What matters more, GPA or Class rank

[TheWaterConsumer]

I know this is kind of an odd question but I have not seen it discussed on the forums yet. I have what seems to be an abysmal 3.688 GPA. However, I am ranked in the top 5% of my class. Is my GPA taken into consideration like others? Will this be a problem?

 

[MAG]

I think you would have to score in the 1400s on the SAT to be considered. Plus have the sports, leadership, and community service too.

 

[shiner]

GPA is a relative benchmark that is comprised from many variables. Your English course could be infinitely harder or easier than one from a school on the other side of the country - or just in the next town. Service Academies do pay attention to schools and have what I would consider a multiplier/offset number to normalize schools.

A complicating factor in this conversation is weighting - is that on a 4 scale, or a 5, or a 6.0 scale?

If the question were strictly limited to GPA or Class rank, the better objective measure would be class rank. Out of X students, you ranked where?

Fortunately, there are more factors considered by admissions than just these two data points.

 

[TheWaterConsumer]

I think you would have to score in the 1400s on the SAT to be considered. Plus have the sports, leadership, and community service too.

For reference, I got 31 Math, 31 English, 33 Science, and 34 reading. Also the programming team leader, tennis team captain, girls tennis team assistant coach, and a varsity basketball letter. Among other awards.

 

[TheWaterConsumer]

GPA is a relative benchmark that is comprised from many variables. Your English course could be infinitely harder or easier than one from a school on the other side of the country - or just in the next town. Service Academies do pay attention to schools and have what I would consider a multiplier/offset number to normalize schools.

A complicating factor in this conversation is weighting - is that on a 4 scale, or a 5, or a 6.0 scale?

If the question were strictly limited to GPA or Class rank, the better objective measure would be class rank. Out of X students, you ranked where?

Fortunately, there are more factors considered by admissions than just these two data points.

4.0 scale, 6 out of 141.

 

[A1Janitor]

No problem. Respectable scores and rank. Some at the SA have better “stats”, others don’t.

It depends on the competition.

 

[StPaulDad]

A lot can depend on the quality of your school and classmates. The academy will ask your guidance counselor for a detailed description of your curriculum so they can tell if you took the hardest classes available, how demanding they were, and how good the rest of your classmates were. There are tremendously high performing schools with many National Merit Scholar finalists that make rank hard to achieve and there are places that don't weigh honors classes making GPA hard to raise, so it'll depend on your situation. If you can reconcile the low GPA with the high rank the absolute numbers won't matter that much, but excellent test scores will definitely help you paint that picture so get cracking on your test prep.

 

[TheWaterConsumer]

A lot can depend on the quality of your school and classmates. The academy will ask your guidance counselor for a detailed description of your curriculum so they can tell if you took the hardest classes available, how demanding they were, and how good the rest of your classmates were. There are tremendously high performing schools with many National Merit Scholar finalists that make rank hard to achieve and there are places that don't weigh honors classes making GPA hard to raise, so it'll depend on your situation. If you can reconcile the low GPA with the high rank the absolute numbers won't matter that much, but excellent test scores will definitely help you paint that picture so get cracking on your test prep.

On that note, other than what your school says (if they embellish to make themselves seem better) do they look at the area you are in?

 

[Firstgo]

All of your test stats are above average which is good. Now what does that mean is you have test scores that are acceptable. Now all I can say is take the ACT test again if you can. You never know if that one or two points will make a difference. A lot comes down to how competitive is your district. My daughter is going into her second year at the academy and had slightly higher grade point average and slightly lower ACT test scores than you. She lettered every year in her team sport, was team captain and had various leadership positions. The issue is you cannot compare yourself to anyone because every year who gets selected is kind of a mystery to me. There are so many well qualified candidates who get selected and many who don’t. Just keep doing what you are doing, keep your grades up and stay out of trouble. Just a note though may daughter got in on her second try. She was given a Falcon Foundation Scholarship on her first try and got selected for the class of 2024. She is very happy and doing well. The gap year really prepared her for the challenges of the academy.

 

[DSANN]

DS's school didn't rank. So when applying to the USNA - the school wrote a letter to back that up. DS put 0 down on the application. I don't know if rank holds a big portion of the weight. Think about homeschoolers - right? I think the standardized exams are probably looked at first, then overall GPA. I'm sure though the SAs have a sense of the school in which you are coming from. Is it a tough school that is stingy with grades? If so - your 3.688 is great! My local HS is VERY GENEROUS with grading and students have 104 averages - how is that even possible??? Work on the overall application, the essay, your leadership, your standardized exams, your GPA, etc....I don't think there is one deciding factor. Good luck!

 

[Don't Give Up the Ship]

I know this is kind of an odd question but I have not seen it discussed on the forums yet. I have what seems to be an abysmal 3.688 GPA. However, I am ranked in the top 5% of my class. Is my GPA taken into consideration like others? Will this be a problem?

