<p>As I mentioned in the title, I’m a nontraditional student and a classic “late bloomer,” in a sense.</p>
<p>In summary: my grades in high school were relatively good, although I wasn’t in the top ten—not because I didn’t have the intellectual ability, but because I struggled with disabilities that adversely affected my academic performance. After I graduated from high school in 2003, I went to a small liberal-arts college whose academics were subpar, took five years out, and went back to college at 23. I’m currently at a community college in San Francisco, finishing up my general-education requirements before I transfer to a four-year university. My grades are better now than they were previously, mostly because I’ve learned how to deal with the cards that have been dealt me. </p>
<p>This fall, I’ll be sending in applications for four-year colleges. Harvard is on my shortlist as a “reach” school. </p>
<p>I worry, though, that my application would be turned down in favor of people whose academic profiles resemble the classic “cookie-cutter student,” even though I’m fairly certain that I would be able to handle the academic rigor of an Ivy League education. My fear is that my past will outweigh my present accomplishments, even though almost a decade will have passed by the time I will have been admitted to whichever four-year university accepts me. I’ll be 26 next fall, and I’d rather not have my struggles at the age of sixteen define my adult academic career. </p>
<p>Additional information that I probably should have added before: I’m a “URM,” and I’ve dealt with…some pretty gruelling life situations between when I dropped out and went back to college.</p>
<p>Do you know of other students with profiles similar to mine who have been admitted? I doubt that it’s a common occurrence, but I’m simply curious.</p>
<p>Hey man. I came across your thread and felt that I should post this. I believe that you should apply to the Eli Whitney Students Program at Yale University. From the Wikipedia Page: </p>
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<p>This program is for nontraditional students such as yourself. Students in the program have all the benefits and receive the same degree as other Yalies. Here’s the link to the website: [Eli</a> Whitney Students Program ? A Program for Non-Traditional Students | Yale College Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.yale.edu/eli-whitney]Eli”>http://admissions.yale.edu/eli-whitney)</p>
<p>I hate to post this on the Harvard board but I feel that you should definitely look into this program.</p>
<p>@digerati: Yeah, I was looking at it. The Whitney program seems pretty awesome, from what I see. They seem to put a lot less weight on high-school performance than the “normal” Yale transfer program (or Harvard’s program, for that matter). </p>
<p>I’m not personally bothered that you’re posting about Yale on the Harvard forum, Harvard/Yale rivalry notwithstanding. (I’m thinking about applying to both, anyway.)</p>
<p>You might want to consider Harvard’s School of Extension Studies. You can earn a BA degree there.</p>
<p>As a transfer to Harvard College, the competition is extraordinarily stiff, with an under 3% acceptance rate (and that is for applicants with amazing records.)</p>
<p>Is there any particular reason you see the Ivies as being the best fit?</p>
<p>Also consider Columbia’s School of General Studies. It’s similar to Eli Whitney in that it’s the same classes, but it’s a much larger program. **** financial aid though :(</p>
(I’m thinking about applying to both, anyway.)</p>