<p>Hi - I often see people post that their school sent/sends a few students to harvard, and others saying their school isn't very high in rank, etc...</p>
<p>I'm wondering how that plays into Harvard's, or any other school's, decision about an applicant.</p>
<p>Thank you :)</p>
<p>The issue is whether the school has a challenging curriculum that is likely to prepare someone for study at Harvard. For example, the high school I attended many years ago didn't, and still doesn't, have a strong academic program, so it is exceedingly rare that anyone from that school ever gets into Harvard. (I'm not aware of ANYONE from my high school who ever got into Harvard. A friend of mine, from the following year's graduation class at another high school in my school district, did get into Harvard. Her parents took care to get her involved in academic activities outside the school curriculum.) </p>
<p>If you are prepared to thrive at Harvard, Harvard will be glad to have you wherever you went to high school. (But of course, Harvard has only limited spaces in its entering class, and its admission staff acknowledges that they can't admit all qualified applicants.) If you are not prepared for Harvard, you would be better off not going there. If you're not sure, you can always apply, and let the admission staff decide on your case. But there are plenty of other great universities in the United States and around the world, so apply other places too and see what happens. </p>
<p>Good luck in your applications.</p>
<p>School quality may make a difference. One thing I noticed is that the top boarding schools, especially Andover for Harvard, act like feeders to Ivy League schools. They are truly good schools.</p>