<p>If you've read any of my other posts, you'll know that my GPA tanked to a 3.4 in my junior year because of a bunch of family issues. My GPA as it stands now is 3.55, which, in the light of my 2190 SAT, isn't as bad as it might otherwise be.
What I am worried about is my class rank; I'm about 175/597, or 29th percentile. Most good colleges seem to have the vast majority of their accepted students come from the top 10th percentile, and about 95% coming from the top 20th percentile. I've moved, and my GPA on it's own certainly isn't bad, and I've got 5 APs (not counting the ones in the last 3 quarters of my senior year). But my class rank is still really, really bad.
Given all this, and the fact that it simply doesn't make my class rank any higher, should I just start applying to state and community colleges, or do I still have hope for one of the top 50 schools? </p>
<p>TL;DR: Will being in the top 29th percentile of my class destroy my chances at a top 50 school?</p>