<p>First off, I apologize as I know that both of these topics must have been discussed before. I attempted to use the search bar, but in all honesty I didn't even know what to search for. </p>
<p>One thing I've noticed in many of the "chances" threads is that the posters often claim that their high schools are "very competitive". Others say that their school is the top school in the state or that it send several kids to the Ivies each year.</p>
<p>I would like to know what effect going to a less prestigious school has on my application (if any). According to schooldigger.com, my school is ranked 131st out of 336 high schools in the state. As far as I know, no one from my school has ever been admitted to the Ivies or other top schools (Amherst, Williams, JH, Georgetown).</p>
<p>Another factor that I had questions about is geographic location. The most that I've heard relating to this is that some schools aim to have a "geographically diverse" student body. I am from the Puget Sound region of Washington state. One intersting thing that I've found in my research is this map of Princeton's undergraduate class of 2012 (<a href="http://www.princeton.edu/admission/images/stats/map_full.gif%5B/url%5D">http://www.princeton.edu/admission/images/stats/map_full.gif</a>). As you can see, only 7 students from Washington. Will my geographic location effect my application in terms of the admissions committee's expectations?</p>
<p>those rankings are bogus....it says my school is 6th in my state or something like that which isn't true. my school is prided to be the flagship of the state.
According to US News there is only 1 other highschool in Idaho in the top 15000. So ya...plus the numbers they have for some of the average scores are wrong anyways
i wouldnt base anything off of that site</p>
<p>There can be a slight geographic advantage if you're applying to a school with a national reputation from a geographically underrepresented region. But I don't think being from Washington State, and especially the Puget Sound region, would give you much of an edge at a school like Princeton. Look at the state-by-state numbers on the map you reference. New Jersey produced the most members of Princeton's 2012 class (168), followed by California (148), Internationals (141), New York (133), Pennsylvania (77), Maryland (66), Massachusetts (58), Florida (49), Virginia (48), Connecticut (47), Texas (37), and Illinois (32). That's roughly 75% of the class just from those 10 states, plus internationals. So it might seem that Washington with 7 members of the class is underrepresented, right? Well, by that calculation so are 38 other states, so effectively you're competing with applicants from most of the country who could make a similar claim. And with 7 members of Princeton's 2010 class, Washington ranks a little above the median among states; they've got some Washingtonians, enough to claim a presence from that state. any more would be redundant. Better, perhaps, if you were from Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming, all currently unrepresented. Then again, the heavy skewing toward a small number of states might suggest Princeton doesn't really care all that much about geography. As long as they get some Californians (and you know they will), Washingtonians will probably be pretty much an afterthought; and as long as they get some Washingtonians (and you know they will), they just don't need any more.</p>
<p>Sorry, you'll have to get in strictly on the merits.</p>
<p>Most kids here reporting their school is very competitive are wrong.</p>
<p>While colleges do take lots of kids from good schools, they are also very interested in attracting a wide range, including kids from average and under performing high schools.</p>
<p>alright. well first off, of course the fact that if you come from a "challenging" or "prestigious" HS will help. if you received an education from exeter, andover, choate...these schools all offer extremely challenging curriculums which universities appreciate. but if you exceed in an average high, get strong recomendations, and show you are a dedicated student your chances arent necessarily diminished.</p>
<p>about geographic location. the factor does come into play but the influence is minimal. ivies won't give you a spot just because you are from washington.</p>
<p>bclintonk, I'm sorry if I was unclear before. The Princeton map was more of a aside than anything. My question was more aimed at addressing general trends among competitive schools, rather than Princeton specifically.</p>
