<p>Okay so at my school a 4.0 weighted GPA for the Class of 2009 put you in the top 6% of your class. Now for my Class of 2010 a 4.0 weighted GPA puts you in the bottom of the top 12%. Colleges only look at the deciles of your class' report, not previous years, right? So this would hurt me if let's said I had a 4.0 weighted gpa this year? Would this mean, if the average gpa to get into harvard last year, or well, lowest gpa grouping, was a 4.0 weighted, this year it would be much higher?</p>
<p>Yes. Colleges look hard at rank. The difference in being in the top 10% or not is especially big as colleges report the number in the top 10% and often in the top 5%. Also keep in mind your first line of competition is your own classmates.</p>
<p>While I agree with HMom, I would add that all colleges look at five different variables in the admission process: 1)GPA and rank; 2) test scores; 3) essays; 4) teacher recs; and 5) extracurriculars. It is important to study each school’s website or a college board guidebook to ascertain which factors are weighed more heavily. The top schools can be SO choosy with record applicants that the first two criteria on my list are critical in the early process. D is a senior and is busily preparing her essays and applications. For our family, she will be applying to about 9 or 10 schools: 2 or 3 reaches, 3 matches and 3 or 4 safeties…Some of these schools waive the admission fee if you apply online, e.g., and you can really gain an advantage if you apply early action as well so you can compare and contrast aid packages.</p>
<p>I have read numerous books and talked and blogged on many sites over the past three years. UGH!!! I think the best advice I can give is to really SELL yourself in your essays to the schools that captivate and excite you the most. That is how you distinguish yourself…</p>
<p>If your high school refuses to give you your exact class rank, only your decile, should you continue to push them for the number. They want to say they do not rank, but I know they will give the exact rank to the colleges if they ask?</p>
<p>Is there a reason your high school would have for not giving you your class rank? Should I be able to have this number?</p>
<p>Some schools really do not rank and do not give out the info to college.</p>
<p>This school does rank, they just do not want to give it to the parent. What would be their reasoning?</p>