Christcorp
15-Year Member
- Joined
- May 21, 2008
- Messages
- 5,386
I've been dealing with similar questions about high school rankings for about 10 years. So I thought I'd make this thread. It will be short; "In Christcorp's law of relativity".
First; let me be clear about something. In no way in this thread meant to "dis" (Disrespect) or put down anyone who thinks or knows that their high school is considered "Competitive" or "Ranked" or any similar synonym. Most kids are very proud of their high school; and everyone wants to believe they attend a very good school. Especially when applying to one of the academies; some "HOPE" that their competitive or ranked school is going to give them an "Edge" on their application.
The main reason for this thread, is for those that don't come from a "So Called" Competitive or Ranked school, to NOT FEEL BAD!!! Why???? Because, "This might upset SOME of those in the first group"; the academy couldn't care less if you attend a competitive or ranked school. You get no extra points for that.
Caveat: There's always a caveat in my threads. The academies do care that your high school prepares you effectively for college; and that they PROMOTE higher education. Which "most" schools do.
The truth is; the academy, and most universities know, that approximately 99.23949% of all high school students had no say so in where they went to high school. That was their parent's decision. They also know that approximately 90.45993% of all parents had little say so in where their kids attended high school. Except for the 10% of high school kids who attend Private High Schools, your public high school is based on where your house is.
Therefor; the academies, and most universities, couldn't give a rat's "You know what" if your school is "Competitive" or "Ranked". What they care about is:
1. What courses were available?
2. What courses you took? "Did you do the MOST with what's available"?
3. How well you did in those courses?
4. How well you ranked among the other students in your school? "That determines yours, your teacher's, and your school's competency".
Plus; the academies and most universities know that the ranking system among high schools is too ambiguous. They also realized that they aren't quite fair. If you look at the U.S. News and World Report for nationally ranked schools; you'll see that how they do their ranking, leaves a lot of schools off the list. Matter of fact, U.S. News even mentions that out of 28,500 high schools, they only rank 20,000 of them. They rank based on a 4 Step process. Some are left out because they are too small. Some because they didn't show a high enough percentage of disadvantaged kids performing better; some because their "College Readiness" performance wasn't high enough. This makes ranking very abstract. Many rankings consider AP classes, but DON'T consider the IB Program because it's an "International" education system. Yet, the universities and the academies know exactly what the IB Program is. Or a state like Wyoming, with is 93% white; great unemployment and therefor not as many "Disadvantaged" students; only 2 High Schools in the ENTIRE STATE are on the National Rankings list. Many others are "nationally RECOGNIZED", but they aren't even RANKED.
There's a lot of variables in the school system.
If 400 graduated your senior class; you were ranked #100; and your GPA was a 3.9; then that shows your school gives out easy grades. If out of 400, you were ranked #10; and your GPA was a 3.8; then that shows your school is very hard on grades. "Hence, the main reason for the ACT and SAT. It's the one constant among ALL students in the country.
If you attended Basis Scottsdale; ranked #1; or School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas ranked #4; or Thomas Jefferson High School in Virginia ranked #6; and you took the basic required to graduate classes......... compared to the individual who is in high school at PS#8 in Washington Heights, New York City; who taking 6-7 AP classes or IB classes every semester.............
Believe it or not, the academy, and most universities will look much more favorably on the individual who is attending public school #8 and is taking the most challenging classes that are offered. This also applies to the "Home Schooled". They don't look down on it. But, if you graduate at 18 years old, and finished the state minimum requirements; vs finishing up at 16-17 years old and also took additional classes at your local community college; you can see the difference.
And for what it's worth, the same applies to sports, clubs, and other activities. My high school was a regional school. One high school with grades 7-12 in it. Covered 2 different towns. My graduating class only had 92 students. We didn't have a football team because we were too small. But we had most other sports. We didn't have a lot of the EC's that other schools had. But; if you do the most with what's available, and do extra where you can; e.g. city leagues, outside clubs, junior college classes, etc. That will show that you are doing the most with what you have available.
So, for all those who have second thoughts about applying to the academy or to prestigious universities, because you think your high school is pretty low on the ranking or competitive scale; don't give it a second thought. Do your best. Do the most with what you have. Where you can do EXTRA; like junior college or out of school activities; do so.
And for those who think or know that you were fortunate enough to go to a Competitive or Ranked school..... DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED!!! You are NOT going to get any extra points for going there. matter of fact; if you don't take the most challenging classes offered, you could actually be penalized.
