<p>I was trying to plan my schedule for junior/senior year, and I found a plan that would let me fit in all of the classes I want. Only problem is, it would end up giving me a maximum GPA that probably wouldn't get me to be number 1 in class rank, but I'd be comfortably within the top 5. This is a class of 450-500 kids. Is there any real advantage when applying to college if you're number 1 in your class versus number 2 or 3?</p>
<h1>1 shouldn’t make much difference compared to #2 or #3. Except for bragging rights and the valedictorian speech.</h1>
<p>Being #1 instead of #5 out of 500 gives you some bragging rights with your fellow high rank students, during the three month period between when high school ends and when college begins. Everyone else, including college admissions committees, won’t really care at all.</p>
<p>Ugh, now I need to decide how important being valedictorian is to me. It’s just a speech. Just a speech. Riiiiiiight. :-[</p>
<p>If colleges see that you are valedictorian they will appreciate that #1. However, if they see that you gave up that spot because you got straight As in classes that were weighted slightly less because you were following your passion (for example, the writer of this post gave up her chance to be valedictorian to take orchestra throughout high school and she still got into Princeton with a rank of #11/600+), that comes across even better, as they see that you are more about substance than labels. </p>
<p>If you still feel nervous that colleges won’t see that when looking at your transcript, consider writing one of your essays about why you chose to take those classes and not the higher ranked ones. They will see that you are following your passion and not simply trying to beat your peers and will respect your for it.</p>
<p>^ Thank you, that’s what I was telling myself, but I think I just needed to hear it from someone else.</p>
<p>I was the valedictorian of my HS (about 45 students in graduating class). I had the extra task of preparing a speech, but then got to lead the cap toss (fun times…).</p>
<p>IMO, being valedictorian didn’t make much effect in my college admissions. It was based more on EC’s, awards, rec letters.</p>
<p>Writing an essay on why you took certain classes over others may not be the best topic…</p>
<p>My opinion o.o…</p>
<p>Yeah, I don’t think I’d do that. But taking the classes I want can help give me something to write about, something to love doing. A “passion.” haha, I think people use that word too much on this site.</p>