<p>So I just found out that my school submits class rank, which upsets me deeply because I am technically out of the top quartile by 2 freaking percent. I'm in a pretty small high school class (202), which has many slackers who get very good grades because they "smurf" or take "fundamentals" classes to keep their gpa's up, but it also has many very good students, who I am not blaming for this. Because of those who take all of the easiest classes, our class ranking system is skewed in favor of those people due to the inflation in their grades. And, just like in Zimbabwe, when hyperinflation occurs, everything becomes valueless. </p>
<p>So I ask you, how do I explain this when applying, and which rank do colleges look at first, an unweighted or weighted rank?
Thank you. I'm sorry if this sounded like a rant, but it was. I'm a bit upset about this because I've been working very hard to get good grades in all of the toughest classes and it's a bit unnerving to think it might have all been for nothing.</p>
<p>You don’t explain, anything you say will not make you look good. If your GC can say something, particularly if your have a rigorous course load, that’s the best option.</p>
<p>This is exactly why schools don’t rank. D just found out that although her HS doesn’t officially rank, for some internal awards they do - and 3.95+ UW wasn’t good enough to make Top 10% to make her eligible, which is insane when you’ve had 10 APs. A lot of the senior awards went to the slackers you describe above. I told her to comfort herself with the fact she got in a school way better than they did - in two weeks HS will seem so HS and will be in the rearview mirror, not to be missed.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I’m sorry to hear about your D, but I’m glad it ultimately worked out for them.</p>
<p>In many schools the weight applied to honors or AP classes does not make up for their rigor. So sometimes valedictorians, top 10%, etc. can be filled with those who are not taking the toughest classes. But comfort yourself with the fact that the “good” colleges can see through all that, and they <em>REALLY</em> care that you’ve challenged yourself, not so much the rank in your school. </p>
<p>Doesn’t your school provide a school profile along w the grades transcript? My S’s school does not weight grades nor does it rank, but the school profile does list the honors courses so colleges can take course rigor into acct.</p>