What *top* colleges welcome mature students?

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Hello all. I wonder if <em>top universities or liberal arts</em> colleges welcome mature students. Do the admission office care about the age of enrolled students during the reviewing of application? What are this kind of colleges? Please give me some advice.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

2

<p>Yes they do care, traditionally an undergraduate application is when a student is matriculating directly from high school. If there is a gap period, proper explanation must be accompanied with the application. The most common are when students have served in the military for a period of 2-3 years. </p>

<p>However, if you have enrolled in another institution as an undergraduate already, you will have to apply as a transfer student.</p>

3

<p>What is my chance if I have left school for more than 5 five years and worked?</p>

4

<p>It’s really impossible to quantify, it really depends on your GPA, test scores, high school EC’s, in addition to what sort of work you did these past five years. Those factors will determine what type of school you can potentially go to.</p>

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<p>If you are willing to give us such information, then we can advise you on your chances.</p>

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<p>What if I got a high scores of SAT after the interruption?</p>

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<p>But after I contacted with some colleges, they said they didn’t care.</p>

8

<p>I don’t think the colleges will mind when you have taken the SAT etc. as long as your score is up there.</p>

<p>But more important will be your high school transcript and the extra-curricular involvement during high school.</p>

9

<p>Right-there, are you male or female? If you are female, look into Michigan-Ann Arbor. They have an excellent scholarship programs for women who have been out of school for 5+ years. Some of those scholarships can exceed $10,000. </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.finaid.umich.edu/Types_of_Financial_Aid/Scholarships/Entering_Undergraduates/otherschols.asp[/url]”>http://www.finaid.umich.edu/Types_of_Financial_Aid/Scholarships/Entering_Undergraduates/otherschols.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And Columbia also has programs for older students.</p>

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<p>Wow, those scholarships seem perfect for you. Amazing stuff, Alexandre.</p>

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<p>Columbia University [School</a> of General Studies](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/]School”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/) is geared to older students. </p>

<p>From their website, “for returning and nontraditional students… They take the same courses with the same faculty and major in the same departments as all other undergraduates on the Columbia campus.”</p>

12

<p>Smith has an outstanding program for older women. Do check that out.</p>

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<p>University of Pennsylvania has a general studies as well as Columbia, I believe. Harvard Extension School is another option.</p>

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<p>Wow. Thank you, all kind friends! I am afraid I could not be qualified for those scholarships because I am an international applicant.</p>

<p>And I am sorry that I am still not sure what is the definition of an adult/mature student, nor if I am a “adult student”. Is it decided by the years spending after I have left school or my age? And, is the average age of freshman in most colleges 18y (or even younger)?</p>

<p>Thank you again!</p>

15

<p>At Smith, 10% of the student body is made up of older women (average age 36 - range 24-69). More than 80% are on scholarships. </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.smith.edu/admission/ada.php[/url]”>http://www.smith.edu/admission/ada.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thank you very much! </p>

<p>So, do you mean the nontraditional students should apply through a different program/way (in a different competitive pool) from traditional students? </p>

<p>Can I have applied to the colleges through the same admission process in the same pool with traditional students?</p>

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<p>And, how competitive is the program?</p>

<p>Is there any other colleges providing nontraditional programs? </p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

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<p>The program is competitive, but Smith actively recruits “Adas” because they add greatly to the experience of younger women in and out of the classroom. For details, you should check out the website, or e-mail the program. (The Ada Dean is a personal friend of mine, and is absolutely wonderful!)</p>

19

<p>Look at the Davis Degree Program at Wellesley College:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.wellesley.edu/admission/admission/davis.html[/url]”>http://www.wellesley.edu/admission/admission/davis.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

20

<p>As I think you can see, a number of colleges not just welcome “older” applicants, they also have special programs for them.</p>