Importance of high school ranking/competitive nature of schools?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>(I’m not asking for anyone to chance me, just a general question.)</p>

<p>I’m currently a junior at my public school, which is extremely competitive. Even with taking 8 AP classes over the course of these three years, and all honors and only receiving one B in my entire high school career, I am ranked 38 out of approximately 640 students. I’m not sure as to how this is possible considering my GPA is a 3.9 and my HPA is almost a 4.5 as of right now, but hopefully I’ll receive A’s in the five I’m in this year which will bring my ranking higher. </p>

<p>Do colleges take into account what high schools you are coming from, and do they know that some are more competitive than others? My school has always been known to be really competitive. Brown is my absolute top choice. It’s been my dream school since I could remember, and I feel like applying ED won’t even be worth it because of this (or I’m just completely freaking out over nothing).</p>

2

<p>yes, colleges know and they take it into account. But my guess is 95% of the people who come on here saying their school is “competitive” are over-inflating their school. The schools that get boosts are the NYC privates and the elite boarding schools (andover, exteter, etc). For example I went to one of those schools and half the class scored over 1500 on the SAT (back when it was out of 1600). That’s a competitive school.</p>

3

<p>Your best indicator of how “competitive” your school is for Brown, (which is what counts in being “highly competitive”) is how recent grads who have applied to Brown fared in admissions, if known. This is something that hopefully your college guidance counselor can give you some info about. That’s not to say “don’t apply” if they say your class rank is 10-15 below anyone who got in, in the past, as there may be other “interest” parts to you that would still place you in a chance to get accepted. Just have many other options. Even if your rank is higher, it also doesn’t mean that you will definitely get in. Everyone is different, and so is what Brown is looking for any year.</p>