<p>Out of a class of around 400 students, one student at max from my highschool goes to a top school each year. My high school is a Siemens AP award winner, though I don't know how much that matters. Does this qualify as a mediocre/bad/noncompetitive high school?</p>
<p>How much of a bonus would this give me in admissions?</p>
<p>I don't think going to an uncompetitive school would help you at all. You might even say it could hurt you. However, since it won the Siemens AP award (whatever that is), it can't possibly be that bad of a school.</p>
<p>Siemen's AP award is for the most 5's on science and math exams. There's one for each state. I didn't know about it either, until a couple days ago--someone posted in "High-School Life." It's not necessarily an important award, but it reflects the academic rigor of my high school, to some extent. I live in a uncompetitive state, though.</p>
<p>Well, someone on the CalTech forum said that going to a "bad school" is good for your chances. I was just wondering how bad and how good. </p>
<p>I sure hope he's right, though =-)</p>
<p>Using logic...if your school is set up to educate the students so effectviley that they earn 5s on their APs, it would suggest they are in many ways an exemplary HS. Good Luck to you and your fellow classmates!</p>