First off my class rank is 300 out of 700.
This is because I got a 2.8 freshman year, my sophomore year i got 3.6 and my junior year i got a 3.9
If underclass rank I put something like “Not representative” or simply leave it blank, or say that my school doesn’t rank.
I think this may let them judge me more holistically.
I am considering doing this when applying to some of my reach schools that I wouldn’t have a chance at otherwise.
Will this work, or would this be considered unethical by admit officers?
@skieurope I do think that it’s on my transcript but my point is that the school may not need to report it on there admissions numbers if i dont put it down, I know that they would see it.
Even if the schools see it, what they are much more interested in is the fact that you have a pattern of improvement - what was it that finally clicked and transformed you from an average student to a top performer? Can you write a compelling essay about this?
Class rank matters for some reach or competitive schools, definitely, but school adcom officers know that it is often not nearly as meaningful as the rest of the story - and in your case, you have a compelling tale.
Also, class rank is mostly only meaningful in terms of the context of your own school - what percentage of kids go on to college, and where, what type of courses are offered (how many APs, etc.) how many kids on free lunches, etc. A 300/700 from a very competitive school with no grade inflation is a lot better than a 300/700 in a school with under a 40% graduation rate.
What are your reaches? As long as you are not thinking about Ivies (unless you play QB), you may well be on your way. Keep up the good work!
@LastingPeralysis actually, the ssr and school profiles that your school sends to colleges will have rankings (if your school does rank) listed on there. You can’t get out of this one.
It does not matter if you skip it, the counselor recommendation/school profile would have that information. Very often, the student has no idea their class rank anyway. The info would be provided by your GC.
@LastingPeralysis actually, some of them do care very much about class rank. The simple majority of UCB students are in the top quarter of their graduating class.
Do not lie and say that the school does not rank. If the school then lists your rank on the transcript, it will make the admissions people question your honesty. It is what it is, as they say.
“@skieurope I do think that it’s on my transcript but my point is that the school may not need to report it on there admissions numbers if i dont put it down, I know that they would see it.” The school sends an official transcript as part of the admissions process. Colleges want to KNOW what your grades/courses are as part of their decision-making process, not trust students to self-report.
The Common App asks your GC to report your rank, gpa, highest gpa in the class, etc. Whether your school responds depends on their official policy, not your wishes.