Please chance me: (Unique Background)

@efefsef - Fantastic, and your age really puts your accomplishments in perspective. @oldfort makes a good point in my opinion that adcoms may be concerned about culture shock at a place like Cornell, and perhaps have some concern about your ability to handle the rigor.

From a personal point of view, however, I do not think you are going to have any problem at all. I was your exact age when I applied to college (longer ago than I care to admit), also from a somewhat unusual background for top schools, though nothing quite so impressive as your own. I can imagine that you have had to take the lead role in blazing your own path for some time. I don’t think you will find the academic aspects of even a top college particularly challenging. I didn’t.

The college experience is definitely more than simply academics, though, something I wish I had appreciated more back then. You are going to have a lot to contribute to any college community and I urge you once you arrive to put yourself out there right in the thick of it. Again, best of luck, and keep us posted.