<p>Hi there, I go to a specialized HS (one you have to take a test for to get accepted). The workload here is very tough, I spent my entire winter vacation doing homework actually. The workload at a zoned school (here in NYC atleast) is much less demanding. I have friends who go there and only get one hour of homework or so. I'm a freshman in high school. However, I was wondering if going to a specialized HS with a better curriculum would be recognized by colleges (namely ivy league)? I'd hate to believe that I worked my butt off in my high school getting the same grades or even better grades at a zoned school with less work. I have a 96.16 weighted GPA so far. And a side question, how does apply to a school like Columbia college but you have a harsh teacher giving you a bad grade when you actually worked really hard, but the teacher's standards are too high. I know a lot of my friends teachers and even most of my teachers are very harsh when it comes to grading. For example, my friends' teacher, he basically makes it impossible for you to get higher than an 85 on the report card, so how will top colleges look at that? I mean, there are other kids in many other schools getting perfect grades because their teachers are easier, but what if you had a harder teacher, but you learned a lot more and still worked your butt off. It's not fair isn't it?</p>
<p>I emphasized my "special school" in my resume, EC's, and essays.</p>
<p>..we call the magnet programs though</p>
<p>I went to a zoned school, it isn't very good, and I worked hard and got high scores on the SAT's, and then I managed to get into a school that admits less than 30% of students.</p>
<p>If you are smart, you'll do fine wherever you go. In all, I don't think an 85 from a magnet is going to spell destruction for your application to Columbia, even though it may feel like it.</p>
<p>Specialized, no doubt about it.</p>
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It's not fair isn't it?
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<p>Suck it up.</p>
<p>Stop in your high school's college counseling office. They will be able to show you data about the college plans of the past few graduating classes. I think you will find that the work is worth it and college admissions offices know the difference.</p>
<p>Heh, complaining about going to a "Specialized School" sounds pretty self-pitying to all of us public-school kids :P</p>
<p>If you are not sure that you will do amazing at a specialized school, I wouldn't recommend attending. First off, public schools may not be as tough, but can offer curricula as good as or even better than specialized schools like mine, which offers more than a dozen AP classes with professors that teach at University of Oklahoma(guess where I am now hah). Also, because the workload isn't as hard, I do well at school(4.0) and have time to study for the ACTs and other college prepping materials. In addition, colleges DO look at your background. So someone applying from a specialized school with a 2000 SAT and another from a pub. school with the same scores will be viewed differently. that's why even with an average SAT score of 2200, Korean Minjok Leadership Academy doesn't send every single kid to Ivy Leauge schools or schools of that level</p>
<p>which specialized hs do u go to? (i'm from nyc) Zone schools are a huge no-no. You have a waaaay better chance of getting into prestigious schools if you go to a specialized high school because colleges will know your school more than some random zone school. And specialized high schools have harder classes and colleges know that. If you had say a 95 avg at a zone school, that will not be as impressive as a 95 avg at a specialized high school. Well to answer to your columbia question, I think you just have to work even harder if your teacher has really high standards. You want a high grade right? PS you're a freshman, you've still got lots of time. Seriously, DO NOT worry about college now. I'm a senior in hs and I really wished that I enjoyed my younger years more.</p>
<p>Going to a academically strong and relatively renowned school is definitely a plus- Colleges will know about your tough course load and they will take note of the fact that your grades may not be the same as the grade someone else received from a crappy zone school. Work hard, be yourself, and anywhere that you don't get in probably wasn't a good fit for you in the first place.</p>
<p>I go to Brooklyn Tech HS. I agree with you lonelystar, but the constant stress that they put on me makes me question twice if this will pay off. Anyways thanks for the answers guys.</p>