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Not really. The slight advantages are that you are probably expected to have less impressive summer programs/extracurriculars seeing as you aren’t given the same opportunities, and are probably not expected to take as many APs as students in academically stronger high schools. However, if you are aiming toward top schools, it is imperative to be Valedictorian at a very low-ranked school, with glowing recommendations from all of your teachers saying that “Student X is the brightest student that has ever come through this HS” or something of that nature. The expectations for standardized test performance aren’t really lowered either. So if you happen to be that superstar Valedictorian at a low ranked school and have pretty strong SAT’s, your academic background at a low ranked school could help.</p>
<p>So, being #5 or so out of a class of 530 wouldn’t be good enough, I’m guessing?</p>
<p>If your school is as low-ranked as you claim, that rank may actually end up hurting you.</p>
<p>Hmm…Do you know of a website with reliable rankings? I’m not sure if the one I used has accurate info.</p>
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<p>Of course, the flip side to all this is that there’s also a lot of misinformation and unnecessary freaking out on CC.</p>
<p>xgunex - Your example doesn’t show anything besides the fact that there are high schools where people are more likely to go to a highly ranked college, such as Stuy which is a magnet high school anyways. And I’m pretty sure has grade inflation the way people on CC would describe it. Since there’s no mention of actual numerical GPAs, you can’t even say anything about grade inflation.</p>
<p>And your rank is just fine. You’re close enough to being valedictorian that it’s possible that the only reason you are not is because maybe you did bad on one assignment, bringing down your grade, or that you weren’t gaming the system by putting classes on pass/fail or not taking classes that aren’t weighted. All you really need are SAT scores that show that you’re able to do the work at whatever college you’re applying to.</p>
<p>Hey shravas, thank you for your reply!</p>
<p>In terms of my ranking, actually the reason I’m not valedictorian is because I had a 3.4 UW GPA my freshman year, 3.71 my sophomore yr & 4.0 this year. </p>
<p>I took only 2/5 H’s classes offered my freshman year, all H’s my sophomore year, and in my junior year (this brought up my rank)…I took more AP’s than anyone else - 4.</p>
<p>Except you don’t have a 3.7 yet. You haven’t had junior year yet, and you haven’t gotten a 4.0 yet.</p>
<p>Then enjoy setting yourself up for disappointment.</p>
<p>And I don’t say this to be annoying or rude. I say this as someone who told herself she’d get a 4.0 sophomore year and got her worst grades ever, then who decided not to care about grades junior year and got a near A-average. I say this as someone who didn’t get into stupid high school leadership positions that accept 75% of applicants, and as someone who got into that fancy humanities program that everyone on CC oohs and aahs about. I say this because high school is stupid and weird and unpredictable, and the sooner you realize that, the easier it will be, and the less disappointed you will be.</p>
<p>I had straight A’s up until 9th grade due to personal issues. I know what I’m capable of. Thanks for your concern, though.</p>
<p>What we’re capable of isn’t always what we achieve, especially in the stupid and arbitrary world of secondary education.</p>
<p>Yeah, you’re right, but my drive has greatly improved since 9th grade. I’m going to put everything I’ve got into reaching my goals.</p>