<p>I am currently a sophomore at a college preparatory school. My school is ranked 26th in the nation. Lately, I keep feeling sad because my grades have turned really bad since I go to this school. Because of a lot of competition, I cannot keep up. I feel like if I transfer out, I would be able to maintain a higher GPA and would get a higher ranking that I am at my current school. I'm just wondering if colleges will notice the fact that I transfer out of a top-school into a somewhat average school and if they will actually take that into consideration of accepting me or not. </p>
<p>How bad is “really bad”?</p>
<p>Colleges will take into account the fact that you’re at a top high school, and they’ll view your grades in that context. They’re not going to expect the same GPA as if you went to an easier school.
Do you like the school overall? Are you benefiting from it? You shouldn’t give up the opportunity to go to a top high school just because you’d have a somewhat higher rank at a lower-performing school. Of course, if there are other problems than just class rank it might be another story. </p>
<p>If you transferred, they would take that into account too (not necessarily automatically…your GC should address it in their recommendation), and presumably they would try not to penalize you for transferring because most people don’t choose where they go to school. </p>