Well I’ll be attending a pretty rural high school where the average scores and other stuff are very mediocre. But they do offer something like 10 AP’s.
Are there any disad. that applies to high school students who attend ‘less competitive’ schools?
Or will it be an advantage for me as I wont have to try as hard to ace in subjects and get stellar recs?
I heard that colleges have some background info of all high schools. I have no idea how someone, or something can manage such vast information but my school hasnt send anyone to the ivy leagues in the past few years. (I think one or two went to Cornell).
<p>Ivies are always looking for people other than the norm, and rural definitely helps you out in that regard, as long as you're doing everything you can at that school and then some (self-study for APs, for instance).</p>
<p>at my school, there are definitely about 50 kids each year who are "ivy material" with very very good grades, scores, etc. but very very good doesn't get you in. each high caliber school usually only accepts a few from our school each year, pretty randomly other than athletic recruits.</p>
<p>then again, if they have low scores it probably means the education you will recieve will not be as good. so when you actually get to college, wherever you end up, you will be at a disadvantage. for the admissions process, it is probably an advantage.</p>
<p>The biggest problem being a top student coming from a school that's mediocre is that you can get blindsided by the caliber of the competition when you do get to college. I've known of some fairly brutal transitions.</p>
<p>I attend a school of about 400 students in rural Alabama. It is very boring and you only have small group of people to choose as friends, so if you don't really like them, you have to go elsewhere to find people more like you...That kind of sucks. My school has no AP's, so I drive 40 miles to a university and take college level classes three days a week. That is pretty fun. Although the quality of education is pretty poor at my school, I take it upon myself to learn the things I need to learn to succeed in college. Think about your major and make sure that you are prepared in that area the most. You will have to study on your own and use your time wisely even though most of your classmates probably won't. In 9th grade I hated school, but the older I got the more I realized that I had a great opportunity to practically rule the school. I became involved in many activities and built a strong list of ECs. I went to summer programs and camps every summer and earned many college credits and gained new experiences. In a smaller less competitive school you have so many more opportunities to excel than do students at larger more competitive schools. I am Salutatorian, SGA President, School Web site Webmaster, Senior Class President, was SGA VP last year, Science Club VP last year, and I could do more if I wanted to. I have been accepted to all of the colleges I applied to and I applied to a lot.......Good luck....Im sure you will do well</p>
<p>Your school is even worse than mine, 3.97. At least we have five AP classes.</p>
<p>On the other end of the scale, we only have about 2-3 kids who are 'ivy material' this year, and most years fewer than that, veronique. The school could probably have more if everybody wasn't in the Alabama/Auburn mindset, but that's just how it is...</p>
<p>succeding in a rural high school takes a lot of initiative. I live in the east part of AL and also attend a rural school. We offer 5 AP classes of which I can't take two because they are not the foreign language that I'm taking. Unlike birdofprey45's school, nobody has attended a IVY or US 25 school ever since I began going there, which is about 6 years ago. ( my school is very small so I know:) 25 people in my senior class) Not too many people at my school have an "academic mindset." Not that it isn't good. Sports tend to get in the way of EVERYTHING. The teachers "understand" their situation and go lenient on the on game nights. I believe that's the beginning of my school's downfall. I don't think I am making any sense but what I am trying to get across is that IMHO, I don't think that many rural schools have stringent rules on, well, academic stuff. If you get all A's at the school, even if it is easy, show it in your test scores!! If colleges see that you got an A+ in a subject, get 700+ on a corresponding AP test or SATii. However, again, every school is different. I'm sure you'll enjoy the different lifestyle:)</p>
<p>ya... I read once that getting a perfect 1600 isnt important. What matters is that getting a 1600 while attending in a rural school where conditions are harsh. I posted this Q cuz I wasnt too sure whether if I should attend that school or choose one of the boarding schools paying a hell lot. Thnx for making up my decision.</p>
<p>You really can't help the fact that you are attending a rural high school. Colleges like to see you make the best of your situation, whether it is attending a high school with 50 AP's or 5.</p>