<p>I go to an average, boring middle class high school (about 2000 students) in the midwest. Every year you get a few kids who apply to HYPS, and we send someone to an ivy about once every 5 years. Occasionally, someone takes the SATs. SATs are rare, but it happens every once in a while. </p>
<p>So. Let's say I apply to Duke. I am only ranked number 11. Now, the valedictorian genius ALSO applies to Duke. Does this effect my chances at all? Do schools consider how many people they accept from each school? Meh, I'm really worried about this...</p>
<p>The fact that two people apply from an average high school would make absolutely no difference. If it is a high school where dozens of people apply, then it could but not in your case.</p>
<p>More students applying from your school can hurt you, but fewer students from your school won't help you.</p>
<p>One person is not enough to affect your chances.</p>
<p>I know Columbia reviews students grouped by their high schools in order to understand whether each applicant made the best use of their resources. So you may be bluntly evaluated next to others from your school. I doubt it's common, though.</p>
<p>I asked this same question of an admissions rep who came to our HS from Yale and his response was "we don't turn down talent." As my d is waiting for a reply to her app, I say we'll see about that! But the bottom line is you can only decide where your app goes, not your classmate's, so if you're interested in a school, go for it. we also all know cases where the student with the lesser stats gets the nod and leaves everybody scratching their heads. So good luck!</p>
<p>cosmopolitan- there was a problem with that at my school. once people found out that i was apply to top-ranked colleges X and Y, they decided not to apply. i tried to tell them that if they loved those schools then they should apply because it's not like i'm an auto-admit or anything, but i ended up being the only one from my class of about 220 to apply to those 2 places. makes me feel bad :(</p>