Bad Class Rank

<p>So I want to apply to HYPS next year. However, the majority of my grades are A-'s with a few A's/A+'s and 2 B+'s that I received in the hardest AP at my school sophomore. My class rank is not in the top 5%, but I'm comfortably in the 10%. The reason I posted this in the Princeton forum is because Princeton is my #1 dream school. My school is the most competitive public school in my region and is ranked nationally by Newsweek. We have about 600 people in our class of 2011. My EC's show pretty good quality and depth, and I am doing what I can outside of school. Hopefully, my January SAT score will be above 2300, but I am confident that my superscore will eventually end up to be over this score. </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>I’m not sure what your question is, but a rank outside the top 5% but within the top 10% is fine if you go to a very competitive school.</p>

<p>Do you go to Thomas Jefferson? If so, then congrats - it’s no big deal. If not, then it’s definitely going to hurt.</p>

<p>Haha, but seriously, what’s the rank of the school you go to? If it’s not in the top 20, then I doubt how competitive your school is will help you.</p>

<p>I don’t attend a top 100 school but my school is definitely up there and is the most competitive in my state. How much will it hurt me? We have ~1 person get accepted to each of HYPS each year. Last year, my school sent 3 people to Stanford, 1 to Harvard, 0 to Yale, and 1 to Princeton. Everyone at my school studies an inordinate amount. They’re all one dimensional book worms that are grade-obsessed.</p>

<p>Most kids who go to Princeton came from high schools much more competitive than yours. And most kids who go to Princeton were either top 1% or hooked.</p>

<p>But that being said, you still have a shot and should still apply. Good luck.</p>

<p>My D is in your boat, and she’s applying. But without any real hope. She’s also between 5 and 10%. Large, ranked, good school. But…that still leaves MANY GREAT schools above it. And, when the Ivies are nabbing their prep/private school kids first, and their legacies etc. It just doesn’t leave very many spots numerically for the “rest of us”. So it take something pretty spectacular otherwise (for the most part…I mean, nothing is IMPOSSIBLE, right?). But, I’d say odds aren’t great. Have to REALLY rise to the top in some other way (athlete, etc.). When they only want the top, you have to BE the top of a large school, or…the top at a small school where they read your applicant and believe you would also excel at a more competitive school. So…again…they really skim off the top. IMO…only the top 5 kids in my Ds class of 700 have ANY chance at an Ivy. At least that’s how it’s been for the past few years. ???</p>

<p>I think most people are making a bigger deal out of this than it really is.</p>

<p>You’re in the top 10%. Great. Your grades are good. Great. Your test scores probably are, too. Great.</p>

<p>It’s all about how you come across in your application now, through your essays, through your extracurriculars. Do you seem passionate about something? Do they have a sense of your personality?</p>

<p>You have the numbers to be considered, but now, can you convince them?</p>

<p>I know plenty of people here at Princeton that academically speaking, were superstars, but not necessarily THE superstar of their high school. You have to give more than your grades and scores. If you can communicate something real, something interesting or exciting, or passionate… I say you have a shot.</p>