<p>I was wondering if this kind of practice is seen as unacceptable or not. If someone is in tight competition with you for class rank, and they don't really wish to divulge their GPA to you themselves, is it ok to ask the GC how close the next rank's GPA is? I understand that asking for a specific person's GPA would probably out of line...but if you're valedictorian and want to know the next few ranks' GPAs (without their names, just the numbers)...and the GC is willing to give the numbers to you, I wonder if GC will think the student is a "grade grubber"? (though the GPA request is in the context of being able to take higher level classes that would not confer a weighted grade benefit to the GPA and thus potentially cause a drop in rank, so GPA info could help in the decision to take those classes)</p>
<p>I think that GC just cannot tell you someone else’s GPA. But you can put your question differently, like will I remain valedictorian if I take XXX class and get XXX grade.</p>
<p>I know it’s unethical, but I think asking for the difference between you, the val, and the sal would be fine.</p>
<p>I’m the val of my school and the difference between the sal and me is around .150 because I took AP Music Theory Sophomore year(with an A) and AP Biology Junior Year(with an A, when other people were failing AP Physics).</p>
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<p>It is highly unlikely that you are going to find a GC who going to disclose another student’s information to you (even if there are no names attached).</p>
<p>Would any ethical guidance counselor give those stats to you? Doubtful.</p>
<p>@ citymom - asking the GC in that manner definitely makes it a lot less unethical in terms of privacy loss, but if the GC isn’t exactly mathematically inclined to answer that question, would it be bad to write out the GPA possibilities that would give a NO to that question? (ex. you write above 3.73245 for the sal, and the GC can answer your question). This method too would probably divulge info that shouldn’t be made public…I can’t think of any other way of getting a viable answer without teaching him how to calculate GPAs…</p>
<p>It’s interesting because I have actually heard stories of teachers allowing students to look up their GPAs, and then those students looking at val, sal etc…with the teacher allowing it and the whole class finding out the info…and here I am trying to avoid breach of privacy :/</p>
<p>As established earlier it depends how the question is phrased.</p>
<p>No GC would do it, and frankly that would reflect VERY NEGATIVELY on a recommendation by doing so, because you instnatly show yourself to be a grade-grubbing nazi. I wouldn’t recommend doing so, because even if you find out, the counseler could write such in a recc. last minute or send a letter to the colleges thus pointing out a red flag that could result in insta-rejection.</p>
<p>no. no. no.</p>
<p>Very well. Then aside from asking very delicately, I guess I’ll have to choose between val and getting in the classes I want, unless the difference is not as close as I think it is…
The principle of the action I agree is grade-grubbing, but since I want it to see if I can sacrifice my grade (without any negative consequences) for what I want to learn…thats like the opposite. Although the true opposite would probably be a decision to just go through with it, regardless of what happens to my rank, all in the pursuit of learning what I want to.</p>
<p>Are there any other ways I could legitimately acquire this information? I just get the feeling that val-sal difference is more open to this kind of thing than other situations (like what nhsharvard mentioned). One of the teachers that I would be learning from even mentioned “you might want to find out how close the others are since I cant make this an honors grade.” But if not through GC, then not at all?</p>
<p>I’m surprised the person himself/herself would not just tell you if you asked. I mean, most people I know will answer the question if asked. If you’re the valedictorian, who cares if someone knows what exactly your GPA is? It’s gotta be pretty high, the highest, in fact. If someone knows the specifics, is that a big deal. I don’t think the GC should tell you, but I’m surprised the Val won’t tell you.</p>
<p>I guess I initially tried to make this generic, but in my specific situation, I’m the val, and the sal has already lied about his GPA to me/several other of his friends (he received a grade that later was confirmed he didnt receive). So I’m pretty sure if I ask the sal again, it would just be yet another lie.</p>
<p>The sad part about this whole situation is the fact that I’m involving myself with the GPA issue, idk, depending on how much he games the system, I’d like to have some kind of safeguard, but I’m starting to think that val/sal doesnt really mean anything, definitely in terms of college admissions to HYPMS etc., and probably even the whole “glory” aspect of it. I think I will just ask him again, and see what happens, but if only there was another way…</p>
<p>If you’re the val, WHY do you care??? Val or sal, you’re at the top of the class. Be humble and get on with life. Once you get to college, noone will care.</p>
<p>Haha this thread reminds me of my GC. I’m not in the top of my class, but my GC showed me every information I asked for! Including the GPAs and courses of everyone in the school. Come to think of it, she’s a terrible GC…</p>
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haha you sound hella paranoid dude. i wouldn’t worry about it, you sound like a good student. i wouldn’t be so competitive though… it’s only rank/gpa.</p>
<p>man i am so glad my school doesn’t rank…</p>
<p>You are correct; there is no way for you to get this information except from the person involved. If the person involved lies, you’re just SOL.</p>