How big a factor is class rank in my chances?

<p>Hey I'm a sophomore I had a bad first semester 3.3ish maybe a 3.5 (my dad is appealing some of my grades with the administration, long story) anyway while I'm getting all A's this semester and got A's freshman year and will probably get all or most A's junior year. I'm not going to be at the top 10 percent of my class. So let's say I get a 3.8 uw and a 3.95ish weighted allowing .025 for APs (as my district does) but I'm only in the top fifth of my class, what does this do to my chances? I noticed a lot of schools put a lot of stock in class rank my dream school would be Claremont McKenna but most of the top LACs would be good as well. If class rank will make it hard for me to get in, can you please recomen any schools that don't use rank.
Thanks for any replies</p>

<p>UC's dont even consider it. They don't consider freshman year either if that helps.</p>

<p>UCs do count sophmore year. Soph and junior.</p>

<p>yeah i know. I meant they dont consider class rank.</p>

<p>That's not really true as the they manage to get 90 plus percent from the top 10%. They don't ask because they don't need to. They know every CA high school and where the GPA puts you.</p>

<p>Thanks,
so what you are telling me is that on the app its self there is no box for rank but they know what caliber student your school sends?</p>

<p>Tehy know who's at the top of each school from experience, current applicants and the provided school profile.</p>