Going to college as a mature student is a strange experience. You are probably excited at the thought of learning new things and enjoying life out of the rat race for a while, but being thrust into a sea of teenagers who are away from home for the first time is truly nerve wracking. You are probably desperate to fit in, so the last thing you want to do is dress like their mom, or worse, a tutor.

Wearing inappropriate clothing sends out the wrong vibe. First impressions count in any social situation, so you need to wear the right outfit for your first day in class. You are likely to be in a minority, with most of your fellow students in their teens or early 20s. You may not end up being best friends with any of them, but why set yourself apart unnecessarily? Here is a quick guide to rocking the college look, even if you are a 40-something mature student.

Be True to Yourself

It is important to be true to yourself. Now is not the time to start experimenting with a radical new look. You might have gotten away with it in your teens, but you are way too old for that now. This is not to say you need to be boring. No, far from it. It’s OK to wear skinny jeans and some leather boots if that’s the look you are comfortable with, but don’t feel you have to follow the herd.

Hopefully, as a mature woman you are blessed with plenty of self-confidence. If you enjoy wearing colorful ethnic scarves or statement jewelry, then go for it. Jazz up a plain pair of trousers with a funky necklace and a colorful scarf. You won’t look out of place.

Corporate Fashion

Are you used to dressing up for corporate meetings and your work closet is full of pantsuits and blouses? If so, you need to shake it up a little, otherwise people will mistake you for Hillary Clinton or a tutor. Most people dress down for college. Jeans and sneakers are the order of the day, with casual sweaters and hoodies for cooler days. If you show up wearing a smart pantsuit with heels, you will look and feel out of place. By all means, wear a silk shirt or heels, but dress down the look with jeans or a long Bo-Ho maxi skirt.

Online College Courses

The great thing about enrolling in an online college course is that you can wear whatever you like. If you are studying for an online MSN nursing administration at Bradley University, nobody will know what you are wearing for lectures, since they all take place online. You can rock up to a tutorial with your MSN administration tutor and he won’t know you are still in your old pajamas. How cool is that?

Whatever your personal style is, dress accordingly when you start college. As long as you keep it casual, you should fit right in.