<p>I realize that class rank in general is an important factor in college admissions but I am wondering if its importance is exaggerated. I mean it is one thing to be in the top 10%, but does the <em>exact</em> class rank really matter so much? For example, in a HS with 300 seniors, does it really make such a big difference that student X was a valedictorian with a GPA of 4.32 and student Y was ranked 5th with a GPA of 4.30 or 10th with a GPA of 4.20?</p>
<p>I don't think the exact rank matters all that much, because percentage wise you are in the same "group" of top students. I think that your rigor of your class schedule and individuality matter more than your rank once your high up there.</p>
<p>Rank 1 and rank 5 are pretty much the same. However, some valedictorians get scholarship opportunities, but that is the only real difference. If you are in the top 10 of your class I would consider it very competitive. However rank 15 and rank 1 are not equal in that sense, but that is where the rest of the application comes in.</p>
<p>I'm rank 6. It would be so much easier to just say top 5. But, nnope.</p>
<p>i go to a very competitive school right outside DC and because of that, the school doesn't even do class ranks. however, they do provide (prob like most schools) a school profile which can really help colleges look at the student based on his or her school</p>
<p>but metallica is right, ur exact class rank is probably not as important as many people play it up to be</p>
<p>The fact of the matter is that the better your rank, the better it is for adcoms period. GPA wise, it might not be a huge difference, but it is better to say that you are the top of your class than to say im ranked 6 (meaning 5 others beat you). You are right though, the exact gpa doesn't matter that much so longs as ur within that top tier at your school.</p>
<p>Think of it like this. If YOU rank 6 applied to the same school as your Valedictorian, the rank won't be significant in the overall decision. The adcoms will look at your other statistics (EC's, Scores, etc.) before they decide who gets in. Only in rare circumstances does the higher rank (1 > 6) matter.</p>
<p>depends. if you take easy classes and that's why you're ahead (A in standard vs. B in AP) then they'd like the more rigorously scheduled person more</p>
<p>It is very relative, if you are 3 out of 100 and the top 2 have the exactly the same load as yours then you will be percieved as 3rd.
If your rank is 10 out of 100 but your course load is stronger than the top 9 then you are percieved as rank 1.</p>
<p>could being ranked in the 30's out of 160 kids, get me into Dickinson?</p>
<p>i know this is COMPLETELY off topic, even a bit hypocritical, i'm just not finding an answer anywhere. i'm very lost.</p>
<p>^that's the point of this threaad. it's not enough information</p>
<p>I was wondering if Ivies still use systems like AI, where difference in rank is quantifiable (I think val/sal difference was 4 on the AI). Since colleges have begun to move away from the stats and more toward essays/interview/ECs, does that mean that things like val v. sal (or any other top rank) is no longer relevant? Do they just group everyone up in top 5% or top 10% etc? assuming that these comparisons are made between people who have taken all the same classes, the most rigorous the school offers.</p>
<p>And sort of off topic, but amazing recs > val (if sal)?</p>
<p>I believe the GPA matters more than rank. </p>
<p>If the val and sal have around the same GPA, it doesn't matter.</p>
<p>If they are far apart, then it does matter. For example, my GPA is 4.53 and the sal is around 4.38.</p>
<p>no. gpa does not matter more than rank. u know why? cuz some schools have much harder classes, and ppl get Bs and Cs in APs and are still ranked top 10. would that mean they are stupider than ppl in other schools who have 4.0 uw's? no.</p>
<p>yay, no class rank for me.</p>
<p>I agree with Narcissa, but I think that rank matters only in a general sense. Yeah, val or sal is great, but other than that, I think that as long as you're in the top 10% or 15% or maybe even 20% depending on where you're applying, you're fine.</p>
<p>My school doesn't rank, but apparently there IS something about percentiles that they don't tell us and tell colleges? I'm not sure, but I do know that somewhere near the end of the year the top 5% seniors are invited to some party at lunch in the media center (lame, I know).</p>
<p>haha that is...kinda stupid...the party</p>
<p>Consider this: the more competitive the school the more likely that it doesn't rank altogether. Ranking is important for schools that ad coms do not know well. From those schools Val and Sal have a much-much-much better chance.</p>
<p>Rank at my school is weighted, so it accounts for the difficulty of your classes. Our GPA is the straight average. Top ten in our school, i.e. valedictorian, is based upon straight GPA, however, which is kind of messed up. But, it helps in my scenario considering the top 5 are taking a couple more advanced classes than me...so I could potentially be valedictorian by straight gpa.. Whatever.</p>
<p>I think the principal congratulates everyone, shakes their hands, points them to the bagels he just picked up on his way in...</p>
<p>I dunno, I'm just making that up. I don't actually know, I'm just guessing it's a media center party or something. I can't imagine what else it would be. We're a public school (although a damn good one), and I can't imagine throwing a dinner party or any sort of thing like that. THat's... not how we operate. We National Merit Semifinalists got donuts and bottled water in the principal's office :-). That was awesome, actually.</p>
<p>I could go for a bagel right now. And National Merit Finalist status as well while I'm at it...</p>