Like the title says, I’m curious how colleges are able to tell if you took the most difficult courses available to you during High School?
For instance, my school doesn’t allow AP courses till Junior and Senior year, and allows only 5 or 6 total over both two years. There’s no Honors course for languages or anything higher than College Prep for them. Overall because of the school’s small size, the course load I took was the most difficult available, it just doesn’t compare as well to other high schools.
Will I just naturally be at a disadvantage during admissions for more selective schools, or is there a way to make that known generally?
Just curious! Thanks!
Your GC will send a school report with your transcripts which indicates what AP courses are offerred, when they are available for students and if you are taking the most rigorous courses. No worries, you will be judged on what is available to you.
The school will send a school profile which will outline academic requirements and limitations, AP courses offered, college matriculations, and a ton of other info. [url=<a href=“http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/cms/lib8/MA01907692/Centricity/domain/28/counseling/NNHSprofile2014-2015.pdf%5DHere’s%5B/url”>http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/cms/lib8/MA01907692/Centricity/domain/28/counseling/NNHSprofile2014-2015.pdf]Here’s[/url] an example.
Also, on the Secondary School Report sent to your colleges, your GC needs to rate your schedule. For top colleges, “most rigorous” is what you strive. [url=<a href=“http://ugadm.northwestern.edu/documents/UG_Admissions_SecondarySchoolReport.pdf%5DHere’s%5B/url”>http://ugadm.northwestern.edu/documents/UG_Admissions_SecondarySchoolReport.pdf]Here’s[/url] an example.
Also, do not underestimate the amount of knowledge the admissions officer may have about your school.
Thank you so much to both of you! I had absolutely no idea.
If multiple students apply from your school, they would also look at the courses other students from your school took to see where your course load stacks up.