<p>So, I'm not the smartest person ever...but I'm not stupid either. </p>
<p>Yet, my rank makes me look like I'm a slight slacker...10/50. I go to a private/non-AP class offering school where I have a 3.8 GPA. My school is at least one of the top ten high schools (if not top 3/5 in arizona)
All my B's are in music/art classes...so my gpa dropped, as did my rank. </p>
<p>Is this going to be bad? Are colleges simply going to assume I'm not good enough to get admitted because of my rank?</p>
<p>No, most schools have a holistic approach when looking at a student.</p>
<p>Well it depends on what schools you’re applying to. It drops your chances SIGNIFICANTLY if you’re applying to top schools (because lets face it, they have such a great pool that your rank/GPA, which isnt top 5%, will immediately hurt you). If you’re applying to state/second tier schools, I would say it doesnt matter as much- as long as you have good ECs, recs, an essays, you have a fighting chance.
If necessary, write a letter to the school along with your application explaining your low rank- the reasons for your Bs… maybe you were sick/had other important things/etc etc. Emphasize the good grades you got in the other classes 
GL!</p>
<p>Actually no its not bad. At all.
Colleges prefer if you’re lacking in one isolated area (vs B’s throughout English, Math, Science, and Art).</p>
<p>Unless you’re applying to a music program I wouldn’t worry about it.</p>
<p>I have the same concern… we have fewer than 80 people in my class, so top 10% is top 8 people. It’s not that the class is particularly strong, but the rest of them are taking BS online college classes and cheating while I’m the only one in APs and advanced math and science courses. Not sure what my rank will be, but I’m thinking that top 20% would really hurt me.</p>
<p>if you were like 100/500, that may be cause for concern. But you’ve gotta decent rank</p>
<p>Any other ideas?
Thanks you guys. </p>
<p>Also for reference…
I’m applying to (besides safeties)
cornell ED
U of Mich very early
UIUC early
Chicago early
Scripps
Claremont McKenna
Wellesley
Amherst
Rice
Duke</p>
<p>I’m surprised that a private school with only 50 kids in a class provides ranking. What’s the GPA difference between you, #1 and say #20?</p>
<h1>1: 4.0</h1>
<h1>10: 3.825</h1>
<h1>20: 3.2</h1>
<p>I don’t think there’s much point in stressing over a .2 difference in GPA.</p>
<p>see that’s the thing…I’m not stressing over my gpa: I’m stressing over my rank. Any other words of wisdom?</p>
<p>So…any more opinions? They would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>See… if colleges were mostly concerned with who they accept your rank would be looked at in context. I’m concerned that the OP and I will not be considered in the same light as other applicants because we’d hurt what the colleges can put on their websites.</p>
<p>I rather have your rank than being ranked 50/920 students. = / I think you’re fine though. It’s not something that will significantly affect your admission result. Not to sound rude, but why did you get B’s in music/art? Those are usually the easier classes.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If there’s only a .2 difference between 1 and 10, colleges will see that and understand that only a slight drop in GPA can drop your rank significantly.</p>
<p>spiralcloud – don’t stress over it. The admissions officers are very familiar with the high schools and understand that rank is going to vary significantly based on the difficulty of the school. They understand that in some high schools it’s much more difficult to get A’s.</p>
<p>thanks guys
@ The Power of One…no offense taken whatsoever. However, since art and music are required at my school, they are slightly easier than normal classes but still hard enough for only 1/4 of the class to get A’s.
I’m the world’s WORST artist…so my teacher actually thought she was being nice by giving me a B. Music, on the other hand, is a “theory” class, so there’s loads of homeworks, tests, and quizzes. Yeah…yuck.</p>
<p>Anyone else? Maybe people who think I’m screwed? That’s okay too. =D</p>
<p>I worry about this too Spiralcloud. D’s school is considered the most difficult in our area, yet many students EARN A’s through working very hard. So a GPA of 3.8 puts you in the 40th percentile. The typical reaction is that there is terrible grade inflation, but there really isn’t.</p>
<p>ugh
yeah. problem…
except my school def. doesn’t have grade inflation. its just tiny tiny
any others?</p>
<p>Your rank will hurt you, no doubt. To what degree depends on your school.</p>
<p>For example, a .2 difference in GPA at my school is indicative of a massive difference between two students academically (assuming both have a comparable courseload). Your school may be different.</p>