Small, mediocre, public school. Pro or Con?

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>So I come from a small public school which does not send a lot of kids if any, to top colleges. Maybe about 5-10 kids to the Ivies and other top 30 schools in the past 10 years. So, would this be a pro or a con when applying for elite colleges such as Princeton and Penn? Assuming one has the stats and ECs. I've heard it both ways, which is why I'm asking. Thanks!</p>

<p>It’s all in the perspective, I guess. Small high school that doesn’t send any kids to top colleges (5-10 kids to top 30 schools in 10 years)? I just got home from attending the graduation ceremony at out local high school, a graduating class of 24, where the valedictorian is going to a state directional and the salutatorian to a vocational program at a community college - and has sent exactly one kid to our state flagship in the last 15 years.</p>

<p>If anything, it is probably a pro, but you better be their 1 or 2 ranked student and one of the best students ever really the school has seen. Sure, it may tip the decision in your favor, but an uncompetitive school that sends extremely few kids to top 30 schools places a lot more pressure on becoming the number 1 ranked student in order to stand a decent shot at schools like Princeton or Penn.</p>