<p>I know I’ve posted on this topic a couple of times before, but I still have some questions. </p>
<li><p>Do/how much do to top schools consider what high school you attend? Is someone who is ranked 10/500 at a much better advantage than someone who is 4/30 because there are more people even if the smaller class size is more competitive? </p></li>
<li><p>How to schools know what the hardest courses offered are? Is it even possible to keep tabs on the rigor of every small high school in the country? </p></li>
<li><p>Are students who attend schools that offer no APs, automatically at a disadvantage? Or can just taking the hardest courses available be enough? </p></li>
<li><p>Is self-studying APs really worth it if your school doesn’t offer APs? </p></li>
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<p>2) Along with your transcript, your school also sends in a school profile, which generally includes things such as average SAT scores for the school and the courses that are offered.</p>
<p>3) Schools that offer no APs are not at a disadvantage. The admissions people are looking to see how you took advantage of what was available to you. They don’t penalize you for things you weren’t able to do.</p>
<p>4) In terms of admissions, I don’t think it makes a difference. But of course you’ll receive college credit if you score high on the AP tests. (depends on the school of course)</p>
<p>1). Yes. Rank is considered in context of the school environment. Classes may be smaller, school may be ultra competitive, socio-economic factors in the area may bring rank down, etc… Rank alone will not reject, or accept a student. </p>
<p>2). Schools send a profile. Also, the counselor gives a clue to the student’s academic rigor by checking boxes on the counselor recommendation form. </p>
<p>3). Nope. Not automatically at a disadvantage. </p>
<p>4). Not directly, but by your counselor/teacher mentioning that you self studied, you can possibly show to colleges that you worked beyond what was expected of you in your environment. I self studied four AP’s and got National scholar. They were interesting subjects to learn…</p>
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<li>Rank is considered in the context of the school itself. Also, a disadvantaged school (low API, free/reduced lunch, etc.) can also take part in the admissions process depending on the college.</li>
<li>The secondary school profile lets the college know the rigor of your classes.</li>
<li>Students at high schools with no APs are not at a disadvantage as long as they take community college courses, online AP courses, or even, self study APs.</li>
<li>I disagree with the previous two posters because it makes a difference. Self-studying APs at a school with no APs and passing the APs shows that you have the initiative to push the rigor of your high school curriculum.</li>
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<p>hmom5: My D goes to a good public HS in California; probably top 15% or 20% based on stats I’ve been able to find. However, the school doesnt rank at all–not even by decile and they don’t send any school/class profile. My D has 2360 on SAT and we expect mid to high 700s on SAT2s. Her UW GPA is 4.0 (4 pt scale) many but not all APs (skipped AP Physics and AP Chem). Her GC says her recommendation will clearly describe D as on tof the top students, excellent all around (good ECs, leadership) Will the lack class ranking be a problem for Dartmouth, for example.</p>
<p>Most Public California high schools do not rank individually any longer. The GC might give you a number like top 4, 5, 10, 25% etc. Privates still may rank IDK. I think most major Universities in the nation understand how California high schools rank. Many kids have been admitted from this state to schools all over so it will be OK. I had this concern as well when my kids started their college searches.</p>
<p>3. Students at high schools with no APs are not at a disadvantage as long as they take community college courses, online AP courses, or even, self study APs.</p>
<p>I’m glad you pointed this out. Everyone seems to think that going to a school that offers no APs is not a disadvantage, even if you take all honors. AP classes make students better critical thinkers. Most honors classes don’t challenge you as much as AP classes do. So people who don’t take AP classes (whether it be at school, online, community college, etc) are less suited for college level classes, even if they took the most challenging set of honors courses at their school. Admissions people know this, too.</p>
<p>C’Bad, no. Dartmouth and similar schools approximate ranks for kids from schools that don’t rank. Many, many of their applicants go to schools that don’t rank.</p>