<p>Hi,</p>
<p>If someone who's applying to college is a couple of years younger than most students, should they contact the colleges beforehand to see if the colleges have any special policies regarding younger students? Usually, how old is the average freshman? Also, is age a hook, or more of a downside?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>How old will you be when you’re applying?</p>
<p>Anyone under 18 is technically a minor so that might be an issue…a big one in fact.</p>
<p>My daughter takes dual enrollment full time at 17 and I still have to sign for everything for her permission and liability wise. She won’t be 18 until a couple of months before HS graduation.</p>
<p>You would definitely have to contact the admissions office regarding the specifics of your situation. My youngest will be a 17 year old HS graduate but would have been 16 and graduated if I would have let them skip him a grade like they have wanted me to 100 times. I’m assuming your situation is something like that?</p>
<p>What if someone is homeschooled and, due to the unstructured nature of their schooling, does everything early and consequently applies to college about 2 years earlier than most?</p>
<p>Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks ^^.</p>
<p>Would you be attending and living at home or are you talking about going away to college? My youngest will be taking college classes as a 13 year old next year. Age isn’t the problem, it’s whether you get admitted and can take the academic rigor.</p>
<p>Python, go to the source. Call the admissions office now, or have your parents do it, before you start applying. Find out what the schools that might really interest you might think of your application. There are some schools that offer dual enrollment or early start programs. And there is Bard College at Simon’s Rock. You might find options designed for the younger college student to meet your needs if the regular college admissions folk aren’t welcoming.</p>
<p>I mean going away to four-year colleges such as Harvard and Williams. I know MIT has admitted younger students:</p>
<p>[Technology</a> Review: Outside the Norm](<a href=“http://www.technologyreview.com/article/14686/]Technology”>http://www.technologyreview.com/article/14686/)</p>
<p>but I’m still unsure whether a few years here or there would be a problem or not at most colleges, provided a student is sufficiently qualified. Should I contact all the admissions offices and enquire as to their policies regarding younger students? I don’t want to assume that they’re all like MIT…</p>
<p>I know a current senior who just turned 15. She was admitted to all but one of the (8?) colleges she applied to, and the one college that denied her told her it was based on their attorney’s recommendation not to admit someone so young. I don’t think she specifically told schools how old she was when she applied, but I’m sure her application called it out not just on the factual information, but in her teacher reccs etc.</p>
<p>Hmm… when I’m a senior academic-wise, I’ll be a year older than the person you know, but do you think that my age would still be a disadvantage? I know I won’t be able to drive if I’m 18, but what else does it mean to be a minor? (I come from Britain, so I don’t know much about the American policies towards younger students, etc.)</p>
<p>There are many younger students applying. From my days as an adcom I can tell you that the biggest problem when applying to top schools is that they generally don’t have the EC accomplishments their peers do. They often have great academics, but no leadership, no depth. There are also big social issues, colleges will want to see ability to be independent.</p>
<p>Have you considered doing a foreign study high school program or a PG year? Something to round out your education and get you closer to typical age?</p>
<p>Due to my family’s financial situation, we can’t afford most lengthy courses at nearby community colleges, and foreign study is not really an option. Age has also proved to be a big issue - every place I’ve contacted so far won’t take people my age unless my mother enrols with me (which she can’t really spare the time and money for), even for shorter three-month courses. </p>
<p>I’m already well-qualified - I have 3 A-levels in Maths, Further Maths, and Physics - so it’s not like I can’t handle academic rigour. I’m also taking the Subject Tests in Biology, Chemistry, and so forth, so I’m OK with respect to general knowledge and “breadth”. I see how my ECs might be an issue; I will need to work on those, although I’ve been doing some things like running and writing for quite a while. But I really have run out of academic options apart from going to university.</p>
<p>Many of the foreign study opportunities and PG programs offer financial aid. You mentioned Harvard, any school near that level will want a lot more than academics and 3 math/science A levels unless you’ve won national/international math prizes and competitions.</p>
<p>You might want to head over tot he homeschooling board. Homeschoolers are often required or recommend to submit extensive application supplements, at least to private or particularly selective schools.</p>
<p>One of my cousins graduated early (at 16) and started college then…At Yale.</p>
<p>I will be 16 when applying to colleges as well, but will turn 17 a few months before graduating(but I go to a public HS). I don’t think it will make a differnce. My sister was 16 when she applied as well (she skipped a grade) and she got into all but one of the 9 very good LACs she applied to, as well as UCB and UCLA. As long as you’re qualified I wouldn’t think it is a problem.</p>
<p>16 isn’t too young, but you may want to check on specific school’s housing policies. You may also want to check out specific programs for younger students. USC offers the Resident Honors Program for kids who want to skip their senior year of high school. If the universities you are interested have these sorts of programs, they will likely be able to accommodate other younger students.</p>
<p>Should I contact the universities about this before applying, or just highlight it in one of my essays or something?</p>
<p>Hey python, I don’t htink your age will be an issue. A couple of years ago on CC, we had these Indian twins who entered college aged 16…and they definitely got into some awesome places (Berkeley, UPenn and stuff) so I’m sure it’s all cool :)</p>
<p>It’s routine for sixteen-year-olds to go to college (that is, for students who were fifteen when they applied to go to college). Younger than that gets to be a special case. At a highly selective college, all the applicants who have a decent shot at being admitted are rather amazing, so it’s best to apply when you’ve developed some amazing qualifications. It’s possible to do more than just what everyone does in high school before applying to college–many successful applicants to the most selective colleges have done something OUTSIDE the standard high school curriculum to challenge themselves and show their readiness for an advanced learning and research environment.</p>