<p>I'm going to be entering college at 17 and applying while I'm 16. I don't want to make some huge post out of this because it really doesn't have to be. My question is:
Will being younger affect the adcom's opinion of me? If so, is it a good thing, or a bad thing?
Thanks.</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat as you – in fact, come time for my high school graduation, I’ll still be 16. As long as your essays/recs show that you are mentally prepared to handle the social challenges and maturity demanded of you in college, I doubt you should have too much of a problem.</p>
<p>My D is in the same boat. Currently 16, will spend the majority of her first semester in college as a 17 year-old. We don’t think the adcoms will care one way or the other. And, if they do, I can only imagine that it would be a good thing; especially if your stats and LORs are as good or better than the 18 year-olds applying.</p>
<p>My essays definitely prove that I am incredibly mature for my age, at least in terms of my writing style. I also feel that my stats and LORs will be more than adequate when being reviewed by adcoms.
Thanks for the prompt responses!</p>
<p>don’t worry about something that you cant’ control.</p>
<p>true wisdom.</p>
<p>Anyone with a Fall/Early winter birthday (for those not in school a year ahead/graduating early/skipped a grade) will all be 16 when applying and 17 when entering school. This will likely be 1/3 to 1/4 of all those applying.</p>
<p>A significant percentage at any school will be a year or more younger. Adcom will not care as long as you demonstrate maturity and stayed in high school long enough to achieve all you could.</p>
<p>I don’t think you will have any problem. My D1 was 16 when she started college and turned 17 in her freshman fall semester. The only problem I have seen is if you are UNDER 16 when you begin college. A couple of years ago there was a student on CC who was 15 entering college and at least one LAC could not accept her/him due to age. There are a lot of students 17 starting college - you will not be alone!</p>
<p>Okay, thanks for all the help, guys 
I was just worried because one of my friends told me that my age might make them question my maturity. I was like WHAT? NO. So I turned to CC knowing they would set the matter straight 
Thanks again!</p>
<p>I know you already said you got the help you needed, but I just wanted to weigh in on this if you don’t mind. I’m in the same situation but I’m younger than you. For a while, I’ve been ferreting info out on younger students. We’re definitely not the youngest. </p>
<p>[09.21.2005</a> - 13- and 14-year-old siblings enter UC Berkeley as junior transfer students](<a href=“http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2005/09/21_pierce.shtml]09.21.2005”>09.21.2005 - 13- and 14-year-old siblings enter UC Berkeley as junior transfer students)
“Charles is the youngest transfer student this fall at the University of California, Berkeley, where he’s now in his junior year. His 14-year-old sister, Mayumi, also transferred in this fall as a junior.” </p>
<p>[Daily</a> Bruin :: Smart guy](<a href=“http://www.dailybruin.com/index.php/article/2010/10/smart_guy]Daily”>http://www.dailybruin.com/index.php/article/2010/10/smart_guy)
“Too young to live in the dorms, Cavalin, just shy of 12 years old, began classes at UCLA last week as a third-year mathematics student.” </p>
<p>It shouldn’t be too hard for you to convince admissions that you’re mature, especially if they’re admitting them as juniors. Both articles are from UCs but I’ve heard about younger students at many, many other unis by word of mouth. You come off very well in your posts, so I don’t believe anyone would take issue with you being slightly younger than the “norm”. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Same boat, though I’m two years younger thanks to two grade skips.</p>
<p>Again, I think that as long as your essays prove maturity, age shouldn’t be a deterent.</p>
<p>Damn precocious children. Twelve-year-olds should be out on the playground eating dirt and playing tag, not sitting in University classrooms doing math that I can’t even figure out as a high school senior.</p>