<p>what is your exact rank. You said barely, meaning that you know your exact rank. If the adcoms see the rank, it may hurt you. But you have stellar test scores and should be fine. Adcoms WILL make up excuses for you, especially the old ones. They believe that you are a smart student who is bored by the slow pace of class and thus slacks off just a bit. This is very favorable as compared to the alternative, High GPA but low SAT score.</p>
<p>The second scenario suggests hyper craze grade inflation and that the student is dull and dimwitted but “diligent,” like every other applicant.</p>
<p>So this may actually work to your advantage.</p>