College...

this fall, i am starting my college life. thats fine with me and all but im starting a lil early. i just graduated from high school and just this year, i turned 16.
the reason i posted this is bc i need some information and help. im just kinda nervous about entering college bc everyone there will be so much older then me. i dont want them to look at me as a kid nor as a stuck up smart child bc im not like that. now, im really shy but im one of the nicest guys u'll probly ever meet. i just need help on this please.
im just gonna try to be myself and hopefuly ppl will like me. im still keeping up with old friends from high school which makes me happy, but im looking to make new ones too. any suggestions?
also, im gay, but "in the closet" but i plan to keep it "in the closet" while im at college bc i cant really date anyone there bc everyone will be over 18 and all. i am already in a relationship anyway. im not sure if i should tell ppl at the college or not yet.
there is more that i want to ask but these are my major conscerns. please help and any info will be helpful too. thanx and the best of luck to all.

i remember being really scared about starting college, too...

i don't know the demographics for your particular college, but often there are a whole heap of people who moved there, and they are all similarly scared about whether they will make friends. so... you should find a whole bunch of people who are being friendly, and trying to make friends with other people :-) one thing that i really loved about college is how different it was from school. hanging out by yourself, eating your lunch by yourself, hanging out in the library is completely fine. even the people who do have lots of friends probably won't find they have friends in every class they take, so there tends to be lots of opportunities to meet people. and study groups... you will tend to meet people in your classes. exams / assignments etc put stress on people and stress is a good social facilitator.

joining a club can be a good way to go. join something that interests you and you will have a nice chance to meet some people who share the same interest. being gay is a lot more accepted at college than it is at school, too. whether you share about your sexuality or not is completely up to you. i wouldn't be surprised if you didn't manage to find some friends who are more openly gay.

there will be other people around your age there, as well. especially in math / comp sci if you are into that... it isn't that uncommon for people to be 17 when starting... and i think you will find the age thing ok, really :-)

It's okay, I started college at 16.
People are different, and a new atmosphere is really scary. I was scared when I went to University as well back then. And dude, yeah keep it in the close too for a while until you know what they think of such people. But it'll be good if you find a good support group there in due time ;] One of my bestfriends is gay as well, and he kept it for a while. It worked for him.

<font color="purple">Clandestine</font>

I was sixteen when I entered college, I second the idea of joining some clubs. Find what fits you and stay with it. Campuses (most of them at least in the Northeast where I'm from) have decent peer and mentor support for students who are dealing with questions of sexuality. While jerks exists in any place at any time who will hold your sexuality against you, if you are comfortable with it, maybe this new experience would be a good time to joint a gay community student group. I know some people just don't identify with gay culture, but coming out of the closet while being on your own for the first time at 16 seems like a big task.

I guess what I'm saying is embrace who you are as per Soren Keirkegarrd's advice and find support for that process.

I'm sure you will do fine. There is alot of anxiety with starting any new endeavor, but just remember you are not alone. Most of the freshmen feel the same way. I did anyway. As far as revealing personal issues like your sexual preference, I doubt there will be any pressure. Just be you. . . and that whould be enough. You seem like a really nice guy and I know you will do well.
Best of luck to you.

thanx for all the great advice. i've taken college courses before so i know howit is but that was with more ppl around my age so it was cool. i should be fine i hope but just a lil nervous, thats all. thanx everyone, and the best of luck to all.

Joining a campus activity is a great way to meet people.
That is what they keep telling me at registration meetings!!
About the in the closet thing it's what ever your comfterbale with and it could depend on the college.
I know the Universtiy Of Central Arkansas has some clubs and support groups for gay students and even have a gay straight alliance group.
I'm sure University of Arkansas in little rock does too.
And I know Arkasas State University at Jonesboro does.

I wish you luck..and don't worry everyone feels nervous starting college!!
I myself am a nervous wreck about it..and I'm not even starting at a four year university I'm starting at a two year and transfering.
Those online college classes are a life saver..I took those too and I have cleped out of three classes because of it!! No intro to psych, freshmen english or American history since 1876!!
I'm sure you will be fine..you seem really nice and college will be a fun way to meet new people and learn lots of fun new subjects!!

Best of Luck to ya and if you have any questions about an Arkansas college feel free to pm me..I pretty much can answer any basic question since I considered all the main ones and if it's about UCA I could almost answer any question since I'm transfering their in two years.

I think it's totally normal to be nervous about starting college. I'm sure everyone there will be at least a little nervous. I remember when I went off to uni, there was only one other person from my high school going to the same school, so I knew I'd have to meet a lot of new people and that really scared me because I'm shy. But I joined a ton of clubs and tried out for the fencing team, and made it, and wound up having a fantasitic four years. I even wound up getting involved in student government. Get involved it's a great way to have a good college experience.

As for coming out or staying in the closet - that's your choice. Lots of schools have GLBT groups that can provide safe places to meet people and support with coming out.

Good luck, and remember that while studying is important, it's really important to have fun too.

--spltiimage