant by the time you get to uni. You may find that there are a few under 18s who have come through the Scottish system and a few 22 year olds who may have taken a couple of years out to work to build up a uni fund. I know someone who applied grades in hand - so taking a gap year and was offered a deferred place at med school - so had 2 years out. The only issues that arise are the under 18s can't (legally) do everything their flat/course mates can and there may be the odd night club that is over 21s so not everyone can go to that.

Are you worrying about being a year or two older than others doing the foundation year? You have been offered a place to help you ease into your university studies and give you the support you need. There will be some who are older than you, some who are younger than you, some studying law, some studying maths, some who are vegan, some who have come from overseas, some who have dyed their hair blue. Don't constantly compare yourself to everyone else. It's not a competition and you will make friends if you just stop worrying. They wouldn't have made you an offer if they didn't think you deserved it.