<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I'm currently a Junior who studies at a high school where most students in my grade are 17 or 18 years old. I am 16 years old while some of my classmates are even 15.</p>
<p>I have heard some stories and rumors about colleges giving priority to older students, and have also heard ones claiming that colleges prefer younger students for a show of more precocious talent.</p>
<p>Could someone please clarify?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Are you advanced for your age? Have you skipped a grade? If so, that will certainly improve your chances of getting into your top-choice colleges.</p>
<p>Depends on the housing situation, too.</p>
<p>Most schools won't allow someone under 18 to be in the dorms (relates to legal liability problems if there are security issues). If on the other hand, you will be staying off-campus and the college knows that, they usually like to admit the "precocious" talent", as you put it, if they know you can handle the workload.</p>
<p>This means that if you are applying as an underage student you should indicate that your housing situation will be covered by being housed off campus during the first few years.</p>
<p>I'm in the same boat--16 as a junior, won't be 17 until after my applications are filed. Is there any way I can indicate that I skipped a grade?</p>
<p>My daughter skipped a grade and is graduating this year at 17. She won't be 18 until her freshman year is almost over. Her age did not seem to matter one bit. She has excellent grades and test scores. She is going to an OOS school and staying in the dorms. She also got a great scholarship. The only issue, if you want to call it that, is that because she is not 18 yet I had to sign her housing contract and meningitis form. I will probably have to be a co-signer on her bank account, too. I started a thread this past fall on concerns with daughter only being 17 when going to college. If I can find it I will post it here for you to look at. There are many students in the same boat as you are.</p>
<p>Here is the website. Sorry, you will have to put it in the browser yourself. I don't know how to make the link</p>