<p>That's a list of the colleges my school's 2005 graduating class went on to attend. That is a high achieving class for my school (we send about 40% of our students to some college and we have an average SAT of 960). I'm applying ED to Cornell, with the fact that nobody in my school achieves or even attempts to achieve anything at all influence my decision at all? I know nobody from my school has applied to Cornell in at least ten years and I'm guessing it's been even longer since anyone has if it has ever occured.</p>
<p>All other things being equal, applying from an underpreforming public school gives you a slight edge over students from an elite prep school.</p>
<p>Will it? why bill? being from a low quality student body only serves to eliminate competition from WITHIN your school.</p>
<p>You are judged by your accomplishments, not by the accomplishments of your peers. Fear not skinnyfists.</p>
<p>I also thought it'd give me a slight advantage. Most people in my school haven't heard of Cornell or would want to apply--even the rare students who could easily get in.</p>
<p>I would beg to differ with Bill,
Being from a low quality student body isn't going to tak you anywhere. It is based only on how good a candidate you are that you are admitted.</p>
<p>I don't think (nor did I say) being from a mediocore school is a "hook" to get me into an Ivy League school.
Remember, colleges are looking for diversity. Wealthy students from rich suburban schools and elite prep schools are over-repersented at any Ivy.
Students from mediocore rural schools are under-repersented at the Ivy's.
Thus, if every other thing on an application was the same for two students, one from an prep school and the other from a rural, underpreforming school, I bet an Adcom's choice would be influenced by his goal to increase diversity.</p>