So who do I get compared against?

egreen
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:38:34 +0000

Well for all of the schools I am applying to (except for safeties) I am in the middle of the 25th-75th percentiles, so as far as test scores it seems like I’m at the average acceptance range at the T20 schools. I get what your saying about regionally, but from my understanding, a school usually doesn’t take someone way down the high school ranks if they have the option of someone higher (unless we are talking about Stanford - everything seems to go out the window with them).

I guess my real question is, if colleges want to see the situation you come from and how you achieved given your circumstances, who am I getting compared to? I seriously doubt anyone from my region, except for maybe a very select few others, are applying to any T20 universities. If it is by state, how do you compare a home schooled student against a magnet school student? In terms of opportunities to be involved, going to a magnet school is a serious advantage. And if it is nationally, then it would seem that only top students from wealthy areas who have the greatest opportunities would be attending the T20, since that is not strictly the case, I’m going to assume I won’t be compared against the number one rank NY student. I’m just wondering, it isn’t going to change anything either way. I am just curious.