<p>My parents and I have recently come upon an argument that we can't seem to get over.
My parents believe that rank is reported to colleges on a 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, etc base, while I thought that they would just get your decile or actual rank # out of my class.</p>
<p>This is kind of important to me because I'm currently #13 in my class (might be dropping a few ranks this marking period though...) and #14 is the cut off for 5%</p>
<p>Assuming that it does go from 1% to 5% to 10%, my chances of getting into a good college would be hurt by dropping a whole 5% from 5 to 10.</p>
<p>Does anyone know how colleges receive and see school ranks?</p>
<p>btw, this is my first post on CC. I'm a junior so I'm probably going to be here more often!</p>
<p>Each high school reports rank differently. Whether by actual ranking numbers, or by some break-down of percentages. Ask your GC (guidance counselor) how your schools does it.</p>
<p>I asked my gc and she told me it does in fact go by 1% 5% 10%</p>
<p>But ultimately, lets say I got booted from the 5% because our grades are pretty close up there. How much does this really hurt my admission to colleges like Ivy League and schools that are up there with them?</p>
<p>^^depends on the school; UPenn publishes accepted class ranks; tends to admit large majority in the top 5% of those students whose high schools still use class rank (most top high schools do not rank anymore)</p>
<p>you could request that your rank be kept off of your transcript, if you prefer…what is your UW GPA in academic subjects?</p>
<p>OP: You’ll be accepted or rejected not because of you’re being in the 5th percentile or the 7th percentile if you’re aiming for top schools. That’s not how your file will be read. You’re really splitting hairs here.</p>
<p>@T26E4
If it was between 5 and 6 or 7%, I really wouldn’t be worrying. But now I know my school goes by 5%s, so I would be dropped an entire 5% in an instant, which does seem significant to me.</p>
<p>What I’m saying is that the first thing people will look at will be your transcript and GPA. Secondary will be your ranking. If you wow them with your course choices and achievement, that’s the lasting impression.</p>
<p>The whole “% of our students ranked in the top 5%” is an artificial, post admissions stat. It’s not a all-powerful ruler by which to measure every student. It’s flexible.</p>