<p>I go to a relatively small Public High School, (350 class size). Penn is my top choice, but I'm worried that going to a public high school could disadvantage me. Any thoughts? Also, if I get in, I'm sure that I'll be one of few from a Public School. Could this negatively affect my social life there? Any other comments would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Coming from a public school is actually an advantage. The Ivy Leagues all take over 50% of their students from public schools. And the smaller the better, as long as your stats line up, you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>They may take over 50% from public schools, but there are a lot more public school kids out there so is it really an advantage?</p>
<p>[Fast</a> Facts](<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=65]Fast”>Fast Facts: Enrollment trends (65))</p>
<p>I am from a public school, and so are most of my friends here. People don’t really care if you went to a public or private school.
As for getting in, I don’t think it disadvantages you if you went to a public school, but it depends on the school. I hear that at some public schools very few people apply to Ivies so that may actually be an advantage if you stand out. From my experience at my public school, getting into the Ivies was very competitive because you had 30-50 kids applying to each Ivy, all with high test scores. Depending on the year, anywhere from 2-7 would be accepted so a lot of very qualified people were disappointed.</p>
<p>It really depends on your high school and where other kids are applying. At my sons high school there were ALOT of kids applying to ivys and the ivys cannot take everyone from the same high schools. It seems really unfair-you could have the qualifications but not get in because someone else at your school has better stats (or parents are alumni). i would never do it but wouldn’t it be smart to transfer to a different high school after taking APs etc at a more diffucult school?</p>
<p>I go to a good public school with a very small class size (150ish per class) and we send like 4 kids on average to Penn per year. Don’t worry about it, you’re fine.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about this. According to an interview with some Deans of Admissions from various top colleges, it seems like there is no particular limit from each school. They only might compare you with others from your school to see how you fare against them, but as long as you are a good applicant, there should be no worries.</p>
<p>Im a current Penn freshman who graduated from public school in a class of about 350. All that matters is that you pursue the most rigorous programs available at your school and that you do well in it.</p>
<p>My S got in last year ED from a small, rural public school with about 100 in his class and only 1 other Ivy admission in the history of the school. I think it was a huge advantage to be from his school because he really shined in his class and was so far over and above the school’s averages. His test scores weren’t bad…but not amazing…grades and ec’s were stellar and he took the most rigorous classes offered even if they didn’t apply to him. As he tells it…he made the choices necessary to get in to the school of his dreams.</p>