<p>Age is not an advantage but it can be if you bring something unique because of it to a campus. Now you’ll find some older war vets on campuses. if you founded a company during your years off, started a non profit doing great work, or were on an Olympic team, that would make you of interest to many schools. Doing anything that resulted in substantial achievement (if you’re looking at top schools.)</p>
<p>If you’re much older than the typical college grad (22) you are probably best off pursuing non traditional student programs. There are many good ones-Yale, Columbia, Penn to name a few.</p>
<p>Many colleges know that older students won’t be happy socially. Someone above mentions Vassar and Williams. Vassar, near NYC, has more options for an older student who doesn’t want to chug beer with 18 year olds who just got away from home for the first time. So Vassar is probably more open to older students than Williams which is isolated.</p>
<p>In addition to non traditional programs, larger and urban schools with grad students are a more hospitable place for an older students. You will see many at NYU, GW and BU.</p>
<p>@Happyman
Grades do matter. Grades tell not only of how well a person is academically but in a sort of way shows how the applicant copes with their workloads, and balance there academic life with there social and extracurricular.</p>
<p>Oh and just because your in engineering doesn’t mean your allowed to get a bad grades in economics. most Universities make there students do other subjects besides there core curriculum. They are now both looking for and trying to create individuals who are knowledgable in a variety of areas.</p>
<p>@lolly9986</p>
<p>As your situation is different, i don’t think the universities will weight you High School grades as much (don’t take my word for it), but nevertheless your High School grades will be scrutinized.</p>
<p>You should try and improve your SATs, A good/fantastic SAT mark will most likely show that you have improved from your High School grades. Also keep on working (better if your work is related to what you want to study), and try to find opportunities to make yourself stand out from regular applicants. Don’t forget to make your essays memorable and original.</p>
<p>You shouldn’t worry about your grades as there is nothing you can do about it now. You should really concentrate on making yourself stand out, show that you have done and accomplished something worthwhile in the six years out of high school. That’s probably the first question the admission officers want answered. What has this applicant been doing for the past 6 years?</p>