tenzazangetsu

What is "Exact" class ranking on Common App? All the other ones have to deal with like top fifth or which tenth are you in, but my school gives a percentile. I'd like to say I'm in the 98th percentile at my school, but I don't know how. Also, my school does not give precise "you are the fifth or the eighth highest ranked" information, only the percentile. 98/395 sounds very different from 98th percentile. Should I just put 1st decile? It's a big deal to me because it shortens the pool from 39 or so students that way to about the top four. I've worked hard to be in that top four, please help (by answering the first question as specifically as you can)!!

tenzazangetsu

The Common Application does not provide a field for percentile, only exact, decile, quintile, and quartile. Or none, but there you go.

Erin's Dad

If you're in the 98%ile (I assume you mean top 2%) then put top decile. If you know your exact rank (#2 of 200 students) then use exact.

tenzazangetsu

But I don't, which is what I said. Is it totally impossible to point out something more specific than decile, when I don't have the exact "I'm right behind that one person and right in front of this other person" information?

quomodo

It sucks, but there's really no way around it. You'll just have to put top decile.

However, I'm in a similar situation, and I asked my counselor to include my more precise ranking in his Letter of Rec. You might do that....

tenzazangetsu

Alright, I guess there isn't then. I'll think about asking my counselor to do that, thank you.

DunninLA

why don't you just multiply 1-98% * number of students in your graduating class...

If there are 300 in your class then you are 6/300. I don't think the school cares if three people share the 98% rank and therefore you're either 6, 7, or 8 /300. Or just split the difference and put 7/300.