<p>When I go off to college next September I will be 16, almost 17, and I've heard from various people that grade skipping is in fact not a bonus on an application-uniqueness?-but actually many colleges are wary of accepting such young applicants. For instance, I've heard from one mom that USC denied her son acceptance because they would not let a young student into the dormitories (my advisor told me otherwise), while I heard from my private advisor that Stanford and Harvard on occasion have told applicants that, while they were accepted, "come back in another year".</p>
<p>I don't really want to take a year off, and if that was a requirement for acceptance, I would decline (even Stanford or Harvard). Has anyone else encountered issues for their age? Secondly, does any college consider it a positive if you skipped (I was young for my age and then I also skipped third grade).</p>
<p>I skipped a grade in elementary school and entered Harvard at the age of 17 and 3 months. I knew people there who were younger than I was. Not a lot, but not none.</p>
<p>I will say, however, that looking back on it 30 years later, I don’t think it was a very good idea. I probably would have been well served by a gap year.</p>
<p>I also entered college at 17 years and 3 months more than 30 years ago. It was more common back then.</p>
<p>I lived at home for financial reasons so the dorm was not an issue for me.</p>
<p>If your parents are okay with you being in the dorms and you are, too, then go for it. Otherwise, commute for a year and then move in to a dorm. If you are intellectually and academically ready for college, don’t take a gap year.</p>
<p>Ah, the beauty of the Internet! So many people with so many opinions that you can’t get a clear “yes” or “no” on anything.</p>
<p>Which, come to think of it, is kind of like life.</p>
<p>But in light of Joan’s observations, I’ll amend my pronouncement above and say that looking back on it 30 years later, I don’t think it was a very good idea for me, and I might have been well served by a gap year. YMMV.</p>
<p>I know of a couple of kids who went off to college at age 16 (Tulane and Columbia). I know a lot that went a 17. I am not saying that I think it is a good idea, but I know it happens.</p>