<p>I think rank is important if your school calculates rank, but Princeton views all students in terms of the school that they’re in and how competitive it is. If you go to a very competitive school I don’t think it’d hurt you not to be #1. But if you go to a weaker school, being valedictorian might not matter that much to them. </p>
<p>I’m pretty sure that Princeton doesn’t count freshman year grades - that was true when I applied (when it was already Rapelye)</p>