It’s actually a little more nuanced than that

It’s actually a little more nuanced than that
by FL_Irish (2018-08-15 14:45:25)
Edited on 2018-08-15 14:46:42

In reply to: the colleges say #1 posted by irishrock

They want to see that you’ve challenged yourself to the fullest extent possible given your specific circumstances and have been successful with that challenge. It is often easier to show that you’ve taken the most challenging schedule possible at an average public school than it is at an elite boarding school (which may have three times the AP offerings and a boatload of other students taking them and earning As).

If Applicant A and Applicant B have identical scores, scheduled and grades and A went to Horace Mann and B went to Central High, it is not unusual for the admissions reaction to be:

“Wow B - you did all that at Central High?” vs. “You went to Horace Mann A - you could have done more with the opportunities available to you.”

Whether or not it is ultimately the best preparation for succeeding in college, being the absolute biggest fish possible in a small pond typically results in more success than being a big (but not the biggest) fish in a gigantic pond from a purely admissions standpoint.