10. Do you rank high schools?

[Durran]

<p>No. We evaluate each applicant in the context of the opportunities and resources specifically available to him or her.</p>

<p>^Taken from the application</p>

<p>I went to a below-average local high school for freshman and sophomore years. Made all A's there and took the most challenging classes. I was accepted into a competitve public boarding school for Junior and Senior years. Unforunately, I'm rather behind here (even made a B in one science class this year) and can't possibly compete against those who came from top high schools public or private. Now my current school doesn't have class rank, but there are people here who have finished multivariable calculus in 10th grade (Old school didn't offer calculus till 11th). In my defense, I have taken the most challenging classes within my level and even a few research classes. Will Caltech take my situation into consideration? Or will I be judged by the same standard as everyone else from my school?</p>

<p>Thanks for listening.</p>

[tech_fan]

<p>Your situation will be taken into consideration, but we have to know about it. Since 9th and 10th grade often gets sort of lost in the application, make sure to write in one of the "extra information" sections that you went to a below-average school your first two years of high school and that your preparation for the boarding school was not as good as that of most others -- pretty much what you wrote here. Make sure it doesn't sound like making excuses -- go a for a matter of fact "here's what I had, here's what I did" tone.</p>

<p>:)
Ben</p>

[Durran]

<p>Thanks for the response Ben. I feel a bit better about my chances now.</p>