<p>Hey, I am new guy in the forums, but I have been reading around for some time now, you guys are pretty knowledgeable. So, I go to one of the best public schools in New York City, its a specialized high school, brooklyn technical HS, would it be advantageous to me in any sense of the word when it comes to college applications out of state?</p>
<p>“I go to one of the best public schools in New York City”</p>
<p>“would it be advantageous to me”</p>
<p>Really?</p>
<p>Ought this question be asked of someone who goes to a mediocre HS in NYC? Why don’t you sit back and think about it more closely. I think the answer will come to you.</p>
<p>GL with your apps.</p>
<p>Yes, it is advantageous. Hopefully you are getting decent to great grades, as that will help too, but most of all, taking the most rigorous classes that are available will tell any college that you are ready for them.</p>
<p>I hope so. I go to a similar school and have a ranking that’s not so great (although still good) when you don’t know what school I go to, but when you do, it’s pretty impressive…</p>
<p>Interesting question. I imagine that your top notch high school does give you a competitive edge in the college admissions process. I am amazed when I see posts about high schools with six or seven IVY acceptances and countless more into top ranked schools. The kids coming out of such schools seem to have stellar stats and the schools provide them with opportunities that allow them to pad their ecs. </p>
<p>I go to a relatively small high school. I have worked hard and done well. Does the fact that I come from a school where an ACT over 32 is cause for celebration, breaking 2200 on the SAT is almost unheard of, last known IVY admit was Harvard in 2004, and we have limited AP courses hurt my chances? I hope not. I hope that admissions committees look at the big picture and realize that while I may not look quite as pretty on paper, I too have worked very hard, and risen above some of the limitations that attending my school have put on me.
In the end, I hope that admissions are truly wholisitic.</p>
<p>Oh, yeah, not criticizing my school. They do the best they can with limited resources.</p>
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<p>I suppose I go to one of those. I attend a small high school (about 190 kids per class) and we sent 8 kids to ivys last year. I suppose it’s good to go to a competitive high school, but it’s very hard to academically stand out from the crowd. Everyone in the top 10% of my hs probably has a 2100+ and is involved in the school/community. I plan on EDing to Penn next year, and including myself there are 4 legacies applying and we all have pretty good stats and ECs. There’s no way Penn will take all of us, and I can’t help but think that if I went to a less competitive school I would be able to stand out from the crowd unlike my current situation.</p>
<p>The colleges you will apply to within NY and outside it probably all know and understand Brooklyn Tech, so they will understand your courses and where you stand in your school probably better than they would for a kid from an unknown school. They know how to read your application. Depending on your record, you may have a leg up. At Brooklyn Tech you have access to amazing facilities*. I visited and was blown away. It depends on how well you have taken advantage of them.</p>
<p>*(They have their own flight simulator. The architecture students build a house inside the school every year, and then tear it down. There are rooms and rooms full of computers. Etc)</p>
<p>I go to a pretty crazy school too. We once sent like 8 kids to Princeton alone in one year, and the top 10% of kids pretty much all have 2200+. Good thing is, as far as I know, most of the competitive students do mostly school-related ECs (like MUN, FBLA, sports, etc.) so it’s a little easier to stand out for people who do out-of-school ECs. While I probably would have a better chance at college admissions if I were one of the top students in a mediocre HS, I know I’m going to be far more prepared for college-level work because of my current HS’ strong curriculum.</p>
<p>^^omg that is ridiculous…</p>
<p>And then there are other schools in NYC and around the country that can barely afford to make ends meet. Seems kinda unfair to me…</p>
<p>sean – not unfair at all. While no one should dispute our obligation to provide a quality education to all students, it is also important to to provide an education that enables our best and brightest to meet their potential. The NYC specialty school program has been a tremendous success for many decades.</p>
<p>OP – certain high schools have national reputations. Colleges understand the selectivity in getting in and the rigor of the program. The best indicator how colleges view your school is to look at admissions patterns over the past few years. Where were kids with your scores/SATs admitted. Many schools make this data available to all students. Even if yours does not, your GC should have a good idea as to what level of school you should apply to.</p>
<p>Well a top high school would justify a lower GPA, assuming you had a lower GPA. I don’t think it will give you much of an edge over other applicants though. If you think about it, most of the applicants for top universities/LACs probably come from great schools like Brooklyn Tech. Also, I would imagine that you would also have no excuse for taking an “easier” curriculum, or having few/bad ECs considering the opportunities, and programs available at schools like yours.</p>
<p>I come from an extremely bad high school, so my opinion may be a bit biased. Btw, by extremely bad, I mean extremely bad and not CC bad. Our school doesn’t send any kids to top high schools, and I don’t think we have had any Ivy admits in the 50-60 years that the school has been open.</p>
<p>The thing is, if you go to a school like Tech, and you do well, you prove to the ad comes that you will be able to do college level work. You are a known entity. Many schools have grade inflation, so the adcoms do not know what they are getting from some kids. It doesn’t seem fair, but it does have some effect.</p>
<p>PS any kid in NY can get into Brooklyn Tech and the like if they score well on the SHSAT test. It sounds a bit unfair that they have such facilities, but anyone can go there, rich, poor, any race.</p>