Class Rank

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

I am applying to selective schools (i.e., Tufts, Swarthmore, Northeastern) with a good ACT (32C 33SS), a decent GPA (4.2W, 3.8UW), a few good hooks (national writing awards, hispanic, NHRP, a very, very unique story), and good ECs. I feel like I would have a decent (maybe not good, but existent) chance, if it weren’t for my deplorable class rank.

Swarthmore has 41% of their students as valedictorians and salutatorians, and I am 42/316. My school has a lot of kids in the GPA game (people who don’t take electives and take every elective they have to pass/fail so that their GPA only includes weighted classes), and I, in contrast, have never taken a pass/fail class, and have had my schedule filled with 2-3 electives (I’m in band and orchestra) every year since freshman year. This has really brought my GPA down and I seriously regret it. I have all As and Bs in every honors and AP class I could cram into my schedule. I calculated that if I hadn’t done this, I would be easily in the top 10%.

On the Common App, there’s an option to say “none” when it comes to class rank. If my school DOES rank, can I click that, or is it unethical/not allowed? If not, is this really damaging if I have good grades and am taking the hardest classes I can?

2

You do not need to report your class rank on your Common App if you do not wish; however, know that your Counselor will be obligated to supply this information to your colleges when they submit your “School Report”.

If you are really concerned that your class rank will hurt your chances, have you considered addressing this in the “Additional Information” prompt in the Writing section of the Common App? Despite what most people think, college admissions officers DO actually read the Additional Information section, and you can put whatever you want there. You might consider writing a brief statement about your class rank (much like you did here!) in that prompt and address the situation head-on.

3

Agree with the advice above ^

But, you have room in your schedule for 2-3 electives and didn’t get As in them?

4

Okay, thank you. I will do as you advised.

I did get As in all of them, but as my GPA without any electives is well over 4.0, it brought me down.