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Let's say I'm the only person from my high school applying to a given university (U of Chicago)...How important is class rank in that case? Because I'm top 25% (because of some BS courses that I blew off--I'm top 5-10% in core subjects), but I've heard that it's not as big an issue when they have nobody else from your high school to directly compare you to...

How true is this?

By Sybbie719 (Sybbie719) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 11:28 pm: Edit

FOr most schools the most important criteria used are grades, rigor or curriculum and class rank (for schools that rank.

Attached, please find link for U of Chichago class statistics for class of 2007 & 2008

http://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/level3.asp?id=377

By Editrix (Editrix) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 12:05 am: Edit

Unfortunately, I think it helps not to have anyone else applying from your high school only when you come from a school that doesn't rank. If your school does rank, then the U. of Chicago automatically knows where you stand in relation to other students.

By Sybbie719 (Sybbie719) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 07:22 am: Edit

My Daughter went to a small public high school that did not rank. While while they did not publicly rank their students, did rank confidentially for admissions purposes. 2 people from her class appplied and got accepted to U og Chicago last year. One accepted, the other went to Penn.

All the best

By Ohio_Mom (Ohio_Mom) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 02:05 pm: Edit

Jpps1,
my son is facing a similar problem - he would be top 10% if the hs did a weighted ranking (or if he had obtained better grades!). If there is any mitigating information that can be submitted in, for example, the GC's rec, that might help (e.g., student's grades in core subjects excellent). The thing that you have going for you with Chicago is the essay - if that is stellar, you should have a shot.