<p>Reese Witherspoon was 25 when she got into Hardvard and is now worth over $100 million. Frankly, eRIN, you should go into acting and forget about college.</p>
<p>thes1tuation. Yes, GS is a great program, in that GS students take almost all of their classes with Columbia College students. It is a rigorous academic degree program that, unlike Harvard Extension, is NOT open enrollment. The academic requirements are tough to meet, as they are virtually the same as for Columbia College traditional undergraduates. </p>
<p>Yes, Erin, if you want an Ivy-caliber education, as a non-traditional student, you might seriously consider Columbia University’s College of General Studies, a program for non-traditional students that integrates its students fully into the academic life of the university, unlike Harvard’s Extension School. If you want a rigorous, Ivy-quality education – Columbia’s famed Core Curriculum is indeed rigorous, and Columbia is an absolutely spectacular Ivy League university – GS is certainly one of the great bets for you, as a non-traditional student.</p>
<p>If you consider Columbia, I believe you would have to apply to GS and would not be eligible to apply to Columbia College, because of your age and the fairly long gap between high school graduation and college application. </p>
<p>But yes, I concur with the above post. Consider Columbia University’s College of General Studies. It is NOT open enrollment. There is a relatively competitive application process, so you will need to meet its requirements to gain admission. If you can do so, it is absolutely worth a look. As we have been suggesting, you need to broaden your search beyond Harvard. Not saying “no” to Harvard, but just suggesting that you investigate as many options as you can, in addition!</p>
<p>Let me add, though, GS students are not eligible to live in Columbia’s dorms, and finding reasonable rental accomodation in New York City could be really tough. As great an option as GS is, the tuition and living expenses are very very high. There is increased FA for GS students, I understand, so that is something you would have to investigate as well.</p>
<p>I believe Reese Witherspoon was also a character in a movie when she got into Harvard. And it was HLS, where 25 isn’t a ridiculous age for an entering student, and not Harvard College.</p>
<p>As far as I know, Reese Witherspoon attended Stanford. For one year.</p>
<p>EggbertSouce:Really?Is that really your advice?I have no comment for THAT…sorry.</p>
<p>Swingtime:Thank you a lot for your advice,all seem reasonable.I will consider other schools also but for now I will concentrate on getting to 4-year school,do my bachelor’s and try for Harvard along with other schools.
I think that the chances getting to H from CC are really low and it might be wasting of time considering my age.</p>
<p>Swingtime Do you think that the gap between my High school and the time I would like to apply for a college (10 years) might be a big problem?Thank you.</p>
<p>Erin, keep us posted on what happens. The jump to Harvard from CC would be tough, WHATEVER your age. One thing I really want to stress with you. Many many people have to delay their college educations, for a variety of reasons. Please, NEVER NEVER feel uncomfortable because of your age, or because circumstances required that you find an alternative path in life at a later date than is common. Age should NEVER be a barrier to trying to achieve your dreams. EVER!!! And, though relevant, age is NOT a barrier to you having a successful educational experience.</p>
<p>Just saw your above post. Erin, people delay college education for a variety of reasons: military service, marriage and children, life…The law does not allow for discrimination based upon age. For colleges that are more residential colleges – with all undergraduates presumed to be living in campus housing as a unit – it might be more of an issue of fit. At a state school, where off-campus living is more typical, age should not be a factor. What you will want to do, once you have a list of schools to which you want to apply, is to contact schools and pose the question. There is a poster here on CC who is just a bit younger than you are whose dream is another university (highly regarded). He and I have been in communication and I urged him to meet with an admission’s officer at that school. The school made it clear that his age will be no factor whatsoever in his application “read.” If he is a qualified applicant who will bring something to the school that the school is looking for, he will have an equal chance at admission. I am not giving specifics of his case as he has posted and it is not appropriate to raise his unique story on this particular forum. But for him age seemd a barrier that he was afraid he could not get over. Speaking with schools is a wise course and that is what you do. You explain “why” the gap. It is part of your story. And it should be no barrier if your credentials are in line with the schools to which you choose to apply. I think it is much less relevant at NON-residential colleges where there is larger commuter population and the presumption is NOT that all undergrads live on campus together.</p>
<p>Don’t let age stop you!!! You will really be surprised by the age range on college campuses, particularly those that are better described as “non-residential.” You will not be the oldest undergrad, particularly at a good state school, or even a CC. Especially not at a CC!</p>
<p>@Erin1988: Ten years is a very long time, especially if your SAT/ACT scores are from that same 10 year-ago period. Any four-year college will want more current testing. But, as swingtime said, that should not be a barrier to achieving your goals and having a successful college experience.</p>
<p>Thank you,Swingtime.I had other things to deal with when I was 19.I left my abusive home in Europe,came to the US,totally alone,and was trying to get a life here.Believe me,it wasn’t easy.Finally at 29 I settled down,saved some money and would like to do what I didn’t do when I was at the age when other people go to college.
