<p>"A is for Admission" says that a school transcript is practically useless without a class rank (for admission to elite colleges).</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure if I have a talk with my counselor and principal they will rank me in the class even though the school does not actually rank. I'm an international applicant (Canada) from a school that doesn't usually send kids to top American colleges.</p>
<p>Is this something I should do? My rank should be very good. I'm just worried it will confuse admissions officers (since I'll have a rank despite the fact that my school doesn't rank).</p>
<p>In those cases where the school is well known to US colleges, especially selective colleges, rank may not be provided and it does not matter. Those colleges have a history of candidates coming from that school, and can assess the grading philosophy of the school, the rigor of the courses and make the comparisons with previous candidates from that school. This works extremely well for some of the most academic high schools in the United States.</p>
<p>In your case the situation is different. From what you state there isn’t a historic record of applicants at the selective colleges from your high school, and it’s also unlikely that your GC has a close established relationship with those colleges. So all data that makes them assess you in light of the grading policy at your high school would help. If your GC is willing to provide a rank it would be a great help, as would any additional information that he can provide to help the college assess the academic rigor at your school, and the grading philosophy.</p>
<p>If your high school doesn’t rank, there are other sources of information available to the college. Schools that don’t rank still provide information as to your decile, so it will be clear if you’re in the top 10%. Also, the high school profile that your guidance counselor will provide the college probably tells the ranges of GPAs in each decile or so. If your GPA is near the top, it will be clear from the profile.</p>
<p>usually if your school doesnt rank and you are more comfortable sending your app with a rank on it (because you dont have to), then your school should be able to place you on a scale.</p>