I am curious how much multiple students from the same high school applying to the same college can affect admissions at the top universities. Most schools deny that it has an impact, but is that actually true? If both students are qualified to attend that school, will they have to be decided between. Also, if there is truly competition between students, does this have any effect at the same university but with different schools. For example, if my friend and I are applying to upenn, but me to wharton and him to CAS, will we still be compared, or are they considered separate cases? Thanks in advance for any input.
I think schools will definitely compare the people from your school as this gives them context towards your class rank and the opportunities that are available to you.
I think the effect goes to an extent as the Ivies will not accept 20 people from the same school (unless the school is notorious for having rockstar students graduate each year) as 20 people cannot be the best of the best (the cream of the crop) of their school, at the same time.
There is an initial process where it determines if you get in or not, then Wharton has another screening process, at least that’s what I’ve heard.
There’s technically no impact, but you’re essentially competing with the other kids at your school as you have to compare apples to apples. You and your friend go to the same school, so generally speaking you are at the same income level, you both have the same AP classes available to you, you have the same amount of volunteering opportunities available etc. It’s hard to compare people who have lived in completely different environments so they compare you to the people in your school first.
Two students from my non-magnet public school got into the same dual-degree program at Penn in the same year (a program that typically has 25 spots total). If that could happen, I don’t think you have to worry about competing directly with your classmates.
From what admissions officers I’ve heard they don’t directly compare one student to another by HS nor do they have quotas for how many they will accept per HS…they seem to look at an area or region together. There is no reason you both can’t get into a school you are qualified for. In any event. there is nothing you can do about it so apply where you want and don’t worry who else from your HS is applying as well.
However, if a college uses class rank, then the students are competing against each other on that basis. In some cases, use of class rank can almost be a quota on the school. For example, at the University of Texas - Austin, the top 7% rank students in a Texas high school get automatic admission. But others have to compete against heavy competition from applicants from non-ranking high schools, out-of-state applicants, and international applicants.