<p>Do colleges consider how great/how bad the high schools are? Do kids from very poor schools (but w/ good SAT scores etc.) have a little bit of an edge?</p>
<p>I don't go to high school in the US so I can't say but I think if the universities/colleges you're applying to have had past applicants from your school and their application was impressive or what adcoms were looking for, you might have an edge. If, however, you're a new applicant to them, I think the question of school quality isn't considered and they go by your application.</p>
<p>Sorry if this doesn't help... :(</p>
<p>High School DEFINITELY DOES MATTER</p>
<p>Here's i think the best example of how I know school name matters:</p>
<p>One of the Admissions people from JHU came to my school and said that he would spend less time looking at our transcripts than the avg applicant because just seeing our school's name was enough to let him know we could handle it academically.</p>
<p>So let's just hope that your high school is either known...or that if it's not (because it seems the name game works for high schools and not just colleges/universities), your application is <em>thumbs up</em></p>
<p>This is the main reason that your school sends out their school profile. Usually your school profile will have information such as average SAT scores, courses offered, grading system percentage of students that graduate, percentage of students that get accepted and attend 2/4 year schools, what schools they attend, etc.</p>
<p>Yes, some schools are "more" well known than others but just because your school does not have national or even regional name recognition, it does not necessarily knock you out of the box.</p>
<p>SInce most elite schools build a class the process is usually more holistic and the applicant is viewed in context of the opportunites offered.</p>
<p>Hmm... how about high schools abroad??</p>
<p>My school is ranked top five in the country... does that influence their judgment</p>
<p>How do you know the quality of a high school? Who ranks them?</p>
<p>I think if you are at a high school that "matters" w/ regard to quality of name you would already know that fact. It is harsh but I believe true. Remember though that not all acceptees to any school will come solely from prestigous places. Don't fear because you are at a no name or unknown school. Colleges will make up a FROSH class that encompasses all factors including home school and unknown high schools.</p>
<p>I agree. also as said already if the school is located abroad and is till date unknown.ur application will count a lot and will help future kids. but if there are past kids frm the school ..there they will check to see if the schol is gud......</p>
<p>Abt ranking well.. may be they do consider if it is by a reputed agency otherwise not......</p>
<p>Some high schools are resting on their laurels from decades past, and some deserve recognition that just haven't been around long enough to get it. I think this is just the sad and unfair truth. Probably, you should just make the best of where ever you are and take advantage of the opportunities that are available to you. </p>
<p>Do the colleges really read the high school profiles that are sent along with the transcripts?</p>
<p>Like Hazmat said, a good high school may help you, but a mediocre high school won't hurt you. I went to a high school ranked somewhere in the mid 500s (average SAT ~1050), and I got in almost everywhere I applied.</p>