<p>I'm a high school student who might be moving soon and I have a question. I am a high school junior and I'm first in my class at my current high school , which would secures me the position of valedictorian, but my dad might be transferred to a different state, Oregon, and the new school I'm going to be going to does not allow transfers to be valedictorian. My goal has been to attend Stanford University for a while and I do not want to compromise that. Can being the valedictorian really place place me ahead of my peers in admissions? I have other talents that would place me a little bit ahead of other applicants, I'm fluent in six languages and I have college credit in physics and math, but just how important is the title of valedictorian?
By the way I'm asking this because I have the choice of staying at my current high school in Arizona and living with my cousin, but I'd really miss my parents, brothers, friends, and teachers and I would really rather not do that.</p>
<p>Personally I would say enjoy your family and put your family ahead of just college admissions...especially since I dont think being val at one school and having great stats at another will make such a big difference</p>
<p>Wouldn't you keep your friends and teachers if you stayed?...</p>
<p>But perhaps you could have your new GC write in her rec that you were val at your old school and about your new school's policy of not allowing transfers to be val.</p>
<p>Sorry I really messed up that last part, what I meant to say is that I have the choice of living in Arizona with one of my cousins, but that would mean I'd be forced to leave my brothers and my parents, which I really don't want to do. But I would have my friends and teachers if I stayed in Arizona.</p>
<p>Considering valedictorian is not determined until after college admissions are complete, I think your fears are unfounded.</p>
<p>Well, I think this kid just means class rank.</p>
<p>And no, it's not very important. If you've done a lot, well, then that'll show. If you haven't, then you wouldn't benefit from the title "valedictorian" all that much either.</p>
<p>Plus, if you're from those giant public-schools in AZ (considering your screen-name is Ahwatukhee) being valedictorian is far-from guaranteed. --and you're only a junior too...so how can you be sure you will be ranked val?</p>
<p>I don't think it's a make or break thing. Val means different things in different schools. For instance, our Oregon HS has multiple Vals as classes aren't weighted and anyone with a 4.0 qualifies. That makes the title pretty meaningless--except that the transcript, school description and GC rec that accompanies it shows who really took the hard classes and who cruised. </p>
<p>I agree with llpitch that you should have the GC at you new school discuss your situation in regards to Val status.</p>
<p>In my school Val's are whoever has the best speech :P it has nothing to do with rank, you just enter your speech in a competition</p>
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I don't think it's a make or break thing. Val means different things in different schools. For instance, our Oregon HS has multiple Vals as classes aren't weighted and anyone with a 4.0 qualifies. That makes the title pretty meaningless--except that the transcript, school description and GC rec that accompanies it shows who really took the hard classes and who cruised.</p>
<p>I agree with llpitch that you should have the GC at you new school discuss your situation in regards to Val status.
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</p>
<p>Forcing valedictorians to have taken all four offered AP classes solved that problem for us.</p>
<p>wow I think my school is fair in that they take the highest weighted GPA to calculate Val. </p>
<p>Anyway, I had a friend move her senior year. She was not valedictorian or anything but was one of the top. Her old guidance counselor sent everything to colleges pertaining freshmen - junior years. Thus, my friend applied as a student from our school, and as top decile, but in her new, more competitive school, she was not in the top decile. She did however send in a transcript to colleges of her first semester grades in her new school.
Same way, I'm sure you'd apply as Val and with stats from your old school and then send in your senior year transcript for first semester/quarter from your new school. You'd apply to college as an Arizona resident anyway.</p>
<p>Maybe this is too simple to work but why not contact the admissions rep at Stanford and ask them.
Gives you not only the answer (bet they say - stay with your family) but makes you a standout at Stanford today because you now have a personal contact in admissions who knows who you are, what your story is, and how much you want to go to Stanford. I think that would be even more important than Val. (just my thoughts)
Good Luck and remember you will do great in life and your family is more important than your next dream because dreams change.</p>
<p>ahwatukee:</p>
<p>What are the six languages that you are fluent in?</p>
<p>I agree with ncmentor, contact Stanford. Your situation is fairly unique that there is a good chance they will remember you especially if they are the ones to read your application :D</p>
<p>Valedictorian does not matter much in the admissions process -- what's most important is your grade record. Furthermore, valedictorian does not matter AT ALL after you actually get into college. Do you want to sacrifice living with your family and friends in your new area for a title that will cease to matter in about a year's time?</p>
<p>I don't think that you need to contact Stanford for something as trivial as this. Let your superior record speak for itself.</p>
<p>If you're really lucky, the school in Oregon will be more competitive than the school in Arizona. Suppose you would have been #10 in a class of 150 in Oregon (lets say all As except for two Bs), where As are hard to come by and only the top 2 students have straight As.</p>
<p>Now, when you transfer in, your GPA is still 4.0, but this places you at #2 or #3 in the class, in a harder school.</p>
<p>Your admissions position in this hypothetical will have been strengthened in by giving you a strong rank in a tougher school.</p>
<p>P.S. There are 20,000 - 30,000 valedictorians in the U.S. each year, as there are 20,000 high schools, and some give out multiple Val awards. Do you really think that being Valedictorian means you get in? Stanford doesn't even accept a quarter of that number each year, and 90% are NOT valedictorians.</p>
<p>the arizona school may appear to be more competitive... (<em>cough</em> dv <em>cough</em>) if it's the one i'm thinking of, it's a huge school and being valedictorian "looks" like you have a strong rank.</p>
<p>seriously though, don't leave your family. you'll need that support when it comes to admissions season.</p>
<p>yeah, he goes to DV, I already asked him in a separate thread...</p>