<p>I am a senior at a small private school with 40 students in my grade. We are easily the most competitive class the school has seen in a long time, including the three grades below us. This, of course, means that only 4 students in the grade will get that coveted top 10% marker on their transcripts. With a 4.17 weighted, am number 5 or 6, I can't remember (this could change after semester grades are released but it would be something of a miracle). Because I've already been accepted to Carnegie Mellon, I am skipping the safety school. I am applying to the following: Yale, Brown, Columbia, Middebury, Vassar, Swarthmore, UChicago, Tufts, and Pomona. Other than being in the top 20%, I have a strong application. Looking at the stats for these schools, the number of students not in the top 10% of their classes is REALLY small and I'm not an athlete, minority, genius, or first generation student. How worried should I be?</p>
<p>Have you considered applying to Harvard? If your stats (besides class rank) and ECs are great and you’re looking for a reach school, it would be a good idea to apply, because Harvard doesn’t regard class rank in the admissions process.</p>
<p>I am not really a fan of Harvard but thanks for the suggestion!</p>
<p>There’s a place on the application for the size of your class, and if they see “Ranked 5/40, 87th percentile”, they will understand that a small class size caused your “low” class rank percentile. Private schools often have small class sizes and elite students, and your situation is fairly common. The 10% indicator is more relevant for public schools where prospective Ivy Leaguers should be at the very tops of their classes than at private schools where the class rank is significantly less important.</p>
<p>Also:</p>
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<p>Seriously?! I hope that you would at least consider it if you were admitted…</p>
<p>Thank you! I am hoping that’s the case. And Harvard’s a fantastic school but not what I am looking for in my undergrad years.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about being 5/6 out of 40. I am 6/21 and got in so it definitely does happen. Is your coarseload demanding?
Oh, and I completely understand your point on harvard :D</p>
<p>Congratulations-got in where? and it’s quite demanding, although that 5/40 IS weighted.</p>
<p>I feel so relieved that somebody is in the same situation as me! I have like 60 students in my grade and am around the #8 rank. Also, I am super relieved about your acceptance into Carnegie Mellon because I have been looking at that university very closely recently and it seems like a great fit! Although, I most likely need to calm down on this process due to just being a freshman haha</p>
<p>Top 10% doesn’t matter as much when you go to a small, competitive school. There are 85 or so kids in my grade and I am definitely not in the top 10% (or the top 8 students if you will) but I got into MIT early- competitive colleges do understand that rank at a small school can be misleading. I am in a position similar to yours because I am just below the top 10%, at least for junior year grades. Don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>I got into swarthmore early decision. I wouldn’t worry about your rank, I did and it ended up being a lot of unnecessary stress.</p>
<p>peggy - what school are you in for carnegie mellon? i am looking at the engineering, but being an indian male will probably hurt me.</p>
<p>peab and kai - congrats on making your colleges ea/ed!</p>
<p>Oh my goodness, oolonn, please stop worrying so early! Honestly, so much will change in the next three years-you have no idea where you’ll end up. Relax. And I’m in the college of fine arts for Dramaturgy- I was accepted early from their summer program, so it’s a slightly different situation. But best of luck! Keep working and two or three of those top students will probably burn out, to be honest (that’s sort of what happened to me. Also we got three really brilliant transfers…)</p>
<p>kai- thank you. swarthmore looks incredible- congratulations! maybe I’ll see you there!</p>