Class rank in class of 58

[THmom]

DS is in a small graduating class of 58 at a relatively rigorous high school and is in the top 15%. Will SAs, and in particular USMA, not consider his rank due to his class being under 100 and use his SAT/ACT percentile instead, or will they still take his actual class rank? Thanks!

 

[FutureSoldier96]

I went through a similar situation! My graduating class was 42 people. I went to high school at an Early College. My school ended up no longer doing ranks because when it came to college application times, they realized that at a traditional highschool, we would be in the top 5. Whereas at my school, I was in the top 15.

The academies also take that into consideration if the school wont make those same moves. That's what they said to me when i went through the process anyways.

 

[MidCakePa]

Most important thing is not class rank or GPA, but the actual transcript. USMA wants to know that he took the hardest classes the school has to offer and excelled at them, especially the STEM classes. USMA also considers the school profile, to determine academic rigor and quality of students.

My DD’s graduating class was 55; she graduated near the top. But more importantly, she loaded up on APs — the hardest classes her school offered — and aced them all. Plus the school profile worked in her favor.

 

[THmom]

Most important thing is not class rank or GPA, but the actual transcript. USMA wants to know that he took the hardest classes the school has to offer and excelled at them, especially the STEM classes. USMA also considers the school profile, to determine academic rigor and quality of students.

My DD’s graduating class was 55; she graduated near the top. But more importantly, she loaded up on APs — the hardest classes her school offered — and aced them all. Plus the school profile worked in her favor.

Can I ask how many AP and dual credit classes she took? Did they use her rank or SAT “rank” instead?

 

[MidCakePa]

There’s no way of knowing what they used. But again, rank is secondary to the transcript and school profile. All five classes she took as a senior were AP, plus five other AP classes in prior years. She “ran out” of math classes as a senior, after taking AP Calculus as a sophomore and Multivariable Calculus as a junior.

 

[jl123]

DS is in a small graduating class of 58 at a relatively rigorous high school and is in the top 15%. Will SAs, and in particular USMA, not consider his rank due to his class being under 100 and use his SAT/ACT percentile instead, or will they still take his actual class rank? Thanks!

If the school reports class rank, they will use class rank. In most cases, class rank is the most important factor of the transcript.

They will then use common sense in evaluating the transcript. They will not lose a top candidate because of a low class rank at a small, rigorous school.