Get Does High School Quality Matter Evidence From Admissions Data Form

Colleges today are looking for students whose strengths and experiences will be an asset to their school. Good grades, a challenging high school curriculum, standardized test scores, extracurriculars, and a strong essay are a few key factors admissions officers assess.

Does where a student goes to high school matter when it comes to his or her chances of admission to America's most highly selective colleges? The answer, of course, is a resounding yes.

Admissions officers sort applicants by region first, and then often subdivide within regions by other factors, which can include race, gender, intended major, or smaller geographic areas. Thus you are compared to other applicants from your high school, but not directly.

No. While we understand there are differences in the overall strengths of secondary schools, we are most interested in how well applicants have taken advantage of available resources. In the end, we admit the student not the secondary school they attend.

Grades are a huge part of it, but they're also looking at test scores, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. Colleges won't assign (or dock) you points based on how difficult your high school is—they'll do their best to be fair to students from all backgrounds.

Colleges usually take a holistic view when reviewing applications, so they will look at your high school to learn more about you. Say you had a not so impressive class rank or GPA, and you went to Harvard-Westlake or Exeter, they will be more understanding because the school is known for its competitiveness.

A high school's reputation does matter to America's elite colleges. The rigor of a high school's curriculum does matter. If a high school only offers 2 AP courses and isn't on the IB curriculum, well, that's a good indication the school isn't all that competitive.

When choosing coursework in high school, most students jump in and pick subjects they find interesting. Very few will actually choose subjects with a view to college acceptance. The fact is, the coursework you choose in high school can greatly affect your odds of acceptance when it comes time to apply for college.