Is there a certain age you have to be in order to get into college?

Question

I'll be graduating when I'm 16 1/2 or 17 and I know a lot of people who go to college when they're 19 or older. Is is because colleges won't accept them if they're younger?

I'm also planning to study abroad in Germany or Sweden. So would it apply there? How do colleges there differ from USA?

Thank you :)))

Answer 1

Age has nothing to do with it.  If the college accepts you, you're in.

I would say that "maturity" has a lot more to do with being successful - even at 19, a lot of students aren't ready for college.  College demands a lot of independence and self-discipline which most kids don't have.

Answer 2

Actually, many colleges would be proud to accept young prodigies.  As far as most college admission boards go, they are first and foremost about academics and the ability to pay your tuition (through loans, grants, or out of your own pocket).  You can enroll at any college you meet the admission requirements for, and age is not one of them.

It's important to keep in mind, however, that there are other aspects of college life besides the academic part that you may not be ready for quite yet.  Being younger than everyone else in your classes, for instance, parties where alcohol may be illegally consumed, making sure you take care of your health, making friends and socializing (which might be harder at a younger age with so many older people around you).  Plus if you plan on going abroad before you are 18, it can be harder to travel when you're still technically a minor.

Another option, of course, is to remain living at home while you take college courses.

But by all means, if you can handle all of that, college at a younger age is an excellent way for you to stand out and will be extremely good for your future.  Congratulations!

Answer 3

Wasn't there an 11 year old that went to college about 10 years ago?

Answer 4

you don't have to be a certain age to do to college, you just have to complete all the necessary school work. a lot of people go to college at 19 or older because that's the way most schools plan out their teaching, but if you're home schooled or skipped a grade, you'll go to college earlier.

Answer 5

Just for reference,Here in Japan,every students should be 18 or older to go to college.

:(  boring for some students who learned fast.

Answer 6

Dr. Douglas "Doogie" Howser, the son of David and Catherine Howser. At the age of five, he was diagnosed with early-stage pediatric leukemia after suspicious bruising was discovered by his father, who is also a medical doctor. After successful treatments, he began to express a genius level of intelligence. At age six, he got a perfect score on the SAT. He completed high school in nine weeks, graduated from Princeton University at age 10 and finished medical school four years later. At age 14, he was the youngest licensed doctor in the country.

Answer 7

There are several US universities that have Early Entrance Programs, which allow students to enter much earlier than they would otherwise.  I entered university at the age of 13 through one of these programs, and I have known students to begin their full-time university careers as young as 9 years old.

If you have graduated from high school, however, with a diploma, you should have no problem entering any university for which you would qualify otherwise.  The only place in which it becomes a real issue is in post-baccalaureate situations; medical schools, for example, will often ask very young students to wait a year or two before entering, presumably because people put a lot of trust in MDs and the idea of a surgeon who is not even old enough to vote is terrifying.

Unfortunately, I don't know much about Germany or Sweden specifically, but I studied abroad in Italy for a while, and the universities there did not have a problem with my age.  The fact is that the age at which students graduate from secondary school varies so much from country to country that a year or two one way or the other should not matter.

Good luck!

Answer 8

As long as you meet the academic requirements of the college, there's no reason why they should reject you because of your age.