<p>Hopefully others will contribute some really good information. All I will say is that colleges will consider the condition of your highs chool. They will not throw you out because you have not taken any AP courses; If somewhere in the application (an “additional information” or “special circumstances” section) you make it clear that your HS does not offer any AP courses, they will take it into consideration. However, coming from a school like your does limit you. Being ranked 1 as your school isn’t the same as being even ranked 20 at a really competitive HS. </p>
<p>Also, your 227 guarantees that you will be a National Merit Semi-Finalist (and to become a finalist you just have to submit a little application basically, and almost everyone gets it). I don’t know if you realize it, but that is a really big deal. Don’t get stuck on schools like “Brown, Colombia, Amherst” just because they have big prestigious names. I made the same mistake. They are great schools, but there are plenty of great schools around. There are schools that would kill you have you as a NMF. There are schools that will offer you a full ride just because of that 227. You’re got a bright future ahead of you! Do not limit yourself to the elite colleges. Like I said, I made the same mistake. I still applied to elite schools (princeton, stanford, cornell) but I applied to 8 others that were a step lower- still great schools, far more likely to accept/pay for me.</p>
<p>Lastly, SAT writing- certainly looks better if you can get that up, but keep in mind it is by far the least regarded of the SAT sections. Most colleges really only care about the math/reading. Also, consider taking the ACT. My first SAT was 2070 and my ACT was a 34 (which is equal to like a 2280). Sometimes students do much better on one than the other.</p>