The EDUFAX Educational FAQ

Question #97:

I am a sophomore in a local high school in a small town. I have a very high class rank and GPA, but there are only 150 students in my class. What should I do to make my application more appealing to rigorous colleges?

Answer #97:

The size of your class is not important. I have worked with kids who have been enormously successful from schools with as few as 40 in the graduating class. What is important is where you stand relative to the others. Most regional admissions officers know the academic and extracurricular profiles of high schools in their assigned areas. If you are a superlative student, it will be apparent. If you do not have AP courses available, see if you can take a course at a nearby college. This will enrich your transcript. No candidate will be penalized for not taking AP courses when none are offered. Only students who do not avail themselves of curricular challenges cause consternation in the Admissions Office. To make your application more appealing to competitive colleges, be active, follow your passions, give time to community, and write a creative and dynamic and essay. Use your school's small size as a strength. Discuss the benefits of small classes, nurturing, and accountability. EDUFAX provides services for the Collegebound High School Student.

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