<p>^^^ PERFECT advice. OP, please be proud of yourself and take this advice. Do not throw “hail Mary passes” and then get discouraged if it doesn’t work out as you prayed. Three yards and a lot of dust gets the job done. Several top schools have special programs for non-18 year old applicants – but you need to apply to those (Yale - Eli Whitney - he was a 23-year-old Frosh, and the rest, as they say, is history). Go get 'em!</p>