How much does my school's admissions history impact my admissions chances?

If your apps were not already submitted, I’d suggest that it might be worthwhile to either pay a counselor with experience in selective college admissions to review your app. Sometimes very small changes in how you present things can make a huge difference in admissions. Since your school’s GC and teachers may not have much experience in this area, they might not know to offer some of those tweaks or how to give good advice on essay topics, for example.

But if your apps are submitted, then the only thing you can do is to be your own advocate. At many of the top public and private prep schools, they have GCs who not only know how to package an application, but also what schools are a great match for individual students, so based on that input the students’ apps are very targeted and likely to be effective. Also, many of those GCs have developed personal relationships with AOs at various colleges so can make a personal appeal that could tip the scales. Sounds like you don’t have that. But all is not lost - my son’s school didn’t really have that either and he was admitted to his top choice, so don’t give up.

What all this means is that you can’t rely on anyone working behind the scenes to help you. You have to be your own champion. Depending on the school, that might mean seeking out an interview at schools that highly value that or making direct (but brief, respectful and meaningful - they are really busy!) contact with the regional admissions officer. If you haven’t met or corresponded with an AO, you might even drop them a very brief email about how you see that ____ hasn’t had any experience with students from your school in the past but you are the guy to show them what they’ve been missing (obviously in your own noncorny words - I write like what I am, a middle aged mom, you need to phrase it in your terms.)

Above all, don’t spend more time worrying about things you can’t control. Good luck.