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Original poster

17 when going to uni. Do they cope?

106 replies

Puygo · 18/05/2024 22:45

Why do scotlands education system do this? Kind of wishing we were in England where ds would be oldest in year and would be almost 19 when going to Uni. Did anyone have dc go to uni at 17? Don’t they seem really young still? We are a few years away , but just worrying about this already.

OP posts:
VioletW · 18/05/2024 22:46

I was 17 and most of my friends were 18 (as most people are by September when term time usually starts). I didn't feel too young.

What are you worried about in particular OP?

Kiitos · 18/05/2024 22:47

I did. I was fine

Bs0u416d · 18/05/2024 22:48

One of my friends at university was 17 when she started. I'm not actually sure why 🤔. But it made absolutely zero difference.

Original poster
Puygo · 18/05/2024 22:51

Just worried about maturity level at that point

OP posts:
user09876543 · 18/05/2024 22:53

I think the social impact is the biggest issue. If they are 17 and can’t get into bars and clubs then they will miss out on things their 18 year old friends are doing. I’d always recommend a gap year working first to avoid this

Original poster
Puygo · 18/05/2024 22:55

I do wonder about a gap year but I think these need to be carefully planned to make sure they do something itself for that year.

OP posts:
Original poster
Puygo · 18/05/2024 22:55

useful

OP posts:
mitogoshi · 18/05/2024 22:58

I'd look at a gap year as freshers is all about socialising in a way that at 17 she won't be allowed

dementedpixie · 18/05/2024 22:59

I went when I was 16 and turned 17 shortly afterwards as I went after S5. Graduated when I was 20 (seems a lifetime ago!)

Dd was 17 when she started and ds will be too.

dementedpixie · 18/05/2024 23:02

Dd wasn't interested in freshers events as she's really introverted. Ds is a bit more extroverted so not sure if he will get more involved with things

InheritedClock · 18/05/2024 23:03

dementedpixie · 18/05/2024 22:59

I went when I was 16 and turned 17 shortly afterwards as I went after S5. Graduated when I was 20 (seems a lifetime ago!)

Dd was 17 when she started and ds will be too.

Yes, I’d only just turned 17 at the start of August before starting university. I was fine (with fake ID).

rainbowbee · 18/05/2024 23:05

Ireland has an option to do that too. The ones in university at 17 miss out on a lot of the evening socialising; it's a big deal at that age.

Original poster
Puygo · 18/05/2024 23:08

Yes I am kind of thinking more of how people cope nowadays. I do remember some of my peers being 17 and I was only just 18 myself. But now I am the parent rather than the child. And it is a different world now. Just wondering about it all

OP posts:
VioletW · 18/05/2024 23:08

I don't think a gap year is necessary. Those who are 17 are probably 17 for the same reason I was - birthday in October! That's rectified in no time.

Also what would you be thinking re a gap year? Most young people associate that with travel and id argue 17 IS too young to do that. I went travelling from 20/21 and was ready.

There is nothing abnormal about starting at 17 and most people want to do what their peers are doing, ie going to uni at the same time and not off on gap years

user09876543 · 18/05/2024 23:12

VioletW · 18/05/2024 23:08

I don't think a gap year is necessary. Those who are 17 are probably 17 for the same reason I was - birthday in October! That's rectified in no time.

Also what would you be thinking re a gap year? Most young people associate that with travel and id argue 17 IS too young to do that. I went travelling from 20/21 and was ready.

There is nothing abnormal about starting at 17 and most people want to do what their peers are doing, ie going to uni at the same time and not off on gap years

Why would they all have birthdays in October? Confused

ID is a big deal nowadays. They check it on the door in all the bars in DCs university town

Eastcoastie · 18/05/2024 23:14

I agree that the English age cut offs seem to work better but I know 3 people who went to uni at 17 and none of them had any issues. If they wanted to go out they can borrow someones ID. Id be more worried about going back to education after a gap year.

VioletW · 18/05/2024 23:15

I didn't mean October @user09876543

I meant if they start aged 17 it's likely because they have a birthday later in the year.

user09876543 · 18/05/2024 23:17

VioletW · 18/05/2024 23:15

I didn't mean October @user09876543

I meant if they start aged 17 it's likely because they have a birthday later in the year.

It isn’t though. It’s because they leave school a year earlier.

Salamanderpalaganda · 18/05/2024 23:18

My dc went to uni age 17 (Oct birthday) and was v ready to do so - I think it depends on their readiness and maturity. I could be wrong, but I don't think fake ID was possible, but under 18s were able to access uni events, they had to wear a special wristband.

Some of dc's cohort who were 17 took gap years - not travelling but working, and given the costs of uni this was really helpful.

Original poster
Puygo · 18/05/2024 23:19

If they go to uni in England all their peers are a full year older

OP posts:
BeaumisterandLeary · 18/05/2024 23:19

DH was, but socially the world was very different then and fake ID completely normal!

DoubleWork · 18/05/2024 23:19

I was 16, graduated at 19, was no issue. Dd in Glasgow has a lot of friends who started the year under 18, was no issue.

VioletW · 18/05/2024 23:19

Well that's one possibility @user09876543 Me and my friend were 17 because term started in September and I had my birthday October, he had his November.

trickotreat · 18/05/2024 23:19

VioletW · 18/05/2024 23:08

I don't think a gap year is necessary. Those who are 17 are probably 17 for the same reason I was - birthday in October! That's rectified in no time.

Also what would you be thinking re a gap year? Most young people associate that with travel and id argue 17 IS too young to do that. I went travelling from 20/21 and was ready.

There is nothing abnormal about starting at 17 and most people want to do what their peers are doing, ie going to uni at the same time and not off on gap years

I would argue the opposite. Gap years have often changed the direction of study. Getting out of school and into the world before starting uni can be life changing. Many young people take gap years so it's not odd to step away from what your particular friend group is doing. It's such a massive growth step to not continue with the chronological cohort you've been with all your life as it's such an artificial structure to stick with

Once out of school it's normal to mix with people of different ages. It just travel through life on some sort of year group conveyer belt. It allows young people to step back and truly think and feel what they want to do. Not just go with the tide

PiHanLot · 18/05/2024 23:20

My DC1 was in a flat of 6 in 1st year and 2 flatmates were 17 for the whole of first term. They had both done S6 at school and were just as mature as the others. Very rare to go after S5 now.
They couldn't go out with the others when they went to pubs or clubs as strictly over 18s and ID rigorously checked several times an evening!

But they did socialise a lot in others flats and otherwise seemed to be fine.

It might be more of a problem at Universities like Edinburgh or St Andrews where there a lot of non-Scottish students who will all be older in 1st year. Many from England turn 19 in their first term at uni