<p>I'm 21 and from the UK. I've had a few years out of education but am now looking to go to uni - i'll be 22 when I start in 2011. I'm applying to yale, harvard, princeton and dartmouth as they're the only ones who'll offer the full funding I'll need, and Yale is my first choice.</p>
<p>Although the system is different in the UK to the States, my exam results are all very good - in A levels (the national exams you we at 18) I got all As, which is the best you can get. And in my time off I've written and had published a book, which sold about 10k copies, I'm writing a sequel now and I've also written two articles for bbc focus magazine - which is an international science and technology magazine of about 80k readership.</p>
<p>As far as other ECs I worked as a tennis coach during high school, but that's about it.</p>
<p>I got 2180 in the SAT.</p>
<p>What do you think my chances are? In the UK taking this amount of time of before uni is certainly quite unusual, but probably not a big problem. What about in the States? Any ideas anyone?</p>
<p>You have an unusual pedigree. You’ll certainly stand out. But given the serendipitous nature of selective college admissions, it’s difficult for us to say. </p>
<p>But best of luck to you. BTW: Americans are enamored with anyone with a UK accent.</p>
<p>You can’t apply for undergrad in the States if you’re already 22. Most people college freshmen are 17/18. So just from a purely logistic point of view, HYP will not accept you when there are perfectly qualified 17-year-olds with much higher SAT’s and just-as-impressive EC’s. I would definitely have a backup plan because the chance of you getting in will be very slim. In fact, I would email the admission officers to ask their opinions. If they also agree, I would not even bother with the admissions process. Good luck.</p>
<p>I can’t chance you, but I assume that it’ll be very difficult to get in because they only have a small number of spots. I don’t know if your other choices have a program similar to the Eli Whitney program. Check out their websites.</p>
<p>Ellegee, are you basing that on anything? Cause the same would apply in England, there are lots of younger people, but if it’s not a problem here, even for Oxford and Cam, why would it be in the States? I’ve just emailed some admission offices to check it out, though. Re. Sat, that was a typo, 2280. And I can’t imagine there’ll be many 17/18 yr olds with ECs as impressive as having had two relatively successful books published by the time they start the degree?</p>
<p>Re nne718, the Eli Whitney is only for people who have had more than 5 years out of education which doesn’t apply to me.</p>
<p>I’m assuming therefore, unless they’re just left an age group of applicants suitable for neither the general admissions nor this program, that it should be ok???</p>
<p>Amazing credentials! You’re writing will definitely separate you from the other pool of applicants. Your ECs are lacking, but you most definitely have a good chance. Good luck!</p>
<p>Well think about it this way: most 22-year-olds will be seniors in college. So they are academically four years ahead of you, which is certainly worth much more than just writing 2 novels. Also, I know many 18-year-olds who have been successfully published in scientific journals. I’m just giving you my personal advice - isn’t this the point of this thread?</p>
<p>Why are you even applying to US colleges rather than say… Oxford and Cambridge? If your credentials are so good, then those 2 schools would offer the same quality of education as HYP. I apologize for being rude, but I do not understand your reasoning behind wanting to study abroad.</p>
<p>And FYI, for the upcoming 2010-11 year, the Eli Whitney program admitted five students out of a pool of over 120 applicants.</p>
<p>This is of course a place for personal advice, but things like “You can’t apply for an undergrad in the States if you’re 22” sound less like advice and more categorical - thus asking if you had any specific reason for thinking this. </p>
<p>I want to apply to the States because in the UK, Ox and Cam included, you apply for a specific subject and are stuck with it for 3 years. This is great if you know 100% what you want to study, but if you don’t it’s far from ideal. This is why I turned down a place at Cambridge last year, and am now applying to the States for a liberal arts course which appeals enormously. Finally, I have one brother at Cam and another at Ox, so I figured may as well spread the family wings to another one of the best unis in the world.</p>
<p>Re. your thinking with age, I don’t think that it follows through logically. On application I won’t be being compared to people who’ve completed 3 years of a degree already, but the other people applying. And why would a university be concerned with someone being a few years older than the most? Surely they’re just after the most qualified, most interesting class they can muster. What’s more, they always hark on about diversity and surely age is a part of that. Of course, if a 30 year old was applying it might cause problems with student integration, but I don’t think that is the case with a 21/22 year old. And preempting a possible question of “if you’re so certain why are you asking,” it’s because it suddenly dawned on me that there might be a specific rule or policy regarding/preventing it, in which case I would have to settle back with Cam.</p>
<p>Okay I certainly agree with what you said - Oxford and Cambridge are definitely very major-exclusive. But I’m sure that after a few years off, you figured out what you want to do? </p>
<p>Completely ignoring your age, the only advice I have is: be yourself. Reveal your true passion in your essays, which I believe will be your novel writing (it is indeed fairly unique). I have confidence that you will do well in the essays, but academic-wise, you still have to get 2 teacher recommendations and a secondary school report, which I’m not sure how you can get. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that admissions is very competitive, especially to these top schools, so always have a backup plan. Good luck.</p>
<p>I know I’ll major in economics but I don’t want to be entirely locked into it for three years. Fortunately I maintained good links with my high school, indeed they asked me back last year to give a talk about books, and I know that they’ve given me wonderful recommendations - which was nice of them.</p>
<p>My back up is Cambridge, although it’s certainly not a given I’ll get in again, and if not there than other uni’s in England (Oxbridge aren’t the only good ones after all!).</p>
<p>Best of luck to you too. Where/what are you applying?</p>
<p>Incidentally, I’ve just heard back from YHP admissions and they’ve all said that age doesn’t come into play as long as the time away from education has been productive.</p>
<p>good luck dude, as long as you don’t take my spot…in 3 years of education I would be the equivalent of a grad student in math etc. so I also don’t think its totally fair to compare you to me…you’ve had 3 more years to develop your application!</p>
<p>The admissions committee might consider your age an asset–there won’t be many 21-year-old applicants. Certainly they will look favorably on your life experience. Good luck. Come back and tell us how you did.</p>
<p>Bigboba:
I suspect your chances are good as your application would be somewhat unique but to say or believe you’d apply to HYP and have Cambridge as a “backup” sounds presumptuous and you may be very well setting yourself up for a big surprise - rejection by all of the above. These schools are extremely competitive and there are many smart kids out there. Maybe you should consider some of the other excellent schools in the US and UK as your “back up” too.</p>
<p>I’m a step ahead of you - don’t worry, I’m certainly not presuming anything…</p>
<p>From post 12: My back up is Cambridge, although it’s certainly not a given I’ll get in again, and if not there than other uni’s in England (Oxbridge aren’t the only good ones after all!).</p>
<p>Considering the work you did after finishing school, i doubt they’ll hold your age against you. Yours is one of the most unique cases I’ve heard about and I would think you have a great chance.</p>
<p>Yale has thousands of applicants who are extremely well qualified. From those, they try to create a very diverse interesting class, who will learn as much from each other as from their professors. They are especially looking for those unique individuals who offer something unusual. I think that you are that type of applicant. </p>
<p>I always imagine some poor admissions officer reading through mountains of applications, trying to stay focused and awake. They are almost all really fantastic students who can write great essays and who would do fine at the school. Then, every once in a while there is an essay or an application that really grabs their attention. Yours could be that application.</p>