<p>I dropped out of high school at the age of 16 , took a high school proficiency examination, and attended a CC for awhile, but I ended up not continuing school since 17 or so.</p>
<p>Instead, I opened up my own business which earns me around 30-50K a year, and I'm planning to expand to the level where I can earn 100K (I'm giving you these numbers, because I was wondering if this will mean anything to the schools I apply if I mention them in the application process)</p>
<p>My initial plan was to enroll back in CC this or next year and transfer to one of my dream schools, but I'm finding out more everyday that it is extremely hard to do so, possibly harder than applying as a freshman. But is it possible for a 22 year old who dropped out of high school at 16 to apply as a freshman?
If they do, I assume I must take GED (or is it ACT?), SAT, SAT II, and others that most high schoolers take. Am I correct?</p>
<p>I also lived in many parts of the world and speak 4 different languages fluently. I obviously don't have any EC to make me stand out, so I'm planning to do something with my life before I apply (so above age may have to changed to 23 or 24)
What would you recommend me doing? I'm thinking of something very extraordinary like going to a third world country and helping people over there, servicing in leprosarium, or something like that.</p>
<p>Any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.</p>
<p>IF you are looking into applying to an ivy it will be an uphill climb as a transfer student from CC. Should you decide to apply as a transfer student you will still be evaluated in the pool against other transfer students who are presenting SAT scores, diplomas, ECs etc.</p>
<p>If you are looking at the Ivies, I would suggest that you look at schools where they have degree programs for returning adults ex: Columbia University's school of general studies, Harvard's extension school . </p>
<p>This way you will be evaluated based on your grades and life experience. Because the process varies from school to school, you should look up the requirements at each school as some schools do not accept students unless they have a diploma (no GEDs) while other programs do not require a diploma.
example:</p>
<p>I'm aware of the fact that it is insanely difficult to transfer to those top national schools from a CC. That is why I asked if it's possible for an adult of age of 22-24 to apply as a freshman along with high school seniors.</p>
<p>I guess Duke, Princeton, and Brown is out of the question as they only accept people with high school diplomas.
Beside these three schools, it's giving me an impression that it is, indeed, possible to apply, but I assume the applicant has to be exceptionally bright and out of ordinary (Or are they counted/treated equally as all other high school senior applicants?)</p>
<p>So my question was, if anyone knows or read about such people, what kind of people were they, and how rarely does this type of enrollment happen?</p>
<p>I know of a student who enrolled at Harvard at age 22. He didn't have a high school diploma but had founded his own high tech company and made a fortune later selling it. He was recognized as expert in certain technical fields and sometimes flew off to the middle east to consult with foreign governments on construction projects. He was also British. He lived in the freshman dorms with all the 18 year olds.</p>
<p>So it can happen but it's rare. The student has to be very extraordinary.</p>
<p>If you're older than 21, I believe Columbia College and columbia's school of engineering want you to talk to the School of General Studies... they don't want people older than that living in the dorms.</p>
<p>You can't apply as a freshman if you've been to college. I was a transfer to Harvard and was among some older very accomplished students. Not to be mean, but making $50K would not put you into their league. If you're business is unusual and thoughtful, how much you make won't be an issue however.</p>
<p>i would say getting into an ivy as a transfer in your circumstances is pretty hard, but i havnt looked into transfering yet. for a place like harvard, you may go against students from princeton and other ivys which would put you at a slight disadvantage IMO. though your accomplishments are great (50k a year is what college grads earn) i dont know if it will get you into an ivy. IMHO, i think it's better to attend your state school and goto an ivy or ivy level school for an mba because then they look at more your grades and gmat and less of your highschool deploma.</p>
<p>Frankly, I just turned 20, but I just put 22, because I believe I will need at least a year or two to make an academic improvement in order to meet the standards of the excellent schools that I'm aiming for.
However, I surely can't apply this year, so Columbia is out then, sadly.</p>
<br>
<p>If you're older than 21, I believe Columbia College and columbia's school of engineering want
you to talk to the School of General Studies... they don't want people older than that living in
the dorms.</p>
<p>you are in a very unusual situation and I really don't think that this is the place for advice. You just can't compare yourself to any other applicant coming from a regular high school background. </p>
<p>consider posting in the parents forum for some advice from adults who have already graduated from college. also, contact the admissions officers from a few of the schools you are considering. now is probably a good time before the year gets too busy for them. </p>
<p>If you need a piece of paper that says you have a high school diploma, check out this website <a href="http://www.narhs.com%5B/url%5D">www.narhs.com</a> they can grant a high school diploma based on the work you have already done. It will allow you to mark the box that says you have a diploma.</p>
<p>your age and experience add diversity and may be really sought after -- don't underestimate yourself.</p>
<p>Glad to finally hear about someone who did enroll at Harvard that is older than 18 and not freshly out of high school, although he surely sounds truly more successful in his business than I currently am.</p>
<br>
<p>I know of a student who enrolled at Harvard at age 22. He didn't have a high school diploma
but had founded his own high tech company and made a fortune later selling it. He was
recognized as expert in certain technical fields and sometimes flew off to the middle east to
consult with foreign governments on construction projects. He was also British. He lived in
the freshman dorms with all the 18 year olds.</p>
<p>So it can happen but it's rare. The student has to be very extraordinary.</p>
<p>I have a hard time believing that columbia doesn't allow students over 21 to live in the dorms. their website states that 90% of all undergrads live in the dorm and it is not that impossible that a student is 19 when they enter college, possible even 20 -- depending on the student's original cut-off date when entering school and whether they took a gap year (which is many schools look favorably upon). If you enter school at 19, you would certainly end up in an undergraduate class at age 21. </p>
<p>Call and confirm this before you believe what someone writes.</p>
<p>You must be very bright to have enrolled at Harvard as a transfer student, congradulations! Just curious, did you transfer from a CC (community college)?</p>
<p>I did go to community college right after dropping out of high school, but I withdraw from my classes, so technically, I don't have a record of having been to college.</p>
<p>No, you didn't sound mean at all. In fact, I was actually already thinking that making $50K isn't even close to what their level of actually paying attention and having interest in me, but I'm in a process of majorly expanding it (Only if I had more investments, argh!)
But yeah, although I do have some other ideas and plan to put them in to action in the future, my current business is nothing unusual, original, or thoughtful, so even let's say I end up making $200K later, I still won't be sure if they will be inpressed by it.</p>
<br>
<p>You can't apply as a freshman if you've been to college. I was a transfer to Harvard and was
among some older very accomplished students. Not to be mean, but making $50K would not put
you into their league. If you're business is unusual and thoughtful, how much you make won't
be an issue however.</p>
<p>Yeah...I guess I may have to end up going to my dream school only as a grauduate student if I get rejected.</p>
<br>
<p>i would say getting into an ivy as a transfer in your circumstances is pretty hard, but i havnt
looked into transfering yet. for a place like harvard, you may go against students from
princeton and other ivys which would put you at a slight disadvantage IMO. though your
accomplishments are great (50k a year is what college grads earn) i dont know if it will get
you into an ivy. IMHO, i think it's better to attend your state school and goto an ivy or ivy
level school for an mba because then they look at more your grades and gmat and less of your
highschool deploma.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I did go to community college right after dropping out of high school, but I withdraw from my classes, so technically, I don't have a record of having been to college.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not true so please don't go into the application process with the mindset that this school does not exist. The college will still have you on its records as being an admitted student. If you have ever filed a FAFSA or gotten any kind of federal funds (pell grants or stafford loans), the information will come up. The school can then rescind your admission for misrepresentation</p>