<p>I do hope regional adcoms have a very good understanding of the climate in different high schools. For example, one thing some private schools in our area do that assists their students in developing good social relationships and EC involvement, is have a half academic day on Wednesdays. That afternoon each week is dedicated to club involvement. This way, every student has access to clubs with no worries about time, transportation, or scheduling conflicts with sports, etc… By contrast, in our high school all clubs meet after school. Thus, a varsity athlete really cannot participate in clubs because of a conflict with practice after school each day. In some schools, usually smaller ones, it is possible to be in both marching band and a fall sport. Due to the intensity of both at our school, it cannot be done. In general, athletic participation in larger schools is more competitive and demanding. A varsity athlete at one school is most definitely not the equivalent of a varsity athlete at another school. </p>
<p>So, with our tough AP classes and club system, my kid will be hard pressed to look as good on paper as a student from another school.</p>