I go to a college predatory high school school in CT and i was wondering how much attending one of these schools helps your chances at college. Ive heard that the name of your school can carry you a good distance, and at times they count your GPA as a little more because of the difficulty of the school you attend. Is any of this true? if any body has knowledge or experience on this matter please let me know.
Thank You.
Yes, it does help your chances, but it can also hurt your chances. Competition is higher and colleges usually have a select number they can take from each school. Your class ranking may be lower at a prep school than it would be at a public school. But they do count your GPA a little more and when you get to college classes will be easier.
In addition to the comments offered in post #1, I believe private/preparatory – I certainly hope they are not predatory 
– schools often are able to provide FAR greater insight, preparation, and counseling to assist in the undergraduate selection - application - decision processes. It is my opinion that this constitutes a MAJOR advantage.
You’re competing against your classmates for class ranking. And u will be judged in the context of your opportunities. The more elite the school, the more that will be expected of u. By contrast, the more socioeconomically disadvantaged the school, the less will be expected of u.
Prep schools, however, tend to have excellent college counseling, which means good-fit schools might be suggested to u that might not have been on your radar had u gone to public school.
If going to an ivy is your ambition, unless u are “hooked” (i e. URM, development case, recruited athlete, famous family) or unless u graduate at the top of your class, being at an elite prep school will hurt your chances of admission.
FYI
http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/Polk_Groton_Grads.htm
Yes, it helps in that such schools are geared to transitioning students from high school to college as compared to schools where that is not what most students will be doing after graduation. Also such schools might be more experienced in dealing with the more selective colleges and that process.
There can be disadvantages as well.
What kind of disadvantages might i face? I know the college process is stressful for every body but my most feared factor is my GPA not going to be high enough for a ranked business school. But i would like to know what kind of disadvantages i might face.
Ohh i meant Preparatory* haha sorry.
Disadvantages: More than one poster has commented that u will be compared against the other students in your class. If your GPA is low so that your class rank is low, don’t expect to get into the uber elite colleges unless u have a “hook”
@GMTplus7 Well Ivy league is not necessarily in my radar (more like NYU, Fordham), but i am afraid that i will be judged by my class rank (im not at the bottom, but im not at the top). I am a black male from south NY who happens to have a rather long commute to CT every day, and i wouldn’t necessarily say i am at a socioeconomic equilibrium with the rest of my peers. My school is considered “elite” i guess CT. But like i said, i hope the name of my school will help carry me.
Depends on how much you personally accomplish that hasn’t been handed to you. Eg, many top private hs make sure lots of their students have “leadership” opps. They may run their own AP test prep. You have to remember that kids from lower SES are out there getting rigor and leadership without that structure. I wouldn’t say less is expected of them, not at all.
You’ve got a hook; you’re a URM.
@lookingforward I understand. I do my best to jump at leadership opportunities at my school and out side of school ( I run clothing drives, Im VP of my school (running for president)). Im really looking for ways to differentiate my self from my peers.
What year are you? I have a feeling you may still be looking inside the hs box. School titles or participatory things are only part of several prongs you should have.
The name of the hs only takes one so far. If this is quite a strong hs, adcoms will be interested. But they’ll be going over your app with that fine comb. Take rigor, get your scores up, have real impact- not just a list of “things” you did. Let your teachers know you and see the effort you put in and the success you achieve, so they can write nice LoRs. And know what your academic interests are- and why.
@lookingforward I am currently a junior in 2nd semester. Thank You for that advice, ill definitely apply all that this semester.