Mature Students: Tips For Integrating With Younger Students

The integration of mature and younger students can be problematic, at times. Mature students re-entering academic programs, face new challenges in terms of integrating with younger students, particularly when many of the mature students are baby boomers or retirees.

“Times have changed,” the mature student may say, as he or she looks around the classroom. “So have the younger students. They all look so young now!”

The younger students may look at the mature student with skepticism. “Is this where he or she belongs?”

Mature students face many challenges and integration with younger students is only one of them. 

“Youthful environment re-attaches us to younger self: hopes and fears…”

There have always been mature students intermixed with younger students, but perhaps the reality of our day is that there are more students, of all ages. Consider the following tips if you are a mature student integrating with younger students.

Mature students benefit from integrating with younger students, because the majority of younger students have already acquired current computer skills, training, etc. Mature students need to become familiar with this mode of electronic communication to succeed. While this is not a new realm for all mature students, many appreciate this reality.  

By establishing positive inter-personal relationships immediately and maintaining them, mature students draw from the younger students’ body of academic knowledge and expertise. This will be different from the mature students’ previous academic education and experience.  

Many younger students welcome the presence of mature students because they have previous work experience, knowledge and skills sets that younger students will only acquire over time. Many younger students relate well to mature students who are the age of their parents or grandparents and enjoy that kind of relationship.

Unfortunately, that is not true in every situation. Some young students never adapt to having mature students in their classrooms. The same is true of mature students who refuse to accept younger students. Mutual acceptance and tolerance are important in maintaining a successful learning environment for everyone. In an academic setting, it should not become mature students versus younger students, although that can happen. Everyone is a student and in sharing mutual knowledge and wisdom, their academic horizons expand and they all benefit.

In academic circles, regardless of whether one is a mature student or a younger student, there should be integration, particularly with respect to pro-active, ambitious students. Younger students may immediately respect mature students, depending upon their upbringing. Unfortunately, that does not always happen.

Respect in academic circles has to be earned. It is not accorded to all mature students or younger students. 

Attempting to be one of the younger students is not a good idea.

The mature student’s appearance, comportment, manner of speaking, etc. invariably sets a good example for younger students. Many mature students are already professionals in different, academic areas and younger students recognize and acknowledge this reality.

Mature students who treat younger students with mutual respect lay the groundwork for effective integration in classroom settings.