<p>Does the high school you go to really matter for college admissions? I've seen many people talk about how they go to known or respected high schools and talk about all the classes they were offered at these schools or how they have like 10+ people get into ivies each year. Does going to a totally average public high school where no one in recent memory has gotten in to an HYPSCM or Ivy level school and where only 7 AP's are even offered (compared to the crazy number I've seen some kids on these boards talk about) leave you at a disadvantage?</p>
<p>Yes, because schools require guidance counselors to submit a school profile for each applicant. It usually lists facts such as the percentage of students who matriculate to college, test score stats, and number of honors/AP/IB courses in the school offered.</p>
<p>My high school offered 3 AP classes and I didn't take any of them.</p>
<p>Colleges claim that they look at you in the context of your school. For example, if you go to a highly competitive prep school, you are expected to take advantage of the amazing opportunities they offer, have a rigorous course load, etc. If you went to a public school that is less-than-spectacular, did you stand out from that school environment? Go above and beyond? </p>
<p>I tend to believe colleges when they say this, because the same happened for me (looked at me in context of my school and saw that I had gone beyond what I had). I do, however, think that you are at a disadvantage because many times you simply do not have the resources to look competitive next to other applicants who may be wealthier, better prepared, or went to great high schools.</p>
<p>Looking back, however, even though my high school might have limited me in many ways, I feel kind of grateful that I had the experience I did in high school. It made me work much harder for what I wanted than some people; I am not criticizing those who go to upper-tier high schools, but when it is expected that you'll go to college or even an Ivy, opportunities are there to do it. I felt that I had to search out my own opportunities, find the <em>free</em> ones!, and handled almost all of the admissions process on my own. I feel better able to be proactive and do what I need to do to make my own opportunities now.</p>
<p>The high school here is just a regular public high school. It's in a small town and is the only high school in the district, has less than 1000 students total. They offer about 6 APs, no honors. They don't weight grades, don't rank. Last year students were admitted to Harvard, Brown, Stanford, Amherst, Carleton, Dartmouth, Harvey Mudd, Emory... that's what I can remember at the moment.</p>
<p>So, maybe it doesn't matter that much. Maybe colleges are honest when they say they look at your application in context. Maybe they look at how you've challenged yourself, even if that's not taking 15 AP classes, or IB classes (which almost no one here has ever even heard of). You just do the best with what you've got... that said, if your school only offers 7 APs a student there would probably be well-advised to take at least a few of them if they want to be a viable candidate at a selective school.</p>
<p>Mhmm I hope they look at things in context. And yea I've taken 6 of the 7 AP's offered and am self teaching another 2 this year so i hope that'll help.</p>