Often, students and parents believe being ranked #1 or in the top 5% of a high school class is a guarantee of a college acceptance. In reality, class ranking is but one factoid which may or may not even be reported in the college application.
The University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) applications have no space where students report class rank. And, since students are not required to submit official transcripts, UC and CSU admissions officers evaluate a student for admissions with no knowledge of class rank.
Even on the Common Application, often used by private universities and some public universities, students have the option not to report Class Rank.
Additionally, for many private universities, where students are required to submit official transcripts, admissions officers, including at Ivy League colleges, advise that class rank is only a single metric in an overall application. Admissions officers use the class ranking as context for how a student performs in relation to their peers. Then, continue reviewing the application to learn more about the student.
Jill Yoshikawa EdM, a proud UC San Diego Alumna, counsels middle school and high school freshmen, sophomore, and junior families about eligibility for college admissions and how to navigate the complex matrix of requirements, in order to maximize their investment in their children’s college education.
