At 15, she's ready to take on the Ivy League
Colo. teen aims for two degrees from Penn
PHILADELPHIA - Brittney Exline is too young to drive a car or go to an R-rated movie, but the 15-year-old probably will not have much time for those things anyway now that she's starting her first year of college.
Exline starts her Ivy League career Wednesday when classes begin at the University of Pennsylvania.
Despite the age difference with her 17- and 18-year-old peers, she said she doesn't really notice it - and neither do they.
"I didn't tell people right off the bat that I was 15," Exline said. "A lot of people were pretty surprised."
Exline grew up in Colorado Springs, where from an early age her intellect was evident and unexplainable. At 8 years old, she was in sixth grade; by 13, she had finished high school math. She turned 15 in February and graduated a few months later.
She is a high achiever in math and science, but is also interested in politics so she enrolled in a University of Pennsylvania program that will award her degrees from both the engineering and liberal arts schools when she graduates.
"Her motivation, discipline, and maturity provided clear evidence that despite her age, she was ready to travel halfway across the country and thrive in Penn's rigorous academic environment," said Eric Kaplan, interim dean of admissions.
Exline's mother, Chyrese, a geriatric supervisor, said her concerns about her daughter's freshman year are probably no different from any other parent's. She and her husband, a supply supervisor, and 10-year-old son are already looking forward to her return during winter break.
Brittney Exline has been on the Philadelphia campus for about a month, participating in an orientation program. Counselor Noemi Maldonado described her as "extremely outgoing, very social, very friendly, very mature for her age."
Miguel Gonzalez, another program participant, said he and about a dozen other incoming freshmen were hanging out one night when Brittney Exline revealed her age.
"We were surprised, but I don't think it's too shocking," said Gonzalez.
Exline will be a 19-year-old graduate if she stays on the four-year track. She hopes to take advantage of her opportunities between now and then, including studying abroad her junior year. 