<p>I live in a socioeconomically disadvantaged area, and the high school is not the best. It's rare for people to score 4s and 5s on AP tests, and the highest SAT scores are usually in the 1900s. Most people I know have less than 1600. Also, there aren't many opportunities here, and all the clubs really do is fundraise to be able to afford a field trip or 2. Additionally, it isn't competitive until you get to the top 8 or so. How will this hurt my chances of getting into a "top" university/LAC?</p>
<p>What you need to do to improve your chances are:
- Get really good grades – you should be able to if you are really a good candidate for top schools.
- Prep/self study/work really had to bring up your standardized test scores on your own. That includes subject tests, too.
- Look for ECs outside your school. Get really involved in a volunteer activity, or find an opportunity to help out with some kind of research or something.
- Build strong relationships with your teachers and guidance counselors. They will be writing recommendations, and you want them to say great things about you. Be mature, respectful, hardworking, and display a true interest in your schoolwork.<br>
- Don’t just count on your GC to guide you in the college admissions process. Get a copy of the Fiske Guide to Colleges to look for colleges that are a good fit. And spend a lot of time out here, there is a lot of good advice to be had, especially from adults who have helped their kids through the process.
- If you are low income, look into Questbridge.</p>
<p>Numerous other factors are also important: are you economically disadvantaged? Will you be the first in your family to go to college? If you qualify for Questbridge, this program could be a tremendous help in the college application process. It is important that you make the absolute most of the opportunities at your high school and look outside of your school for ways to grow and challenge yourself. You also need to be at the top of your class.</p>
<p>Some colleges compare you with students in your school and then applicants. If you are applying to a top school it is most likely that most students who apply would have high grades and gpa so you would need a competitive gpa and scores anyway. In schools like this your rank in the school matters (like if your the top 15% or so). I went to a good public school and they do not keep track of ranks because the top 50% get 3.6+. I have a friend who goes to a different school and his gpa is 3.5 and he is the top 15%. (You know your rank because the school tells you, that’s how he found out).</p>
<p>Any ways don’t expect that to give you an advantage or disadvantage I know many students who get into good university from public high schools that are not good. And I went to a good school but got in almost no were. It is the effort you put in and the hard work you do that will determine were you go not so much your school. Also colleges won’t be able to see your ap scores until you get in, when I apply they asked for your classes you took, gpa and sat scores but not scores on the ap test.</p>
<p>Well there are some factors that have prevented me from being at the top of my class, but I am trying to make the absolute best out of the opportunities in my high school and community. I am looking into QB but I highly doubt I will be competitive for it. As for class rank, I am in the top 10% and working on top 5%. It is extremely difficult to build strong relationships because teachers and counselors seem to always be busy. I’m not trying to make excuses or anything, but during lunch, for example, I went to talk to my chem teacher about a mistake she made on my grade and she literally said, “You’re wasting my lunch.” My counselor is always out for lunch and he teaches drama after school so it’s difficult to get a chance to talk to him. </p>
<p>@lacgrad: Yes, I am socioeconomically disadvantaged and 1st generation.</p>
<p>Sit in the front row of class if you can, always be prepared and participate, go in a couple of minutes before class or stay for a minute after if you have a question – if you need longer, as the teacher when the best time would be to stop in. And if you are asking about your grade – be sure you listen carefully to their suggestions for improving your performance and are responsive to what they say – otherwise you can hurt your recommendation more than you help it. I don’t have any advice for the GC except to make an appointment IF you have something specific to discuss with them.</p>
<p>@Intparent: Thank you for all of the helpful advice. I will do my best to do everything you suggested.</p>