Top Schools That Are Good Fits for Non-Traditional Students?

<p>I'll be 26 years old by the time I go back to school for my final 2 undergrad years. I want to go to a better school than my first one, which was a big state university with a good reputation, yet I don't want to be treated like a second class citizen by the student body (like I would be at Columbia GS). I'd like to be respected and not ghettoized in some separate program, and I'd like to be as social as anyone else. Any ideas? </p>

<p>Which highly regarded schools would be a good fit for me? I think liberal arts colleges would have a more amiable student body due to my age, but big research schools would have older people to meet, even if I'm not taking classes with them.</p>

<p>Edit: Sorry for the grammatical error in the subject line! Noticed it right after I hit the submit button, gah!</p>

<p>Yale has the Eli Whitney program. They only take like 1/2 students a year though. There are a couple of other GS programs among the Ivies.</p>

<p>So selective they only take half a student a year, eh?! Those Ivy's are out for blood! ;)</p>

<p>I think a lot of the GS programs give students different degrees and the snobby students are snide to them for being admitted under a less selective program. I was wondering if there are schools that admit non-traditionals with the regular student body? Same degree, good people?</p>

<p>They take the best eighth of every application. A CR score. A great essay. An amazing soccer player. A harpist... </p>

<p>Stanford does. A ccer just got off the waitlist a few days ago.</p>

<p>Can't think of any others offhand.</p>

<p>I'm not sure that I understand your question; there are schools who admit nontraditional students through their regular transfer admission process.
I'm 25yrs old. This year, I have applied to eight schools and got accepted to seven of them, so I would say that the age factor doesn’t play a major role.
If a school "x" fits nontraditional students? I would say that it can vary from one student to another, if depends on the personality. Thus, I dont think that there is a definite answer for this question.
What is your major?</p>

<p>smith has a great program for older, non-traditional students</p>

<p>I don't think he's just looking for any UG top 20 though. He wants one where non-trads fit in and aren't ostracized.</p>

<p>*ivies (<=== "I'm smart enough to go to a prestigious school! Honest!")</p>

<p>Thanks for your helpful replies! Yes, Bourne nailed it; I'm worried about how I'm going to be treated. I was hoping a lot of schools--like, say, Cornell--had a history of admitting non-traditionals with the students subsequently testifying that they integrated well.</p>

<p>Amitalon, we're the same age, so do you mind if I ask to which schools you applied and what your stats are? My major at the other school was 3 credits from being completed: psychology. However, I will probably take on physics as a dual major at my next stop. I was also close to completing a philosophy major as well and, time permitting, will continue taking courses in it.</p>

<p>I intend to go PhD.</p>

<p>huskem, I'll check out Smith, thanks. If I recall, I think it's part of a five college consortium too, which rules.</p>

<p>Hopefully you're a woman.</p>

<p>Otherwise that could be a problem.</p>

<p>Bryn Mawr has a program for non-trad age students. Look for "McBride Scholars" at the website.</p>

<p>Any college/university with some graduate programs might give you a better social life as there would be first year grad students your age around who are only a year or two ahead of you in classwork. And, there would be first year grad students about your age in some of your upper-level classes. Some colleges/universities will house you with grad students rather than undergrads if you prefer.</p>

<p>I was asking for your major in order to think about a top 20 school in that discipline. Since you want to double major in Physics and Psychology, your next school should be well rounded (never thought that I'll say that about a school ;-) with top programs in both areas. This isn't very common even for top 20 schools as far as I know. in the interest of keeping this thread focused (and to the point) , here is link for a thread that I've started a few months back with my stats, schools and the results. </p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/466647-transfer-student-mit-caltech-wash-u-harvey-mudd-2.html#post1059909985%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/466647-transfer-student-mit-caltech-wash-u-harvey-mudd-2.html#post1059909985&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>P.S
I didnt update my thread, but I was accepted to Cornell and CMU too.</p>

<p>@Dicey, Smith is INDEED part of the 5 College Consortium in Western Massachusetts, which also includes, Mt. Holyoke, Amherst, Hampshire (where I went), & UMass Amherst, which I know has good grad programs in both those areas. However, since this thread is five years old, I’m sure you went somewhere.</p>

<p>Please use old threads for information only, do not post and revive them.</p>