Kind of a random question, but I'm curious – what's the average age range for college applicants? Wondering if it's mostly high school seniors or if there's a significant number of people who apply after taking gap years too?
The majority of college applicants indeed tend to apply during their senior year of high school, making them usually around 17 or 18 years old. However, there is a range of applicants that fall outside of this majority. More and more students, for example, are choosing to take a gap year between high school and college, which would likely put them at the age of 18 or 19 when they apply.
There is also a significant percentage of students who pursue college education later in life as "non-traditional applicants." This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as military service, work commitments or family obligations. These applicants could be in their twenties, thirties, or even older.
Lastly, it's also notable that some particularly academically advanced students may apply to college at an earlier age, even before finishing high school. Age in this case could vary greatly depending on the individual situation.
In short, while the majority of applicants fall within the 17-18 year old range, the age of college applicants can really span a broad spectrum.
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