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Greetings!

I am a senior about to graduate, with plans to apply and attend college in either a year or two. I will be spending the next year travelling with a missions organization, mainly in Africa and Southeast Asia.

I have read a few college admission type books and looked around the web, but I have been unable to find the answers to a two questions I would like to ask.

Does the year or two in extra age difference increase my chances of getting accepted?

I am essentially asking, if a clone of me with the exact same statistics applied to college at 18 for college starting right after high school, and my other clone applied at 20 with a years travel and a year of work within the computer field, would he have an advantage (to the point of being at least slightly significant) in the application process? How do colleges look at age, if at all?

I have looked around, but have been unable to find any answer. While I am already set on at least waiting one year, and it is to late even if I desired to change it, I would like to reduce my college-anxiety and to hopefully take some comfort if it gives me a slight advantage.

I am also considering spending the year after that working and making up Chemistry, which I made the mistake of not taking during my high school years. (I make myself sound like a slacker there - Other than that, I think I am in decent standing for college. I did take all the few AP courses my school offered, and all honours except for the English ones.)

Im aware that a lot of individuals who put of fgoing to college end up not going, I am not worried about myself. I have had a passion for computers since before elementary school, I can program and do most tasks well enough to get a job, but I find myself crippled in some projects due to my lack of theory, and all the other mundane items no self-taught programmer wants to sit down and learn, that which is learnt in a classroom.

Also, would being trilingual give me any significant advantage in the admissions process? I currently speak two languages fluently, English and my native tongue. I have basic knowledge of another Scandinavian language , and it is extremely similar to my native tongue. I am considering pursuing it, both for the fun of knowing and being able to use it, and if it gives me an advantage. 2 years may sound short for a language, but I belive it is possible from my current position. I might not become fully fluent in that time, but I know I could at least grasp it enough to read and enjoy literature and have capable conversation. I am not an international prospective student, but a permanent resident, having moved to the US during my mid/late elementary years. If it makes any difference, I have maintaned my native tongue and took a distance based course in order to give me the grammar and literary support in the language that I would have had if I had been in high school in my former country.

My high school years and planning are past, so it is of no use for me to pay a counselor to ask two questions. I hope that someone kind and knowledgable could please answer my two questions, I realize they are subjective, but some insight would at least grant me some peace of mind. I have tried looking around the web and in books, but without success.

Sincerely,
"Zorak"
(Forgive me, ive always been one of those internet full name privacy/paranoid people)

By Dadster on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 08:00 pm: Edit

You don't say which schools you are interested in Zorak, so I'll assume you are looking at Ivies or other elites.

Since your age is that of a typical senior, I don't think age - 18, 19, or 20 - will matter, Zorak. How you use that extra year or two COULD make a difference! If you can do something different, unusual, or significant, you may make yourself a more interesting candidate.

I think the trilingualism will be a minor plus - if you can put it to some use in your post-grad year, though, it might have a bigger impact.

By Zorak on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 08:50 pm: Edit

Thanks for the opinion!

If it clarifies my previous message, an Ivy League school is my first choice. After that, I am considering schools with known strong computer programs, such as Carnegie Mellon.

I will also have completed my MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) certification by the time I apply. It is something I would finsih regardless of whether I decided to go to college or not as it is practical, but I hope it will give me another plus in the admissions game.

-"Zorak"

By ~Sayuki~ on Sunday, June 09, 2002 - 12:12 pm: Edit

hi!
I am a junior going to a prestigious high school in Canada. I'll be graduating at 16 and I was wondering if that would in any way increase my admission chances.
Thanks a lot

By California Mom (Calmom) on Monday, June 10, 2002 - 04:23 am: Edit

No, it probably won't help or hurt. It's not that unusual. I graduated at age 16, my father was in college at age 15. I know lots of kids who have done this.

By joanne t (Joanne0012) on Monday, June 10, 2002 - 06:21 am: Edit

It's my impression that most Ivy League schools would rather have you apply during your senior year, then defer attending for a year if you're admitted. Harvard actually sent out a letter to all its accepted freshmen in 2001 that encouraged them to do this, though very few followed this advice.

If you apply during your senior year, it's much easier for you to deal with letters of recommendation and all the other teacher/guidance office stuff, plus the schools you apply to are weighing your application against peers. Since it gets more competitive every year, the sooner you apply the better! Since Harvard (at least) thinks this year off is a good idea, you could mention your plans in your application, perhaps working it into an essay.

By ~Sayuki~ on Monday, June 10, 2002 - 10:24 am: Edit

oh ok thanks a lot for the advice!