Admissions and High Schools

Applying to College
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<p>Hey fellow CCers,</p>

<p>I was looking at posts about how admissions committees take into account an applicant's high school and "know" their high school profiles to make sure that the schools are truly competitive and not just grade-inflated. This being said, how would admissions committees react to seeing an "average" public high school versus schools who are ranked top ten in the nation such as Whitney and Oxford (the only ones I can name since I live in Southern California)?</p>

<p>Would an applicant from one of those two schools fare better in the admissions process than an applicant from another school that's not recognized nationwide? Just wondering.</p>

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<p>Yup that sounds about right. In fact, I've heard that someone from a more prestigious high school can get away with a lower GPA than someone from an avg high school</p>

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<p>How much of a lower GPA?</p>

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<p>They want kids from a wide range of schools. They look at applicants in the context of their schools. So if you're applying to Harvard, if your school is average, they'll except you to be at the very top of your class in general.</p>

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<p>Yeah but that's because many times the classes are much harder at prestigious high schools than average public schools. I know at least at my school (a prestigious private school in NYC), it is almost impossible to get a 4.0. In fact it is so hard because of grade deflation that my school does not rank and there is no official GPA reported. I would imagine that because the classes are more difficult at these schools, the kids fare better in the college process because the colleges know that they are well prepared. You have to work harder to prove your preparedness if your school is not well known.</p>

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<p>
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Yeah but that's because many times the classes are much harder at prestigious high schools than average public schools.

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<p>I respectfully disagree. In some "prestigious" schools, such as superlax's, the classes ARE harder and with grade deflation. However, it would be a mistake to generalize that all top ranked high schools are competitive and difficult in nature. </p>

<p>Let's take for instance Whitney High School the OP mentioned for Southern California. I have never given out the name of MY high school on CC but let me say that I am extremely well acquainted with Whitney. I've visited several times, and have many friends that currently attend as seniors. </p>

<p>Whitney High School is the Top ranked high school in California. It is undeniably so... by one criteria only. California State Testing Scores. I know for a fact that Whitney has a near perfect API score, and that the students there are among the most competitive in the state. </p>

<p>However, the well recognized name of the school does not prove that the school is difficult or even competitive. (well, they are cutthroat competitive amongst themselves, but against the US as a whole? Tough Luck... ) Whitney High's curriculum is no different from the standard curriculum of the ABC Unified School district. The school is composed of 80 percent Asian population many of whose overbearing parents drive them from morning to night for an academic focus ad nauseum. My school is pretty low in standards, lower socio-economic standards, 55 percent on free reduced lunch, 10 percent admit rate to colleges. Whitney kids take it for granted knowing that they are indisputably better than us. </p>

<p>But is Whitney difficult any more than a "regular" high school? Definitely not. In fact, many well recognized schools suffer from grade inflation, teachers and administrators pressured by over zealous parents, and deteriorating standards of academic integrity (which includes cheating). I know that certain classes at Whitney are forced to create a different test every period due to the fact that answers get passed on, and students abandon the trust of their teachers for their stellar grades. </p>

<p>So yes, I'm sure colleges have profiles on some schools, but there are tens of thousands of high schools in the nation. If your school is not a really, really, really big name school, then it wouldn't be recognized at all. People get in on their own merits, not due to the zip code your parents can afford. </p>

<p>For Yale, one kid from Whitney got in through EA (a kid that actually deserves to go). Congrats to him. He was nice enough when I asked for directions to the bathroom. :)</p>

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<p>I'm not sure how you're getting that Whitney is the top ranked HS in CA. Is it the top ranked non magnet public? Or is it a magnet public? There are highly competitive high schools in CA that send 30% plus to ivies but they don't make the lists like Newsweek's because they are private or public magnets. </p>

<p>So when we're talking highly competitive, we really need to count all schools. In the Universe of top colleges on average 35% come from private high schools and another 4% from parochial schools.</p>

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<p>It's a magnet public. They don't make the Newsweek list because of their status... (as a drain of the district's good money into the so called joke of a "magnet" education) I know I'm critical of Whitney, but I have my reasons...</p>

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<p>I went to one of the top public schools in the country for middle school...obviously, "top" based on test scores...I now go to one of the top private schools in the country...my supposedly top middle school did not prepare me in the least for my current high school. The students who came from the really well known private elementary/middle schools were excellently prepared, while I definitely was not....</p>

<p>I know that's with middle schools/elementary schools, but I think it's still similar.... IMO, the people from my "top" public middle school who went on to what is considered a "top" public high school are going to have a real shock if they get into top colleges...they might have high scores on basic level standardized tests, but frankly, I am pretty familiar with the school and their curriculum/classes really aren't all that challenging.</p>

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<p>Gryffon5147, I guess I worded that incorrectly. You are absolutly right that just because a school is well known, does not make it competitive. I am not, however, talking about "top ranked" schools. My school is a private school and is therefore not ranked. I meant that kids from competitive high schools will generally fare better in the college process. Meaning schools where many of the kids score 4's and 5's on the APs, there is no grade inflation and there is a high graduation and matriculation rate have an easier time proving whether or not they are prepared for college level material. There are a fair number of private, parochial and public schools that fit this description and are not necessarily ranked.</p>

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<p>A little info about top private vs. top public schools. I have had kids in both systems. I can say without a doubt that the top ultra competitive school is much harder academically. For instance, there are very few multiple choice tests. Almost all tests are essay and short answer. You have to really know your stuff and be able to write very well. There are 12- 20 page research papers starting in 7th grade. In English there at least 10 books read throughout the year, and I'm talking amazing literature. Math is so in depth that is VERY challenging and unless you are a math genius, you are on the non-accelerated track. No one can move on in any subject unless they end up with nothing lower than a C. It is definitely not for every kid. The work load is intense and you have to be on board with it. On the other hand, my kids who went to public school all had to do remedial work in college and really struggled. Long story short, I'm sure that is why the top private school kids do better in admissions. The colleges know they are going to be much better prepared for college level work.</p>

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<p>
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Would an applicant from one of those two schools fare better in the admissions process than an applicant from another school that's not recognized nationwide?

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<p>OP, take a look at Whitney's school profile at <a href="http://www.whitneyhs.org/students/community.jsp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.whitneyhs.org/students/community.jsp&lt;/a>. That's for the class of 2005. If you scroll to the bottom, you'll see the list of schools where Whitney students have matriculated. They do well, yes, but it's not as golden as you might expect, given Whitney's reputation. </p>

<p>A nationally-known school has a big advantage in its counseling staff. Students at SoCal schools like Harvard-Westlake and Marlborough are getting a great education, but they also have awesome counseling resources. But not all of the students from these schools are accepted at or attend tippy-top colleges. </p>

<p>5boys, I think that the top private vs top public schools varies from district to district. Our anecdotal experience is only with a top public, which matches your description of your experience with a top private.</p>

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<p>Their SAT scores are very close to what you see at top privates.</p>

<p>Since they don't give numbers for the private colleges, it's hard to say how many are going to top schools. But I would imagine the 49% going to CA publics is money driven and many of those kids could have gone to top schools. </p>

<p>When you factor in a Socal public magnet is not likely to have the legacies you would see at top privates, their matriculation is impressive.</p>