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<p>Anyone who is in the top 10% of their class at a competitive public HS, public or private, is a hard worker. Granted, some are harder workers than others, but top schools would rather have semi-diligent kids who are brilliant than extremely diligent kids who are not brilliant. It’s a sad but true fact.</p>
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<p>Someone with a 2400 on the SAT will probably have an easier time passing classes at Stanford than someone with a 2100. Hard work is very important, but once again, class rank is not the make-or-break factor that determines a person’s chances. Valedictorians and salutatorians may be helped out a bit, but as long as one is in the top 10% of his or her class, other factors will play just as important as a role in determining the decision.</p>
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<p>I doubt that even Stanford has enough 2400, Valedictorian applicants to fill their entire student body. My point is that other factors can play a role just as important, if not more important, than class rank. Who has a better chance; a kid ranked 10th in a class of 350 who won nationally in debate while serving as captain of a varsity sports team, or a valedictorian of that same class with mediocre EC involvement and no leadership positions? For Stanford, I would be very surprised if the latter was chosen over the former.</p>