My School does a lot of stuff differently than other schools because it is a Carrer Tech School. School and not a College Prep School. Will my school doing things differently affect college applications or what a college will think of me.
Things my school does differently.
No “Honors” Classes. We only have Pre-A(9p/10th Grade) and AP(11/12th)
Pre-AP & AP Are Weighted the Same
Highest Possible GPA is roughly 4.287/105.714
Only Core Classes are Weighted
-You can only take 4 Core ClassesEach Year
The School requires freshman to take 6 courses(English 9/Geomerty orAlgebra 1/Biology/World History 1500-P/Career Prep/PE)
AP isn’t offered till 11th Grade
I know some of this stuff may be kinda normal. I’m planning to apply to top colleges so I’m worried about the kids who can start taking AP in 9th grade making me look bad.
Every college will view your transcript within the context of your HS. There is no consistent rubric for weighting classes, and many schools have restrictions on AP classes. Don’t concern yourself with what students at other schools are doing. Do your best within the framework of what is available to you. Good luck.
The only thing I can think of to add to the advice above is that you have somewhat less margin for error with your grades. You need to choose the most rigorous classes available at your school and get "A"s in them if you will be applying to top schools. Also make sure your GC checks the “most demanding” box on the common app.
Keep in mind that every school has a “School Profile” that will explain what you did in your post.
My DD went to a public magnet #4 in the country school and they say “All courses at HTHS are taught at the Honors level and grades are therefore not weighted or inflated.”
They will also explain what courses are available to students and the average SAT scores so colleges get a feel for the type of student there.
Also keep in mind:
Stanford:
We expect applicants to pursue a reasonably challenging curriculum, choosing courses from among the most demanding courses available at your school. We ask you to exercise good judgment and to consult with your counselor, teachers and parents as you construct a curriculum that is right for you. Our hope is that your curriculum will inspire you to develop your intellectual passions, not suffer from unnecessary stress. The students who thrive at Stanford are those who are genuinely excited about learning, not necessarily those who take every single AP or IB, Honors or Accelerated class just because it has that designation.
^Your high school’s profile report will be sent with your transcript to colleges. So they will know that there are no APs offered to freshmen or sophomores. Therefore, the college won’t hold it against you. They will look at your guidance counselor’s letter of recommendation to see if they’ve checked the box that says you have taken the most rigorous course load available to you.