I have heard that it’s more difficult to get accepted as a younger person. I will be 14 next fall and would really like to go to Princeton. Do any of you have personal stories regarding top level universities and applying at a young age? I want to find out if my age will be an advantage, disadvantage or neutral.
Have you taken the SAT?
What are your parents saying!?
14 seems way too young!
Did you finish high school?
Honestly, your age will probably be a disadvantage. You’re the age of a typical freshman in high school.
My SAT is 800 Math, 720 Reading/Writing in one take. My parents are ok with it as long as they don’t have to pay a penny. I will be finishing high school this year making it 2 years for me to finish all 30 credits.
I am assuming your credits are all with the highest rigor your school offers.
Unless you are below a certain income, Princeton will require you to pay part/all of the fees and tuition.
If you were my kid I would tell you to not graduate from high school yet and continue with any community college option you have through the high school. (I live in a rural area and this would be hard for us so I get it if this isn’t workable). Have you considered doing something like a study abroad year in order to become fluent in another language?
You are to young to be resident on campus - my opinion only but I graduated at 16 and knew I was not socially ready to be with others so much older. I went abroad.
Many schools have legal concerns about having such young students as campus residents. To the extent that they take very young students at all, schools often will accept you only if you live at home (which in your case is helpful advice only if you live near Princeton or on the train line.)
Have you looked at college for high school students like Simon’s Rock?
@HopefullyTiger - Has Princeton accepted a 14- or 15-year-old in the last decade? If so, what was that person like? If not, why do you think you’ll be an exception? (oh, and 720 RW is low for Princeton.)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/piscataway_15-year-old_girl_he.html
See, if I get accepted I won’t be the only won in the past 10 years. Is it worth taking another test for a slightly higher reading/writing score?
13-will-be-14-in-the-fall is the age of a typical 8th grader in much of the country. The typically-aged 9th graders at our school are all 14 before the school year starts in August.
Wow, she sounds amazing, and I’m not at all surprised by her admissions success. How do you compare to her, @HopefullyTiger ?
You can check my stats on this thread. The thing is I don’t know her stats so I can’t compare:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1970902-will-graduate-early-please-chance-me-for-princeton.html#latest
My mom went to a prestigious LAC when she was 16 and said it was extremely difficult. She had a hard time making friends and getting a job. She couldn’t even take herself to the doctor. When I was younger, my mom could’ve pushed me ahead in school but decided not to due to how much she disliked the experience of being in college so young. Consider applying to college when you are 17-18 instead of pushing yourself into a challenging atmosphere so soon.
We were advised, more than once, to have my D17 “skip” a grade in elementary school. She’s one of the youngest in her class and, had we taken her teachers’ recommendation, she would have entered college as a 16-year old.
Many years ago I graduated early and was 17 during my first semester at a large state flagship. I knew how difficult it make some things that should be straightforward, so we passed on the recommendations for D.
Your age is a disadvantage, and if a college admits you, I susupect it will be the 15 minutes of fame they will get out of it, to be perfectly honest. You would not be able to live on campus. You will have a very tough time making friends, because no matter how smart you are, there is a big difference between a 14 year old and 17&18 year olds. You might not care about the age gap, but I suspect most collegs will not want to take the risk.
What about Bard College at Simon’s Rock? There is a list of similar colleges if you google early entrance programs.
You are absolutely right that I don’t care about the age gap. I have lived with it for almost my entire life and I really have had no problem with it. Either way, I won’t go to college for the friendships and the “experience” but rather for the highest education possible without wasting any time. I have looked at Simon’s Rock but I am not too thrilled about the idea to be honest, specifically the math and physics doesn’t seem to be too good, at least, not compared to HYPS.
Yes, but you know quite a bit about who she is and her life experiences. Your stats are commonplace; people like her (with, presumably, good stats as well), are decidedly not.
‘I won’t go to college for the friendships and the “experience”’. This might be exactly the reason why you might be unlikely to get into a tippy top school. I think you are a bit cocky, to be honest. If you have done any research yet, you will know that these colleges are looking for individuals with personalities and achievements.
You are obviously intelligent, but you probably haven’t done any of the kinds of ECs that a college like Princeton is looking for. Have you demonstrated leadership, have you got a passion for something besides education? Have you been active in the community? If you are really smart and determined to go to a school like Princeton, you are going to forge opportunties for yourself, maximize your educational opportunities, investigate and nurture your passions, be involved with activities that are relevant, and build a resume.
You still have plenty to learn about life, and top colleges will want evidence that you have learned it.
I agree with all of that, @Lindagaf and @HopefullyTiger