apfreak

I know it varies by the school you came from, but...how highly does Harvard value the rank of Valedictorian. If, from a group of 20,000 students applying total, there are 2000 valedictorians, will this status be more valueable in the smaller EA pool? Is it a really big push especially if you have taken ALL or even more than what your school offers?

-Thanks

Joethemole

haha here in canada, we don't choose valedictorians until like near grad.

saxfreq1128

Well, I think that in itself being Valedictorian is a really great achievement. But it's hard to say how many people are really at the top of their classes because so many people go to schools that don't rank or designate valedictorians.

I would imagine that Harvard cares more that you're achieving at the highest or near-highest level possible, and would appreciate that you're valedictorian if your school has such a thing, but would not necessarily demand it. It's definitely important that you're pushing yourself academically.

apfreak

Anyone else??

d3!ty

Harvard will expect a kid from a public to be top ~1%, private top ~5%, and elite private top ~10%-20%

Northstarmom

Harvard gets so many applications from valedictorians -- far more than it has space in its classes for -- that I don't think that being valedictorian counts for much unless perhaps one is in one of the nation's top prep or public schools.

Remember that Harvard applicants include students who are nationally ranked in their sports, have gotten first place national scores in ECs, hold national presidencies in ECs. Those are the kind of ECs that are likely to stand out the admissions pool.

Here are some stats from some of the 22,796 applicants last year. (2,074 students were admitted):
"By standard measures of academic talent, including test scores and academic performance in school, this year's applicant pool (and admitted group) remained quite similar to last year's impressive Class of 2008. For example, once again 56 percent of the candidates scored 1400 or higher on SATs; almost 2,150 scored a perfect 800 on their SAT verbal test; more than 3,200 scored an 800 on the SAT math; and nearly 3,200 were valedictorians of their high school classes. "

http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/...admission.html

cujoe169

so unfair, it seems they would ignore the fact that maybe 18/20 people ranking ahead of me had courseloads with 2/3 aps...

abeautifulmistake

yeh cujoe thats one of the things I hate the most.. there are a few people ranked higher than me who have taken 2-3 less aps than me..
Oh well

7th is still a decent rank.

anxious

I think how much the title is worth depends on how difficult it is to achieve at your school: if you're at one of the top prep schools in the country, being valedictorian means a lot. But if you're school isn't really competitive, then its easier to become valedictorian and hence its not viewed as highly. Although valedictorian status still is a wonderful achievement either way.

Vick

It is obviously impressive to be a valedictorian, but that in itself is not enough. You have to validate that status with high scores, and attractive EC's. However, I read somewhere that around 40% of applicants who were valedictorians were accepted to Harvard. (That figure seems high...if 3200 valedictorians applied then about 90% of class filled with valedictirians seems a little off).

cujoe169

sure... but when you 22, it's not pretty... out of ~415 mind you... ok how about this... valedictorian in a class of 80... or someone ranked 5 in a clas of 400... i don't think we can categorize something as valedictorian so objectively...

and when 20 of the people above you have 3~5 ap's and you have 11/12 it's really not fair that they do rank above you, (thank you unfair unweighting where honors == ap...)

d3!ty

"For example, once again 56 percent of the candidates scored 1400 or higher on SATs."

So 44% of last year's applicants didn't even break the 25%tile SAT range? Then we wonder why acceptance rate is like 9%...

cujoe169

sweet... i broke 1400 which places me in a better position than 44% of the people

mensa160

Is a Valedictorian the same as #1 GPA class rank?

cujoe169

why yes... yes it is