I’m currently an IB (International Baccalaureate) junior in high school. In my class, there are approximately 720 – 730 students, and I rank first. I have read that rank does not matter as much as it used to years ago, but does my rank stand out more than other schools, since my school has more students than usual? Example: does 1/720 stand out more than 1/400?
I know rank is not the most important factor in college apps. I’m just curious!
Thank you!!
I don’t necessarily know that 1/720 stands our more than 1/400. The student who is 1/400 shouldn’t have it held against them that you have 320 more students in your class. I do think being ranked #1 in your class in most situations is fairly equally advantageous. Given the holistic nature of college admissions, being ranked #1 won’t get you in somewhere alone, but it certainly helps make a strong application with other good components.
Thanks! I appreciate it.
Yes, 1 in 720 is better than 1 in 400 but really they try to look at you in the context of your school.
From my knowledge, rank only accounts for weighted GPA and credits. This does not account for the difficulty of your classes, or your ECs. Because of this, you can cheat the system taking extra classes in easy APs, DEs and Honors. DE Film History is weighted the same as DE Inorganic Chemistry, and you may find one to be easier than the other. Therefore, rank alone is not an accurate representation of how you’re doing in school. Assuming you’re a good student, taking difficult classes related to your field, being ranked 1 mainly serves to recognize you and your academic achievements.