Extreme grade deflation in my ultra-competitive class

<p>So, I go to an EXTREMELY competitive public school in Western NY where the grade deflation is a little bit ridiculous, let me explain.</p>

<p>In sophomore year, I took ALL honors courses and received a final average of 92. Honors courses aren't weighted AT ALL at my school, so the kids taking no honors courses and classes like "Life after highschool" are getting 95 averages working half as hard as me.</p>

<p>Same thing Junior year, most of the top 10 is taking all easy regents classes and electives while I'm taking AP Spanish, AP Chem, AP US, and Math B. AP classes are weighted a ridiculous 1.02 at my school, so the kids that challenge themselves end up getting screwed GPA-wise because of course our grades are much lower than the kids taking normal classes.</p>

<p>Now, when I say my class is ultra-competitive, I mean that for any average above 90, between .5 points there are 5 to 10 spots taken up. School total of about 280, my weighted average was 88.21, which landed me in the 28%th percentile of my class. If AP classes were weighted like normal schools, I would undoubtedly be in the top 25%. My question is do you guys think Cornell will recognize this, do they have their own GPA calculating formula? Or am I just kind of screwed because I challenged myself while the valedictorian took Fundamentals of Math?</p>

<p>I like how you don't take any responsibility for your grades and just try to make your case by putting down your classmates. I'm sure there are kids in the same classes as you with higher grades than you. Maybe you should work harder instead of complaining and comparing yourself to other people.</p>

<p>And 28% and 25% aren't really that far apart.</p>

<p>Adcoms are usually familiar with the high schools (especially in NY) and know which are the "ultra-competitive" schools.</p>

<p>In addition, that's what SAT/ACT is great for! :)</p>

<p>I also think they learn about whether ur rank is weighted...which I do agree is BS if it's not. Just challenge urself and be happy with yourself and the rest will come with hard work.</p>

<p>Hey my school had a similar situation...about 1/3 of the class was full IB and the rest were pulling 4.0s without even doing an hour of hw a week...(we have about 50 people tied for rank 1....5 or so in IB). Basically I'm only in like the top 3rd and I got a likely rating, but I'm an athlete so it might not be as easy for you. But what I know is on the school profile they can see if your class rank is weighted or unweighted, and if its unweighted like at my school they probably don't pay as much attention to it...</p>

<p>Hey just wondered which untra-competitive public school in Western New York you attend
I live around Rochester
Its sounds a bit small for Brighton, but what do I know?</p>