<p>congrats spencer!</p>
<p>Thats not true, Class rank determines the competitiveness of one's school. If your school grades tough and you have a 3.1 gpa, but you're top 2% of your class than obviously you go to a tough school. My stats are my gpa is a 3.5, i'm top 4%. My SATs are M 780 V 690 W 600. I didn't care about the writing, i'm a debater. Been in debate 4 years, I compete nationally. Only way I would go to emory is if i got to debate for them, if not, screw it. UPENN all the way</p>
<p>Thats true that class rank can justify extremes... i.e a 3.1 that is top 2%... however... besides clarifying abnormalities, class rank is useless provided one's other credentials (GPA/ SAT/ Recs/ EC's/ Essays) are in good shape for the school. Besides the occasional 3.1 thats top 2%, class rank is much like ap scores in that they are not a factor unless you get say a 5 on a test but a B in the class, to justify certain odd stats.</p>
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Thats not true, Class rank determines the competitiveness of one's school. If your school grades tough and you have a 3.1 gpa, but you're top 2% of your class than obviously you go to a tough school.
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<p>Or, maybe the school doesn't grade tough, but the kids are just happy to get C's, in which case a "top 2%" rank just makes you the cream of a lazy and unimpressive crop, and not necessarily a better candidate than a student who is ranked 40/200 at, say, a private school that only accepts top students in the first place and where everyone is busting their butt to get into Ivys. You can't use your premise in your conclusion, i.e., "If your school grades tough...then obviously you go to a tough school." </p>
<p>Class rank is only valuable in context with other data. You can transfer midway through high school and watch your class rank rise or sink dramatically without setting foot into a classroom. And yet, you are still the same student.</p>
<p>Well thats why they send reccomendation letters to counselor to rate the competitiveness of a school</p>
<p>Right, baklava, that's why I said, "Class rank is only valuable in context with other data." The recommendation letters and class profile comprise some of the "other data."</p>
<p>we won this one 1down2togo...</p>