<p>Hey CCs</p>
<p>So I have noticed that lots of top students from my HS that graduated last year have not exactly ripped in their first sem/quarter of college (quite a few C, Ds, and even some Fs) and I am wondering if this could hurt the acceptance rate for me and others students in my grade. Also, if it can how low do the grades have to be to hurt. I would guess A’s would help a little, B’s wouldn’t do anything, and anything low could cause a problem?</p>
<p>I’m not entirely sure, but if such as pattern existed where the top students from your school were doing poorly in college, it could suggest that your school doesn’t do a very good job at preparing students for college.</p>
<p>If you go to a highly ranked HS that’s known to be very difficult, then admissions will usually know about that and take it into consideration. I would assume the same would be true if a school was known to be less rigorous or not very good in general. If you went to an “easy” school that doesn’t prepare its students for college, then you can’t really be penalized for that (it’s not your fault that your school sucks), but they might be looking for higher GPAs from your school to compensate or things like that.</p>
<p>My high school is actually quite competitive. Last year we had 6 students go to Stanford, 1 go to Dartmouth, 1 go to Upenn, 1 go to Columbia, 1 go to Swarthmore, 3 go to Northwestern, 1 to Georgetown, 1 to Wash U,4 students got trustee (fill tuition) scholarships to USC and many more went to USC, UCLA, and Cal. The class size is about 450. However, my school is also known for students that “burn out” by the time they get to college cause after four years of sleeping 4 hours a night, the idea that you don’t have to go to class is quite appealing to lots of them LOL. Also, last year was the first year that many somewhat 2nd tier students were getting into near ivies (i.e. Northwestern, and Wash U). The top students are doing fine but some of the other students aren’t exactly making the curve.</p>
<p>bump please :)</p>
<p>I doubt it will hurt you. It would be unfair to judge future students based on the current ones. However, if your school really is known for having “burn out” kids (mine is too, haha), colleges may look more closely at your app to make sure you have a “life” outside of school. (Which may suggest you weren’t just obsessed with grades or something, and are less likely to burn out.) I would suggest trying to portray a non-academic side of yourself in your essays to show that you’re not just about grades and all night cram sessions.</p>
<p>they can’t reject you based on someone else. That would be ludicrous. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies and yeah I made sure to focus on non-academic stuff in my essays. However, I am kinda concerned that my letters of rec may inadvertently cause a problem. I do try very hard in school and don’t have much of a life outside of school but part of that is because of personal reasons I prefer not to discuss in a forum. Should I maybe make a note in the add info section? Sorry about the vagueness.</p>
<p>Depending on what the reasons are, it could be something to share with your GC and have included in your GC’s recommendation.</p>
<p>Unless you’re applying to places like HPYS Amherst, schools won’t factor your ECs or lack of ECs into admission. What they’ll care about are your stats and (for public universities) state of residence.</p>
<p>@northstarmom: when u say HYPS/Amherst are u referring to all top schools in general because I am pretty sure most care about ECs?</p>
<p>I’m referring especially to about the top 12 private LACs and private national universities. Those tend to be the ones that get such an overabundance of applicants with sky high stats that those universities can pick and choose from those excellent applicants to select the ones who will most contribute to creating an active, well rounded student body. Those also are the schools that have extremely high yields.</p>
<p>yo OP do you go to like Mira Loma or something? </p>
<p>Anyways I wouldn’t worry about it too much. I see two scenarios. If people from your HS consistently get Cs and stuff in college (so like Class of 2012, 11, 10, etc. also get poor grades) then college(s) probably have already taken into account your high school’s suckiness. If Class of 2013 is just an aberration (although how could it, we rock!) then colleges probably will see it as such and will rather focus on the previously consistently good students your HS produces.</p>
<p>@Senior0991, my HS is ranked top 100 nationally according to some statistics and considered to be top 300 nationally by most statistics. In past years only VERY qualified students from my HS went to top schools but last year colleges were nicer to us and decided to give some less (but still very qualified) students a chance and some of them haven’t exactly stepped up to the plate.</p>
<p>I have a feeling this thread might degenerate soon (just a hunch :). Please keep the conversation civil or I will have to ask a mod to close it. </p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Colleges don’t just decide that they’re going to start accepting less qualified applicants (actually, it’s usually the opposite… like Northeastern this year…). You might be trying to find a pattern when one does not exist.</p>
<p>My HS is relatively new and many top colleges weren’t sure how legitimate our grades were so they were more hesitant to take students unless they were the cream of the crop. That’s why admissions got somewhat easier last year. This year its gotten harder but not as bad as it used to be.</p>