<p>Just wondering–how much do colleges take into account the strength of the high school? In the “chances” forum, I see every person get told that they have 0 percent of getting into HYPS. However, I go to a small private school and every year out of classes of 115 or so we have 2-3 kids going to Yale, 1-2 to Harvard, 0-2 to Princeton, 3-4 to Stanford… etc. I know that I’m among the top students in my grade, so I feel like I should be able to get into all the same schools these kids did, even if the odds are not so good elsewhere. Any idea about how much the strength of the high school is taken into account in college admissions?</p>
<p>It is definitely taken into account. Every college admissions office is aware of the really outstanding high schools in the country (and around the world). These people are professionals and they do know from past experience that certain schools will provide them with truly spectacular students. It is very likely that your school is one of those. However, every year there are casualties in the admissions process, even with top ranked students at these top notch high schools, and that is why you read cautionary “chance” threads on CC. It isn’t so much that everyone has “0” chance at HYP as that it is a process with unpredictable outcomes.</p>