So you can see that the answers to the OP question is "it depends", many factors. Some may be different for different applicants. For example: two applicants could have nearly identical Class Rank and GPA at the same school, one may have overcome a hardship in life the other may not. How competitive you are depends on the others you complete with on your various Nomination Slates. Best to: 1. Take the ACT again, 2. Practice and prepare well for the CFA, 3. Apply for your Noms early and the SA early. Develop Plans B & C, because, even if you are a strong candidate-you may not get appointed.

 

[RailsUSAFAMN]

I think you would have to score in the 1400s on the SAT to be considered. Plus have the sports, leadership, and community service too.

I was #1 in my high school class out of 550 students. Heavy sports, leadership, and community service resume, which included Girls State. I maxed out the CFA for women and I did pull-ups instead of the bent arm hang and had two nominations. My problem was the standardized tests. Covid canceled a lot of testing opportunities for me but I should have done better on the opportunities I had available to me. A tough lesson to learn as I did not get an appointment, prep offer, or a falcon scholarship. My suggestion is this, do amazing in everything, but really focus on the test scores as there are a lot of "ME's" out there with great stats, but without the test scores, it's difficult. I do not do well on standardized tests but can rock calc and chem tests with the best of them. Not good enough for the academies. Be solid across the board and be the best candidate you can be. I'm self-prepping this year at MMI as I intend to show the academy I don't give up and I will overcome those standardized tests. Good luck to all of you this upcoming year and again, be Amazing!!

 

[A1Janitor]

I was #1 in my high school class out of 550 students. Heavy sports, leadership, and community service resume, which included Girls State. I maxed out the CFA for women and I did pull-ups instead of the bent arm hang and had two nominations. My problem was the standardized tests. Covid canceled a lot of testing opportunities for me but I should have done better on the opportunities I had available to me. A tough lesson to learn as I did not get an appointment, prep offer, or a falcon scholarship. My suggestion is this, do amazing in everything, but really focus on the test scores as there are a lot of "ME's" out there with great stats, but without the test scores, it's difficult. I do not do well on standardized tests but can rock calc and chem tests with the best of them. Not good enough for the academies. Be solid across the board and be the best candidate you can be. I'm self-prepping this year at MMI as I intend to show the academy I don't give up and I will overcome those standardized tests. Good luck to all of you this upcoming year and again, be Amazing!!

Good luck!

 

[Heatherg21]

I was #1 in my high school class out of 550 students. Heavy sports, leadership, and community service resume, which included Girls State. I maxed out the CFA for women and I did pull-ups instead of the bent arm hang and had two nominations. My problem was the standardized tests. Covid canceled a lot of testing opportunities for me but I should have done better on the opportunities I had available to me. A tough lesson to learn as I did not get an appointment, prep offer, or a falcon scholarship. My suggestion is this, do amazing in everything, but really focus on the test scores as there are a lot of "ME's" out there with great stats, but without the test scores, it's difficult. I do not do well on standardized tests but can rock calc and chem tests with the best of them. Not good enough for the academies. Be solid across the board and be the best candidate you can be. I'm self-prepping this year at MMI as I intend to show the academy I don't give up and I will overcome those standardized tests. Good luck to all of you this upcoming year and again, be Amazing!!

I love this attitude. Salty with purpose and a goal. I am looking forward to your journey.

 

[FlyFalcon]

I was #1 in my high school class out of 550 students. Heavy sports, leadership, and community service resume, which included Girls State. I maxed out the CFA for women and I did pull-ups instead of the bent arm hang and had two nominations. My problem was the standardized tests. Covid canceled a lot of testing opportunities for me but I should have done better on the opportunities I had available to me. A tough lesson to learn as I did not get an appointment, prep offer, or a falcon scholarship. My suggestion is this, do amazing in everything, but really focus on the test scores as there are a lot of "ME's" out there with great stats, but without the test scores, it's difficult. I do not do well on standardized tests but can rock calc and chem tests with the best of them. Not good enough for the academies. Be solid across the board and be the best candidate you can be. I'm self-prepping this year at MMI as I intend to show the academy I don't give up and I will overcome those standardized tests. Good luck to all of you this upcoming year and again, be Amazing!!

Can't wait to see you there with me in class of 2026. Best of luck

 

[T-37IP]

Don't forget about the interview part of the process. At the end of the day, they are admitting a person, a future officer, not a resume. Work on interview skills. Confident, someone they want to work with. That really applies everywhere, but probably no more so than the academy appointment and nomination process. The process is a bit of a mystery, but it is NOT a simple add up the CFA, ACT/SAT, GPA, class rank, pop out a number and go in order. It is WAY "fuzzier" than that. My DS received an LOA, multiple nominations, and a very early appointment. He did not have a 4.0, he was NOT a recruited athlete, he wasn't in the top 10%, he isn't a member of any targeted group. He IS a very personable and confident young man who is so well rounded he is a sphere and interviews like Ferris Bueller..... Hope that helps.