How much does age matter?

<p>I'll be 15 entering college. I would like to know if there will be a difference applying at a earlier age to schools. Would it hurt me a lot?</p>

<p>It could hurt you as some colleges may think that you lack the emotional maturity to be at college.</p>

<p>Sybbie is right. You might want to consider taking a gap year and doing something productive in it such as working a job (any job will give you a chance to learn more about the world) or doing volunteer work.</p>

<p>Colleges know that it's a big step for any student to go to college since college requires more responsibility, organizational skills and overall maturity than does h.s. Consequently, colleges can be very leery of accepting students who are younger than the typical age of entering college students.</p>

<p>A productive gap year also will help make up for your not having ECs freshman and soph year, as you mentioned here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=2624984#post2624984%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=2624984#post2624984&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I think that's probably way too young, especially when your peers will mostly be 18 and 19 years old. There is a huge difference in maturity between a 15 year old and an 18 year old. </p>

<p>A girl at my high school would have entered college at 16, but chose to take a PG year instead. You might consider something like that.</p>

<p>why the heck are you goign to college at age 15? Heck, you probably haven't even started puberty!</p>

<p>Wait...</p>

<p>So is it bad that I skipped a grade and will be 17 entering college? Or is it only bad if you're significantly younger?</p>

<p>I always felt that since I've been with people older all the time, I just adjusted in maturity to make up for that. Isn't that possible?</p>

<p>Sorry, this just kinda concerns me...</p>

<p>17 isn't a big deal, there's not much difference between that and 18. There's a huge difference between 18 and 15 though. I wouldn't worry at all about 1 year. I'm sure there are quite a few 17 year olds entering.</p>

<p>I'll be 17 when I go to college this fall...the only thing that bothers me is that I won't be able to go out to clubs with my friends and I won't even be allowed to legally drink until the summer after I graduate from college!</p>

<p>I know, that seriously blows. And being the last to drive. I'm going into my senior year and I can't drive yet!</p>

<p>But I'm wondering if the OP perhaps adjusted to being the youngest, like others do?</p>

<p>If he could have an interview and perhaps display maturity maybe he'd have a better chance, or at least be on equal footing, perhaps?</p>

<p>You will be missing out on so much socially if you go to college at 15. there are great options like study abroad and volunteering to dely college a year or two. I would imagine many colleges would hesitate about accepting a 15 year old. 17 is totally normal as many kids skip a grade or start school early.</p>

<p>It's pretty rare but I think as long as your stats are up to par with the other applicants and you show that you're mature enough to deal with a college environment you should be well off. Although I did meet a someone who entered college at 14/15 and as a result his romantic life suffered a bit from it because all the girls were three years older than he was.</p>

<p>I have the opposite problem.... I will be 19 when I start college lol.</p>

<p>No, I didn't fail.</p>

<p>Me too. I turn 19 one week after classes start.</p>

<p>I would wait at least a year or two.</p>

<p>You'll be a social outcast in college if you start at 15.</p>

<p>For people that turn 16 after June, I know that they can't apply for many internships/mentorships/research ops. So, competitive peers have an advantage because they're a bit older. What do colleges think</p>

<p>DAMNIT! I wanted to skip a grade or two, but the stupid principal said that I would not be able to keep up.... filthy liar. I am hardly trying in high school adn I easily beat everyone at my school academically.</p>

<p>Why would you want to be a year or two younger than everyone else?</p>

<p>DS is going to college this fall at 17, turns 18 late Nov...I don't see it as a problem but 15 IMHO is too young...DD is 15 and she is not ready for anything like college socially...Also I noticed on DS's dorm paperwork, it states you must be 17 or older...most schools won't let a 15 yr old live in...so you are missing that component..here's another vote for a PG or gap year</p>

<p>15 is too young...my friend that got accepted to Harvard is like the same age (or 16). She wasn't ready in middle school when she had already skipped 2 grades. It was bad. </p>

<p>Do something fun for a year or 2. Try perfecting your scores.</p>

<p>17 isn't much of a difference, but 15 is.</p>

<p>op's profile says he's 17 ._.</p>