Class Rank?

Texanboxer

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I moved in the middle of high school (gotta love being a military brat). My schools did things very differently, and so I didn't get my multipliers for honors and AP Classes, so my class rank at my current school is around the 79th percentile. How big of a deal is this?
I have taken 4 AP classes and made 3 5s and 1 4, and my sat and ACT scores are both at the 97th percentile.
 
I know USNA does care about class rank quite a bit, but they also take into consideration AP scores. I remember seeing from the class profile that something like less than 1% of the Class of 2019 was in the bottom 20% of their class, however i'm sure most of these people didnt have SAT/ACT in the 97th percentile, or AP scores like yours. Also, what AP's do you have those scores in. At an admission brief I attended, the AC said the two courses they really like to see are AP BC Calc, and AP Chem
 
A clarification- I meant 79th percentile as in top 21% of my class. Around the 160 mark of 800 kids. I took Euro, Physics, Language, and US. Currently taking Calc, APES, Gov, Eco and Literature.
 
Then I think you shouldn't worry too much academically...There are people in the top 10% or even top 5% percent of their class whose SAT/ACT scores are not as strong as yours, so that definitely would make a difference. For USNA at least, we will never know exactly how they deem a candidate as scholastically qualified. All we can do is do our best and hope that USNA deems us strong enough.
 
@Sydney C. posted this in a different thread

Predictors of Plebe Summer Attrition at USNA by Michael Hollenbach in June 2003.

In his paper he describes the USNA admissions board evaluation process using a metric know as the Whole Person Multiple (WPM). This "score" is calculated based on a candidate's application information. It is designed to be a predictor for successful completion of freshman year at USNA. Qualifying candidate multiples fall between the ranges of 58,000 to greater than 80,000. The paper set forth the components of the WPM and their weighting:

Highest SAT verbal score - 15 %
Highest SAT math score - 31 %
High School Class rank - 21 %
Teacher Recommendation - 8 %
X-curr. activities/athletics - 10%
strong interest inventory technical interest score - 12 %
strong interest inventory career interest score - 3

The study is dated, from 2003. As you can see class rank is important. USMA posts more information on their admitted class profile, and not USMA but stats should be very similar. 70% was in the top fifth of the class and 20% was in the 2nd fifth. USMA profile is here http://www.usma.edu/admissions/sitepages/class profiles.aspx
 
I moved in the middle of high school (gotta love being a military brat). My schools did things very differently, and so I didn't get my multipliers for honors and AP Classes, so my class rank at my current school is around the 79th percentile. How big of a deal is this?
I have taken 4 AP classes and made 3 5s and 1 4, and my sat and ACT scores are both at the 97th percentile.
My son is in similar situation. He is around top 18% of class, and his ACT numbers are M34, E 31. He is pretty solid on CFA, and leadership (NHS Pres), and is very solid athletically, with seven letters and two captaincies. He was admitted to WP and is waiting on USNA. When we met his RC at WP my son asked what the weakest part of his application was, and the RC, without any hesitation, said, "class rank, for sure". I think rank is important, and my sons rank of top 18% is a little iffy. Unfortunately, it is too late to do much about that.
 
We were told class rank was also looked at relative to class size, GPA, rigor of individual study and school rigor. Being top of you class in one school district is different than being top at a highly academic competitive school. The candidates have no control over where they live or what there school district offers so that is factored in.
 
My son has the same issue and admissions stated that his class rank was of concern. Irritated me because each school did it differently but there are plenty of candidates to choose from. Top 20 is goal 30 is very important.
 
We were told class rank was also looked at relative to class size, GPA, rigor of individual study and school rigor. Being top of you class in one school district is different than being top at a highly academic competitive school. The candidates have no control over where they live or what there school district offers so that is factored in.
I don't know about USNA, but at USMA I think the competitiveness of the schools is not something which is actually "scored" in the whole candidate score like the other objective factors are. Class rank gets a specific score. So do test scores, CFA, student government positions, Varsity letters and captaincies, etc. Strength of the school is a subjective thing that the admissions committee will look at, and it may make a difference in a close call; but based on what we were told at WP, I don't think it literally gets "scored" like the other things. USNA may be different. Not sure. But, although I have read a lot on these boards about the school competitiveness factor, I am not sure it is as big a factor as many might think.
 
