Hello all. Just a little background. I am posting this on the summer of my freshman year. I am going to become a sophomore.
So my question today is as stated in the title: Is becoming Valedictorian a must? Perhaps a more elaborate question would be, how does my rank compare and contrast with other factors in my college application (SAT scores, Transcript, Volunteer Hours, Awards, Sports, etc.)?
I attend a small private school, and in my class of 2018, we have a little over 52 students. In those 52, I would say that I am number 6 or 7. My school does not rank, but I am definitely in the top 10. But I feel like this isn’t enough for me. I feel like if I’m not valedictorian, my chances at my reach colleges are over. Those colleges being: Stanford, UCLA, USC, and Berkley. Not to mention I live in Houston not California. So yeah, my chances are very slim, but I’m sure I have a lot going for me, being only a Sophomore in high school. Ultimately I’m asking you, the viewer, if being valedictorian had a huge impact in your college application, or have you witnessed a valedictorian have a huge impact in theirs?
Side note: I was planning to try to become valedictorian, but I did not know who I was going up against, and I underestimated my classmates, so I took freshman year lightly. Unfortunately earning my a lower rank. Is it possible for me to climb the ranks even though the guys/girls above me are trying super hard also?
(I’m practicing my vocabulary, so if I sound like a pretentious, condescending, delusional, oblivious, teenager, I apologize)