<p>Do colleges really care much if you're 3rd in a class of 250ish as opposed to Salutatorian or Valedictorian, or do the top two places have special significance?</p>
<p>no, they dont care as long as the gap is close</p>
<p>being 3rd could be better if the reason for being third was a more challenging curriculum, e.g., took AP Physics and earned a B while others took College Prep physics.</p>
<p>Most secondary school forms ask your rank and the rank of the valedictorian. If you are third with a 3.96 and the V has a 3.98, it won't matter, but if you have a 3.2 compared to the 3.98, it could hurt you. Speaking as a former #3 myself, I don't think it hurt me, but I would have liked a title like Val or Sal.</p>