.....I should add that when we were visiting WP with our son the RC's we met with each time pulled up my sons file and literally were looking at a numerical score which identified the strength of his application. They also were able to pull up the list of candidates in the congressional district, and without identifying anything about the other candidates, give a very meaningful assessment of where my son stood. The factors which get scored could very clearly be identified, and all were objective. They include, of course, those things which are part of the application process.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not suggesting that the school competitiveness is not a factor. I am sure it can be. I just don't think, at least at WP, it is "scored", but rather believe it is a subjective item which the admissions team can value how it sees fit.
 
.....I should add that when we were visiting WP with our son the RC's we met with each time pulled up my sons file and literally were looking at a numerical score which identified the strength of his application. They also were able to pull up the list of candidates in the congressional district, and without identifying anything about the other candidates, give a very meaningful assessment of where my son stood. The factors which get scored could very clearly be identified, and all were objective. They include, of course, those things which are part of the application process.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not suggesting that the school competitiveness is not a factor. I am sure it can be. I just don't think, at least at WP, it is "scored", but rather believe it is a subjective item which the admissions team can value how it sees fit.

I may have worded that wrong, I didn't mean school that the competitiveness of the school was scored. More that it was considered when they compared candidates. The candidate has no control over class size, the number of AP courses available, whether their school scores on a 90-80-70 vs 93-83-73 scale, all of these things alter their scores comparatively.

Neither of my kids play football but my nephew's high school rule was pick one...you couldn't do football AND baseball AND basketball. So the opportunities vary from school to school so part of the WCS and determination of determining qualification takes those things in to account. That the SAs score on those tangible things but also consider, did this candidate make the best with what was available.
 
Yes, I think you are spot on. I don't thing coming from a less competitive school will hurt a candidate, but if an academy sees that a kid is coming from a school which has half its graduates get 35 ACT's and going on to prestigious colleges, then they need to put that into perspective. And likewise, if a kid (like mine) comes from a rural school where a high percentage wont even go on to college, that may be relevant too. There are pros and cons to each. My son was able to play school sports throughout the year, and make multiple varsity teams, but at the same time he didn't have the same availability of AP classes as he would have at a larger metropolitan school. He was only able to take the basic AP classes; English lit/comp, Physics, Calculus, and Bio. And frankly, there isn't the same push to succeed in academics, or to go to good colleges that exist at more competitive schools. It is what it is.

There should be consideration for the strength of the school, and I think there is. Its just a subjective, non-scored assessment.
 
The high school guidance counselor is required to submit a school profile which addresses these points so the Academies (and your civilian schools) can "rank" the competitiveness of the candidate.

In fact, USAFA is very transparent with this. You can download a PDF copy of the hs guidance counselor's school profile right from the candidate's application portal.
 
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In fact, USAFA is very transparent with this. You can download of PDF copy of the hs guidance counselor ' school profile right from the candidate's application portal.
You can? That's interesting. I wonder if I could still access it from my daughters portal from two years ago?
 
Yes, I think you are spot on. I don't thing coming from a less competitive school will hurt a candidate, but if an academy sees that a kid is coming from a school which has half its graduates get 35 ACT's and going on to prestigious colleges, then they need to put that into perspective. And likewise, if a kid (like mine) comes from a rural school where a high percentage wont even go on to college, that may be relevant too. There are pros and cons to each. My son was able to play school sports throughout the year, and make multiple varsity teams, but at the same time he didn't have the same availability of AP classes as he would have at a larger metropolitan school. He was only able to take the basic AP classes; English lit/comp, Physics, Calculus, and Bio. And frankly, there isn't the same push to succeed in academics, or to go to good colleges that exist at more competitive schools. It is what it is.

There should be consideration for the strength of the school, and I think there is. Its just a subjective, non-scored assessment.

Exactly!
 
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