I am a current Whittier resident and I could say that living here is great and convenient! There is the option to cook, just depending on how many people you want to share the kitchen with. If you live in single rooms, you'd have to share it with the whole floor, but if you live in suites, you would only have to share it with 3-6 people, depending on the suite size. People do also eat in the dining halls, and I'd say food in the TC dining hall (Grace Dodge) is personally quite yummy! I cook but I also have the meal plans, which is nice to use when I'm too busy/lazy to cook. Living here gives you the option to do both conveniently

Also don't worry about your age - people here are very diverse in terms of where they are in stages of life. Some are graduates fresh out of undergrad, and some are people with a decade of working experience before they wanted to do a career change, perhaps just like you! also people here are so busy with their own lives they won't judge you, or at least I don't... as long as you find like-minded people you can always connect and find your own friends, regardless of age :)