Best of luck to all.
Mike
First; let me be clear about something. In no way in this thread meant to "dis" (Disrespect) or put down anyone who thinks or knows that their high school is considered "Competitive" or "Ranked" or any similar synonym. Most kids are very proud of their high school; and everyone wants to believe they attend a very good school. Especially when applying to one of the academies; some "HOPE" that their competitive or ranked school is going to give them an "Edge" on their application.
The main reason for this thread, is for those that don't come from a "So Called" Competitive or Ranked school, to NOT FEEL BAD!!! Why???? Because, "This might upset SOME of those in the first group"; the academy couldn't care less if you attend a competitive or ranked school. You get no extra points for that.
Caveat: There's always a caveat in my threads. The academies do care that your high school prepares you effectively for college; and that they PROMOTE higher education. Which "most" schools do.
The truth is; the academy, and most universities know, that approximately 99.23949% of all high school students had no say so in where they went to high school. That was their parent's decision. They also know that approximately 90.45993% of all parents had little say so in where their kids attended high school. Except for the 10% of high school kids who attend Private High Schools, your public high school is based on where your house is.
Therefor; the academies, and most universities, couldn't give a rat's "You know what" if your school is "Competitive" or "Ranked". What they care about is:
1. What courses were available?
2. What courses you took? "Did you do the MOST with what's available"?
3. How well you did in those courses?
4. How well you ranked among the other students in your school? "That determines yours, your teacher's, and your school's competency".
Plus; the academies and most universities know that the ranking system among high schools is too ambiguous. They also realized that they aren't quite fair. If you look at the U.S. News and World Report for nationally ranked schools; you'll see that how they do their ranking, leaves a lot of schools off the list. Matter of fact, U.S. News even mentions that out of 28,500 high schools, they only rank 20,000 of them. They rank based on a 4 Step process. Some are left out because they are too small. Some because they didn't show a high enough percentage of disadvantaged kids performing better; some because their "College Readiness" performance wasn't high enough. This makes ranking very abstract. Many rankings consider AP classes, but DON'T consider the IB Program because it's an "International" education system. Yet, the universities and the academies know exactly what the IB Program is. Or a state like Wyoming, with is 93% white; great unemployment and therefor not as many "Disadvantaged" students; only 2 High Schools in the ENTIRE STATE are on the National Rankings list. Many others are "nationally RECOGNIZED", but they aren't even RANKED.
There's a lot of variables in the school system.
If 400 graduated your senior class; you were ranked #100; and your GPA was a 3.9; then that shows your school gives out easy grades. If out of 400, you were ranked #10; and your GPA was a 3.8; then that shows your school is very hard on grades. "Hence, the main reason for the ACT and SAT. It's the one constant among ALL students in the country.
If you attended Basis Scottsdale; ranked #1; or School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas ranked #4; or Thomas Jefferson High School in Virginia ranked #6; and you took the basic required to graduate classes......... compared to the individual who is in high school at PS#8 in Washington Heights, New York City; who taking 6-7 AP classes or IB classes every semester.............
Believe it or not, the academy, and most universities will look much more favorably on the individual who is attending public school #8 and is taking the most challenging classes that are offered. This also applies to the "Home Schooled". They don't look down on it. But, if you graduate at 18 years old, and finished the state minimum requirements; vs finishing up at 16-17 years old and also took additional classes at your local community college; you can see the difference.
And for what it's worth, the same applies to sports, clubs, and other activities. My high school was a regional school. One high school with grades 7-12 in it. Covered 2 different towns. My graduating class only had 92 students. We didn't have a football team because we were too small. But we had most other sports. We didn't have a lot of the EC's that other schools had. But; if you do the most with what's available, and do extra where you can; e.g. city leagues, outside clubs, junior college classes, etc. That will show that you are doing the most with what you have available.
So, for all those who have second thoughts about applying to the academy or to prestigious universities, because you think your high school is pretty low on the ranking or competitive scale; don't give it a second thought. Do your best. Do the most with what you have. Where you can do EXTRA; like junior college or out of school activities; do so.
And for those who think or know that you were fortunate enough to go to a Competitive or Ranked school..... DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED!!! You are NOT going to get any extra points for going there. matter of fact; if you don't take the most challenging classes offered, you could actually be penalized.
Best of luck to all.
Mike