High School Rank and College Admission

High School Rank and College Admission September 3, 2013 You may think that your high school doesnt rank. And maybe they dont. But have a look at your school profile. You might be surprised by what you find. Many high schools choose not to rank their students. Maybe they do this because they dont want their students getting competitive with each other (like theyre not already!). Maybe they do this because they want all of their top students getting into top schools and they dont want to feel as though theyre hurting one student by ranking him or her lower than another. Because where students get into college, after all, reflects on the high school. Over the years, weve been asked many times at Ivy Coach if a high school doesnt rank its students, will colleges not know where a student falls in the graduating high school class? The short answer is that they will know where they stand. Many high schools that choose not to rank its students nonetheless have what is termed a GPA distribution. Very few students (and parents) know that high schools have these GPA distributions but these distributions do indeed offer insight to college admissions officers at highly selective schools where students fall in the class. If youre wondering how universities to which students apply see this GPA distribution, thats simple. Its a part of the school profile, which is submitted along with a students transcript. So why not ask your high school  guidance office if you can check out your class GPA distibution? Youre absolutely entitled to see it since its a part of the school profile. Know where you stand. Know how colleges are viewing your application. Itll allow you to have a more objective sense of just where you stand in the highly selective college admissions process. Maybe you thought you were at the top of your class but it turns out youre not exactly near the very top. Maybe you thought you were near the bottom but it turns out youre very average. Why not get a better sense by checking out your school profile? We highly recommend you do. And, while youre here, have a question with respect to high school class rank? Let us know your questions on high school rank and college admission by posting below. We look forward to hearing from you.