<p>if you go to a very competitive private school. My school doesn't rank, it gives quartiles. I hope to be in the top quartile, but my school is very competitive and respected in the community. My question is will colleges realize that my school is one of the best schools in the metro area and not count rank as much (as long as I can get solid test scores, got a 28 ACT as a soph)?</p>
<p>YOur school will probably provide a school profile that explains many of the things that make your school competitive. You can ask your GC to see one.</p>
<p>MD MOM</p>
<p>will most colleges accept the fact that the school is rigorous and competitive though? Realize that someone who has a 3.85W with a top 20% but has a 32/33 ACT (hopefully can get my senior year) didn’t slack and has potential?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>I can’t speak for most schools; however, top colleges have regional admissions reps who are familiar with the schools in their region. At my daughter’s school, the college counselors visited schools all over the country and introduced the school, so to speak. You might have a little sit down with your counselor and ask. He/she can tell you lots about who gets in to what schools from your school. A couple of years ago, we visited Bowdoin and the asst. director of admissions introduced himself to us and said that he had met my daughter’s college counselor the week before.</p>
<p>The college counselor at my daugther’s school was a William and Mary grad, and the director of admissions from W&M came to a program one night for the junior class. He specifically said that a B at daughter’s school was not like an A at another school. And that was a surprise to some of the students I am sure. However, I do think test scores can trump grades in some instances.</p>
<p>Also, I think that test scores can reflect a more rigorous curriculum. So, maybe you got a B here or there, but your AP scores are fives. I hope that makes sense.</p>
<p>that clears it up a bit, thank you</p>
<p>Look at students from your school with similar credentials. Where do they end up?</p>
<p>It not nearly so clear that a B at one school is like an A at another. The job of those people going out to high schools is to get as many students as possible to apply.</p>
<p>Looking at Naviance for your school is your best way of understanding what it takes from your school to get into a colllege. At top high schools, there are usually counselors who can also tell you.</p>
<p>Not being in the top quartile at even the very top high schools (those sending over 30% to ivies/peers) will make a good strategy important.</p>
<p>A lot of school don’t rank. Colleges have a way of dealing with it. You will be fine.</p>
<p>Naviance is not available at every school. DD’s school had it; DS’s school does not. Public schools around here do not have it.</p>
<p>^Still, you can compare yourself more generally to those in your high school.</p>
<p>^^ For comparing yourself to your peers, I don’t think all kids really know what other kids’s numbers are, and they certainly are not usually familiar with the kids in the class ahead of them who have been accepted–or rejected. I know that my daughter did not share that information with her classmates.</p>
<p>Good counelors have a hand on the pulse and know what it takes to get into different colleges from their school. They are often better than Naviance which does not denote athletes, URMs and legacies.</p>
<p>I did look on naviance to see but I don’t know average GPAs for other admitted, so it makes it a bit tough. Any way, tons of kids to to top universities (Ivys, MIT, and other top schools like top liberal arts</p>