If someone attends a small high school that usually sends only a few students per year to the top 50 ranked colleges, how are the students from that school evaluated by highly ranked colleges? For example, student has all As with the most rigorous classes. Ranked in top few in class. Great letters of rec from teachers. No big hook, but strong ECs. (The school offers primarily honors classes with a handful of AP classes.)
Do test scores matter more in that situation? Is that how colleges compare? If I submit SAT subject tests or even AP scores, do they have to be especially high? Or the same as anyone else, regardless of size/quality of high school?
For a few of the schools, my SAT scores are about 25th percentile, but my transcript is as strong as it can be.
I would say that without a hook, scores at the 25th percentile for a highly competitive college, will in most cases not be enough regardless if you are coming from a respected private, a nationally known public, or a small high school with not much of a track record. That being said, someone from the stronger high school would likely have the better chance
Standardized test scores will be a bit of an equalizer. For top schools, one should assume that accepted applicants with scores in the 25th percentile are heavily hooked.
To your question, for many colleges, AO’s are divided by geography, so they will be family with many high schools. For those schools with which they are less familiar, the school profile will add some texture.
Agree with the above. Unless you have a major hook (ex. you are a recruited athlete, the child of a huge donor etc.) then a standardized test score in the the 25%th percentile will likely hurt your chance for admission to highly competitive colleges. FWIW, had your standardized test scores been very strong for the schools in question, it could have enhanced your chances by acting an independent verification of your academic ability. Keep in mind that a number of of the hyper-competiive schools (I don’t know what schools you are considering) accept under 10% of all applicants and don’t have enough room to accept students who have excelled in every aspect of their application. So my bottom line is that for the colleges where you fall in the 25th percentile, attending a small school likely won’t hurt you but your standardized test scores likely will. You may want to consider studying over the summer and either re-taking the SAT or trying the ACT in the fall before you apply.
And unless it is required that you submit all testing or unless a number of SAT II tests are required by the college I would only send in SAT II or AP scores that are high to these competitive schools.
By all means put in a couple of applications to those reach schools – just do it with your eyes open. As a piece of unsolicited advice that I tell everyone, you should honestly asses your academics (including standardized test scores) and apply to a wide range of reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable (run net price calculators) and that you would be happy to attend.
Agreed with @“Erin’s Dad” - if your small HS sends a few kids each year to top schools, and you are among the top in your HS class, with great rec letters, taking challenging classes, then your chances are as good as any other unhooked kid. Which means, at the very elite schools, your chances are slim, but you should still find yourself getting serious consideration. These top 50 schools will likely know about your HS, especially those have accepted kids in the past.
Worry more about continuing to do well, and about writing a stellar essay. It can be done.