“which is one of the ways in which they “collude” with Ivies to get as many of their graduates into the Ivies”
lol, collusion is a strong word for sure, but that is pretty much what is going on.
“Going to a public school that “only offers a few AP courses, and none in science” will almost certainly hurt the OP in college admissions.”
Ok but colleges are not expecting kids to transfer out of their neighborhood school, if that were the case, no kids from lower-income families whose hs offer zero APs would get into these selective schools, but they do.
OP - just explain the situation, the college counselors at some schools here in the bay area where you don’t take APs till 11th grade recommend mentioning that in the addl info section. It has not hurt these kids wrt UCs, Stanford et al that they have 6-7 APs vs people in other parts of the country that may have 10 or more. You may want to take a C/C or DE class if you want to show that you challenged yourself, but as long as you take the most rigorous, you’re fine.
Well, no, it won’t “certainly hurt.” They will read the app in this context. Many fine high schools, including many $$ preps and the Jesuit schools, have eliminated AP.
Nor is it freaking “collusion.” I doubt you can substantiate that.
Same with them not researching a previously unknown high school, IF the applicant appears to be qualified.
There’s the rub: qualified. That doesn’t mean LAX player. Or wealthy.
The toney privates tend to prepare their students quite well. The lesser high schools may not. That’s only a “may” not. The best and brightest in less arduous high schools can stand out. (Their rigor, grades, scores, ECs, and LoRs can make it clear this kid stretched. Not just hung back with the crowd.)
But in holistic, that includes the array of activities meaningful to the colleges.
Too much time on threads spent worrying about rich kids in certain preps. OP asked a simple question. He/she indicated an interest in local college courses, in another thread.