Average Freshman Age?

Lady Pi Phi · #1 10-05-2002, 01:00 PM

Yesterday we met with a COB who I think would make a great addition to our chapter. She was friendly, enthusiastic and seemed genuinely (sp?) interested in becoming a part of our organization. However, many of us noticed that she seemes a little young. She is a freshman, but we're so used to seeing freshman that are 18, 19 and even 20 years old. She was about 17. Now this is because of the Double Cohort (please search it has been mentioned before for those that don't know what it is...because frankly I'm too lazy to explain it :0) There is nothing wrong with being young, it was just something we noticed, I was just wondering what the average freshman age on other campuses were?

Thanks a lot,

PPL,

Emily

aephi alum · #2 10-05-2002, 01:23 PM

Average freshman age at my school is probably 18. We had some 19/20 year olds as well as some 17 year olds and the occasional 15/16 year old genius-type.

I was one of the youngest in my year throughout grade school, so I was still 17 when I started my freshman year and joined a sorority. I don't see any problem with a 17 or even 16 year old joining a GLO, other than possibly a logistics problem where a new member's paperwork (financial obligation notice, housing contract, etc) might have to be cosigned by a parent.

AXWhoah · #3 10-05-2002, 01:28 PM

Yeah the average of freshman is 18 but just like some are a little older some are a little younger, 17 isn't unusual.

KappaTarzan · #4 10-05-2002, 01:50 PM

i was 17.. a good amount of people i know were too.. it ranges between 17-19 'round here

33girl · #5 10-05-2002, 04:02 PM

I was 18, but we had students who started college when they were still 17. A lot of it has to do with when your school district lets kids begin kindergarten - mine said you must be 5 by September 1st, others used February 1st. (the Feb. after that Sept, that is)

justhey76 · #6 10-05-2002, 04:50 PM

I am 20 (I'll be 21 in seventeen days, actually) and I am a freshman!!!!

nyrdrms · #7 10-05-2002, 05:26 PM

We're still a somewhat non-traditional campus and when I came in (four years ago) the average freshman was 20-22, I believe. Since then, it's dropped to probably 18-19, still with some older students. When I came here, I pledged my first semester and I was 17 for the entire semester. The year before, there was a girl who pledged at 16, and this past year, we had another girl that was 17.

On the issue of age of potential new members, you need to look more at their maturity and less at their numerical age. That's really the only way that I can explain it.

GeekyPenguin · #8 10-05-2002, 05:31 PM

Most of our freshmen are in the 19-21 range, I was 18 my whole freshman year though. It doesn't sound like you're discounting her just for age though, which is great - I'm always the youngest in my class, and it doesn't necessarily mean anything. I graduated high school at 17, will graduate college at 21, and probably have better grades then a lot of the older people!

Lady Pi Phi · #9 10-05-2002, 06:44 PM

No, no we're not discounting her because of her age. She's a great girl. I was just curious as to what the average age is. Do any of the younger members find it difficult being so young among your sisters?

PPL,

Emily

GeekyPenguin · #10 10-05-2002, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
No, no we're not discounting her because of her age. She's a great girl. I was just curious as to what the average age is. Do any of the younger members find it difficult being so young among your sisters?

PPL,

Emily

Oh I didn't mean you were discounting her! I actually find it hard, sometimes. We have 22 ladies, 11 actives and 11 NM's, and I think that myself and three of my new member class are the only ones who aren't 21 or won't be within the next year...it isn't too bad though. Today just wasn't fun because all the alums were back and only a few came to the house, the rest just wanted to go to the bars.

Fewdfreak · #11 10-06-2002, 07:56 PM

In my high school there were three people senior year who were just turning 17, and this year they finally will turn 18. Here at college, I don't know as many people, but I do know of two girls who can't go to bars yet because they aren't 18 yet, and one won't be 18 until July, so I don't think it's unusual, but I guess it depends on your average freshman age. I don't think age is really a big factor because most of those who are younger, a 17 year old freshman for example, has been a year younger in a higher grade for most of their lives, so they usually have the same maturity level (or even a higher one) as the older students in the same grade, so it's not like they are an immature 16 year old that has been thrust into college, most likely, she went through the same schooling and steps as her older peers in getting to college, so she has the same experiences.

Glitter650 · #12 10-07-2002, 12:38 AM

One of my sisters JUST had her 19 B day and she joined when she was 17 last year, so 17 year old freshman aren't at all uncommon I don't think she found it hard being the youngest in her class, although it does suck when a lot of people are 21 and you can't go with... but other than that it's no problem to have younger women !!