I was also going to say something about potential attitude problems. In one of my classes in grad school, there was a student that thought he was hot shit, because he was in the MD PhD program, and most of the rest of us were "just" PhD students. He'd interrupt professors to give his opinion on things, or ask questions that were completely off topic, and easily could be asked after class. He even cut off other students asking questions to either try to answer them, or ask his own. Because of him, class often ran long. We were all in labs doing research, and often set experiments around our class schedule (and even running something 5 to 10 min too long could result in your protein of interest running off a gel, or cause slight differences in an assay to become undetectable). We disliked him, not because he was "serious" or "smart," but because he was arrogant, and wasted our time.

@23 that's a good point. At my school there's a lot of kids that party, but are also serious about their shit. People have rolled up from a Mardi Gras party and in their seats ready to kick ass in discussions. And the attitude thing is important. You might not notice how angry or harsh you sound to someone else until you think about it. Going in with a chip on your shoulder is also a way to piss people off. I have to say I've never had a problem with older students. My favorite is the lady old enough to be my mom who always brought food for us.

I don't get it, when I was at university we liked and respected the older students, it was reassuring to have someone who actually had their life together a bit more in our midst, and every group needs someone who will speak up in class instead of letting everyone stew in awkward silence when a teacher asks a question. I reckon you're stuck with a bad bunch.

OP, they don't understand because they're 19 and not as mature as you, neither do they understand at this stage what is really important in life. I think the great thing about being an older student is that you know what you want and take things like your education more seriously, and as you've said, your not intimidated by your professors or participating in class.

If it makes you feel any better OP I had the same problem when I was on college and the same age as the people you're complaining about. Too many people think college is to get away from your parents and goof off, so anyone, of any age, who is genuinely interested in their classes and has their shot together gets looked down on. Hang in there and enjoy getting your degree!

I don't think all 19 year olds are like that. I'm 20 in less than two weeks but I still study all the time and try to do well in school. I don't go out partying and rarely drink and do drugs. A lot of my friends in college I believe are the same way. It is about finding the people you fit in with. OP is taking a class that has a bunch of people who do not care about their education.

Hey OP, good on you for getting qualifications in a field you're passionate about. I was in your position not too long ago as the oldest in some of my classes by more than a few years (there was a guy who beat me out in some of the classes our degrees shared). I found that offering to tutor some of the younger students eased their tensions and helped me learn better as well. It won't work with all of them but it may get some of them to ease off of you. Good luck on your coursework regardless. :)

Once you get a job out there, and then go back to university, you realize the importance of making the best out of university and getting good grades. Im working now too and I realize that I could have done better during college.

Likely not applicable here but in my university there are what people call "try-hards" and "keeners", and they're usually distinctly different from actual smart students in that they are always talking, getting into arguments with the prof, and are always trying to show off by saying things that they think sound smart but aren't. The other distinction is that try-hards and keeners are usually wrong, totally off topic, or interrupting to the point of making it difficult to take notes or finish the lecture. They try really hard to look smart and impress the professor, but fail really hard. Other small things include asking if they can hand in assignments early (because even if you do it early, what's the point other than showing off that you're already done in handing it in sooner?) and visibly annoying the professor. When there is an audible groan every time someone speaks or everyone rolls their eyes, you have a try-hard on your hands.

Good for you OP. There's a women in one of my classes who is older maybe 30 and we love having her opinion on things because she had a different point of view from us. Keep going and ignore them.

I went through the same thing the first time I went through--no parties and focused on my studying. I graduated 3 days before my 21st birthday with my Bachelors. In the particular degree I was going for, if we failed the same class twice, we had to choose a different major. I saw lots of people fail out because they didn't put the time and effort in but rather drank and partied. I'm glad you're focusing on what is important and I know it's hard on a person being left out. I hope that you can find at least one other person your age in some of your other classes and if not now, then in future classes. Keep your head up and focus on what is important, OP.

I would say it is completely about your 'participation' - my guess is that they view you as talking too much and taking over the class; generally speaking, other students aren't interested in your opinion, and aren't happy when you spend half the class expressing it. They view you as a know-it-all and wasting their time. If you want to have a chat with the professor and/or other students, do it after class in your free time. Remember, the class isn't there just for you. Monopolising the class time is disrespectful to the other students.

You're just like me. And they do consider me a smartass and there's already a ongoing thing that I'm always getting the highest grade on exams because the teachers love me (they think teachers love me because I'm smart, but it's really because I respect them) and that I'm a genius. But I just love the field I'm studying. Keep working for your future. :)

74, no offense but it sounds more like it's because you're kind of full of yourself.

Haters gonna hate!

You sound like the one annoying know it all bragging about how they got 100% on the exam and anyone who didn't is a moron. Then you remind the teacher y'all had hw after they forgot.

You could also be killing the grading curve for them. Not really your fault since they're the ones being irresponsible but I know when my mother took a French class at a local college and aced it as a professional linguist herself the younger people taking the class hated her because they "couldn't compete" and she was "ruining the curve" because she was actually studying and not partying every night. She even offered to tutor anyone struggling but was met with resentment.

Going through a similar thing at age 39. I'm currently an LPN going for my RN at a community college, and since I went to a career training school for the LPN I have to take a bunch of general-ed classes now. My anatomy lab started with 24 students and now has only 7, at least 3 of whom are right on the edge of passing/failing and might drop the week before finals. I can't imagine getting this far in the term knowing I had a low grade and not doing anything about it, but then again I'm there for a reason, not just because college is the expected thing to do after high school. Keep up the hard work, OP.