Will Attending a Small School Hurt My Admission Chances

Applying to College
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It was an example. Further, what else do advanced courses indicate about a student?

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<p>It proves just that- that he is taking advanced courses. A high exam scores indicates a deep understanding of the subject at that level. It shows that in a high school envirnoment, a student can succed in advanced courses (some of which are literally easier than a regular class at the private schools I and a couple others have brought into comparision for this topic). I think it was just a phrasing miscommunication: you had said something about being prepared for college "life", not a college courseload, which has different implications. I was honestly not splittling hairs with that; as college life means something very different to college workload, I thought you were aruging that APs prepare a student for general college life. </p>

<p>A main focus of this question is whether the OP, who goes to a small private school with limited oppurtunities, will have a disadvantage due to things she is not offered. No. Colleges do not fault students for going to schools that offer few APs or no APs, especially when going to that school means the student's entire courseload is set at what is at least comparably tough honours, as is the case in a wide range of private schools. (That is what the information is sent from the school to the colleges for.) I've heard students from schools (whose courseload I know from going there) very pleased with themselves for their AP loads senior year. I have literally met students (including from a private school) whose courseload in two APs combined is the courseload for one regular class two grades lower at my school. And these are considered prep schools. Colleges don't fault no offered APs (at least that I've heard of) because no APs does not equal no AP courseload.</p>

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<p>"I think it was just a phrasing miscommunication: you had said something about being prepared for college "life", not a college courseload, which has different implications."</p>

<p>I had actually first put "college rigor" and changed it for some reason.</p>

<p>"... as is the case in a wide range of private schools. "</p>

<p>I don't know what kind of school the OP is going to, but I am aware that prep schools are much tougher and that the adcoms take this into consideration. I was speaking generally of schools with little opportunity.</p>

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<p>"where I said colleges don't receive information about your high school? No, you can't, because I never said it. "</p>

<p>you're right, you didn't say that. </p>

<p>"Student X:
-mostly regular classes (English, US history, chemistry, biology, physics, math); 1 AP (biology); and a 4.0.
-secretary of Key Club and president of a writers group
-the school profile shows that those are the only classes offered and Key Club and a writers' group are the only clubs</p>

<p>Student Y:
-many honors/advanced classes; 8 APs (US History, biology, Spanish, English language, English literature, chemistry, US Government, calculus); and a 4.0
-secretary of Key Club, president of JSA, vice president of NHS, member of Spanish National Honor Society, treasurer of speech/debate club
-school profile shows that student Y took advantage of most of the 11 AP courses offered (all that would work with his/her schedule), and almost all clubs</p>

<p>[I'm only taking classes/ECs into account, since that's what the OP mentioned.]</p>

<p>Both student X and student Y have the same academic honors (National Merit Letter of Commendation, etc.), and their essays show the same promise.</p>

<p>Now, whom are you going to choose?"</p>

<p>You displayed here that both have the same level of education based on their "national merit" status and "essay promise, even with Student X's 'regular courses.'</p>

<p>Therefore, you are pointing out exactly what you are refuting, since both seem on the same level academically, and are taking advantage of their full opportunities, then these 'advanced classes' mean nothing in Student Y's case, because if Student X can receive the same commendations, then he is just as academically ready as Student Y. </p>

<p>Therefore, I would be considering both applicants equally as they show the same academic promise, but I am no admissions officer. </p>

<p>It would be strategically wrong for colleges to only admit students that were offered better opportunities than students in low-income or rural areas, which usually offer less academic and outside opportunites because of their size or lack of funding.</p>

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<p>Your school is small? My school has 168 seniors. Its tiny, and as such I was afraid that because it does not offer any IB classes, and only 5 AP classes (of which I took 4) that it would hurt my chances for admission.</p>

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<p>Can you please give the link to it? Thanks.</p>

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<p>Home-school kids have a record for small class size. And they get admissions, too. So, don't worry.</p>

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My school has 50 seniors. That's tiny. :eek:</p>

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<p>Hah. My school has 32 seniors. Which is awful, because ranks are automatically low (I mean, if you aren't first, you aren't top five percent. Et cetera. And I'm second.), grades are deflated (on our last Physics final, the highest was a 68. Yes, you read that right.), and there are more or less no extracurricular opportunities.</p>

<p>Sometimes, living in India can suck a bit.</p>

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<p>I saw an application once from a home-schooled student where the student's class rank was listed as "2 out of 2." We got a great laugh. I don't remember what the student's credentials looked like -- it was a couple of years ago -- but graduating last in your class had to be rough. :)</p>

<p>Chris D'Orso
Stony Brook University</p>