<p>Is class rank viewed more extensively then GPA?
For example is a 3.8 GPA for a person in the top 15% of his class viewed better than the person with a 3.6 GPA in the top 10%?</p>
<p>It probably depends on the school. I know Notre Dame says that they don’t recalculate GPA and instead look closer at rank; not sure if this is the norm.</p>
<p>I don’t know. I have a 4.5 and i am in top 2%</p>
<p>I’m just a mom but I will say that both of my children attended public magnet schools, neither class ranked (so it could not be considered) and D was accepted ED to W&M and S was accepted directly into School of Engineering at VT / Honors. So I would “GUESS” that GPA is more important…with class rank following closely. Class rank also does not take into account that you may have a lower rank but took MUCH harder courses. So an accurate assessment would be, IMHO, 1) Rigor 2)GPA 3) Class Rank. Again, my opinion but I’ve lived it!</p>
<p>What about grade inflation and deflation? Won’t a high rank with high test scores tell the college that your highschool grades really tough?</p>
<p>Yes, Tappman…all of that is true. BUT…that is why colleges/universities will never EVER stop incorporating the SAT/ACT as a significant factor in the admissions process. Individual test-taking skills aside, these standardized tests are seen as “the great equalizers” to determine just how much you know, regardless of what your GPA is, your class rank is, where you went to high school, etc. etc. So as you can see, it is ALL important. I will say this: I’ve seen students accepted to “elite” schools with a few less-than-stellar grades on their transcript and with a class rank that was not “at the top”. But RIGOR of study and Standardized Test Scores are rarely overlooked. Just an observation…I’m no expert!</p>
<p>GPA means nothing without rank. Of course, rank isn’t considered exclusively; the entire transcript, which consists of GPA, rank, course rigor, and grades in individual classes, is important.</p>
<p>It’s really a matter of the transcript as a whole. GPA and class rank don’t make much sense without seeing the individual courses, the grades in them, and their rigor.</p>
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<p>Um, except for the ones that already have–the test optional schools.</p>
<p>Yes, you are right…there are some. But none that either of my kids would have considered. Don’t those tend to be non-traditional? Not saying that’s bad, just clarifying.</p>