srose9173

I was just curious if age plays a role in transfer admissions. I will be 24 when I apply to transfer. Do colleges favor, look down on, or are they indifferent about older students?

Cali Trumpet

Colleges definitely like older applicants because they tend to have more life experiences. It can only be a positive.

BerkeleyOrBust

transfer students over 30 are a big plus at the Ivy League schools.

Being an older student shows dedication and grit, as well as life experience.

TheMan777

Definately!!! it wouldn't be fair to accept some kid who hasn't worked as hard as an older guy just looking for a break to get a better job. plus age generally means that you are more matured and more reasonable - not straining himself and understanding his own strengths and weaknesses very well

srose9173

Thanks for the responses.
I have another, might be stupid question. What about marital status? I noticed they ask that on applications, is that for financial purposes?

entomom

Whoa! BorB, I see that you are an OTA student planning to transfer, but please provide data, citations, etc. for such an incredibly broad statement.

Yes, being a non-traditional student could be a plus, but ONLY within the context of your grades, experience (believe me, just being older does not always mean being more mature, wise, having a wide breadth of experience, etc.), and the rest of the factors in your application.

There has been some indication that for the most selective schools, Stanford appears to value and give several of it's transfer spots to CC and non-trad students. On the other end of the spectrum, Yale admits relatively few CC and non-trads. In the last 3 years, there have been zero transfers over 30; rather, a couple have been 23-24 and they went to a 4-yr college out of HS, took a couple of years off to pursue other interests and then transferred.

hmom5

^Agree. Some campuses feel older students will not be socially comfortable given their dominant cultures.

vintij

Okay, so a 30 year old with crazy stats is looked down upon because he wont fit in? Thats stupid. If anything they would want older people to influence the youngsters who are guaranteed to make mistakes at this level. Age itself is probably the last thing they look at. Seeing as GPA, EC's, Trends, Essay, Work Experience....etc. is a thousand times more important. Besides, if they looked at age and maturity seriously they would not admit 13 year old genius kids. I didnt see an applicant age limit on any college website. Did you?

iuvo10

Indifferent.

keithb250

I was 33 and accepted to Va Tech this fall

newyorktimes

Columbia College doesn't allow students to spend more than four years in College, i.e. you're not eligible for applying transfer once you've finished three or more than three years of college.

Septiambre

A good family friend just went back for his MBA at age 47 and now is in a doctoral program at age 50. He encountered significant age related discrimination even though he graduated with a perfect 4.0 from a decent B school and had high GMAT's and was a successful small business owner for over 20 years. The worst discrimination didn't come from colleges but rather from employers. That is why he is staying in academia.

Upsilamba

As a rising sophomore who will be 19 this upcoming school year, I'm curious about what ways older students might influence younger ones. I attend a small liberal arts college where all students are traditional or close to traditional aged, so I haven't had any personal experience.

I wouldn't characterize us as "youngsters" though.

vintij

Well its different for everyone. I know that in my case 19 years old seems like a generation ago compared to the level of maturity I am at now only 4 years later. Others may be very mature at 19. The idea is that most 19 year olds are not exactly at the age where life experience can help in decision making. You know what I mean? Many people are different though so its subjective. For example, a 19 year old may party his first years of college and as a result his grades will fall, or he will get drunk one night and get behind the wheel, or he may get a credit card and max it out into default, or he may just plain get someone pregnant (or get pregnant) This is where I think older students can help younger ones. They can teach the younger students to learn from their own mistakes. Stats dont lie, 30 year olds are a lot less likely to do these things for whatever reason. Consequently, they can teach younger students why they are less likely to do these things.

CCillinois

Does the wording imply 3 years of credits or 3 years of college? What if some one takes 1 class when they were 19 and went back to CC when they were 25?