Today I visited the guidance office at my school and I requested to see my class rank. I’m ranked #3 out of 112 and I have a pretty good idea who #1 and #2 are. However, this came as a big disappointment to me and I went home and started crying in my room. It feels like my hard work has been for nothing! I know that I probably sound ridiculous and many people would be happy to be ranked #3, but it feels like a big let down.
Then I was trying to think of ways to become (at least) the salutatorian. Since my school uses a weighted GPA to determine class rank, taking an AP class would help to raise my GPA. However, the only AP class offered to sophomores is AP Biology (and I hate science with a burning passion). Is it worth it to take a class that I hate? Or should I focus on maintaining my 96 unweighted/102 weighted GPA?
I plan on applying to selective schools with a 30% acceptance rate or lower, so this issue is very important to me.
For reference, my top schools are: UCLA, BC, Tulane, Williams, UPenn, Cornell
Too early to know what schools you will be a viable candidate for. Come back when you are a junior,. have standardized test scores etc. I don’t think the difference between 1 and 3 is terribly significant so get over it and move forward in a positive manner. And instead of obsessing about class rank, your candidacy for top schools would be better served by spending time getting involved in school, in your community etc.
And look at the academic prep colleges ask for. You won’t get away with hating science, how do you even think that;s possible? Put some effort into researching your targets, knowing what does matter, not worrying about boosting from top 3 to top 2. That may be a big deal in high school, but you will be applying to college.
As I’m sure you’re aware, the kind of schools you’re shooting for reject plenty of valedictorians with perfect SAT’s in favor of kids with slightly lower GPA’s/class ranks and scores. That’s because the schools realize that there’s no important difference in academic ability between #1 and #5 or between the kid with a 1600 SAT and the kid with a 1550. Maintain your grades. Take rigorous classes. Take the classes required for these schools, which will generally include 3-4 years of science. Find extracurriculars that genuinely interest you and get involved.
Would it be pleasant to graduate as sal or val? Sure. And it will matter for a few weeks and then you’ll be at college, surrounded by lots of other smart kids, many of whom will have had the title and many of whom will not and I promise, no one will care. It feels like a big deal now, but in the long run, it’s really, really not.
Your class rank won’t matter as long as you’re top 10% [unless you attend a lower performing school, where class rank should be top 10.] Miqt students attending elite colleges attended schools that don’t even rank.
While you’re allowed to hate science, you’re not allowed to use that as an excuse for not taking science classes. Play to your strengths but make sure you have one each of bio, chem, physics (at any level) plus one AP or honors science class.