<p>lkf, I agree that arbitrary systems are in place at both some of the high schools and some of the colleges, but why pick on vals? I think there are far worse examples of weirdness. At a state uni here a kid can be val and have a 2400 or 36 but no NMF (for whatever reason) and their top scholarship is automatically limited to $4k a year. They can be NMF and have a 2100 and be lower in their class rank and automatically get (what is in effect) a full-ride. Say what? Does that make any sense to you, at all?</p>