You seem to have knowledge about college admissions and stuff like that,do you think the admission officers might see this as a negative thing?</p>
<p>Gibby:I wouldn’t use my whatever scores from 10 years ago.I think there are chances for re-testing,right?</p>
<p>^^ Yes, anyone at any age can register and take the SAT/ACT. I know several 40-50 year test-prep people who take the test every year to keep current.</p>
<p>Gibby:I was thinking the same.Plus there are honor classes,AP tests and,I hope,other things that will show that my knowledge in many fields is not only on the level of graduated High school student.</p>
<p>You many also want to look into colleges that give life-experience credits. Here in New York City, CUNY gives up to 15 undergraduate credits for life-experience: [Life</a> Experience | CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies](<a href=“http://cunyba.gc.cuny.edu/lifeexperience]Life”>http://cunyba.gc.cuny.edu/lifeexperience)</p>
<p>Erin, no, what you have had to do to start over I would see as a strength, and NOT as a liability. Your age and experiences are another source of diversity. Diversity on any campus is not merely a function of race or ethnicity. It includes things like diversity of life experience, and diversity of age. I don’t think that having had to take a different path in life is a negative thing at all. You will be bringing a maturity and life experience to a campus that many professors and administrators like to see.</p>
<p>However, I do urge you: once you have decided where to apply, contact schools and raise these questions. Engage in a productive dialogue with schools about these very issues. Set your mind at ease by making these kind of contacts as you begin the process of considering a range of schools, and getting your credentials together for application.</p>
<p>Swingtime : Thank you again,I certainly would like to know what my chances are before applying.I was worried about my age and also about my background,if this is the thing that might ruin all my chances.I don’t come from usual family and I worked really hard to get where I am right now.So let’s see how it all goes…:-).Thanks again!</p>
<p>It is BECAUSE you have worked really hard to get where you are, that your life story will NOT, in my opinion, be a barrier if your credentials meet the expectations of the schools to which you will be applying. That kind of tenacity to overcome is PRECISELY the kind of strength of character, the determination, the stamina, the drive that should make you a successful college student. Your job will be to convey these qualities to admissions committees. I think you WILL be able to do this. Age and background should not be a barrier, at all, to you having a successful college experience. Don’t worry about these things anymore. Don’t let age and background stand in your way! I think they worry you more than they will worry colleges. As long as you can put together competitive applications, age and background become less relevant. Indeed, if your applications are competitive, where ever you should apply, most colleges will welcome the diversity you can bring to the academic community. As I say, colleges – four year and two-year – PRIZE diversity and want the most diverse student bodies they can create. Age and background are relevant, diverse qualities that should not count against you, but rather could count FOR you in admissions.</p>
<p>Your job now is to research colleges, make some calls once you have identified colleges that fit your needs at this time, and get your credentials together so that you can successfully apply. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the openness of most colleges to what you have to offer, because of the diversity that your age and background could bring to the classroom.</p>