Top 3% vs Valedictorian: Is there a huge difference? (Average public school in the Midwest)

Applying to College
1

I came to the US in the middle of 9th grade (skipped 8th grade 2nd sem and 9th grade 1st sem) so my freshman year GPA is kinda wacky (All A+ but no AP/weighted classes because there are no half year weighted classes at our school for freshmen). I had a 4.6 ish GPA sophomore year with all A’s and A pluses (still had to take Spanish 1 and other unweighted easy classes). Junior year I have All AP and college credit classes except Spanish 2 because I couldn’t take Spanish in my home country. I have all A pluses and 2 A’s now (junior) but my GPA placed me in 11th place because of (unweighted) Spanish. If I keep taking AP classes and maintain my A pluses I should end up in top 10 (out of 600) because my freshman year GPA won’t let me go further mathematically. Will colleges look at my special circumstances? Being the val/sal isn’t my intention I just want to do the best I can.

2

Is there a difference how? A difference to colleges? No. In our school, our valedictorian went to Tufts; our salutatorian went to Michigan and another kid in the top 10 chose Columbia over Dartmouth. It’s what the schools are looking for, how you fit in their class, what you’ve done with your time, essays, letters of rec and how good your test scores are etc… Don’t lose sleep over the val/sal thing.

3

Not a huge difference. In fact, for the vast majority of colleges (including elite schools), it won’t make any difference at all.

4

“I just want to do the best I can”

This is perfect. Universities will look at your actual grades, which are apparently excellent.

I think that you are going very well. Just keep doing what you are doing and do not worry about it.

5

Huge difference - certainly not.

Any difference? Hmm…every data point means something, I suppose, but the difference will be infinitesimal.

My D’s valedictorian went to Case Western. Her friend, who was something like 8th or 9th, is at MIT.

6

Acceptances generally come before val/sal are announced anyway (usually at the very end of senior year). So you won’t be able to tell colleges you’re valedictorian on your apps anyway.