<p>how big of a difference does class rank make in decisions?
big or little?</p>
<p>Class rank, by itself, is not meaningful. Colleges use it to put your grades into perspective. For example, if you’re ranked in the top 10% with a 3.5 GPA, they’ll recognize that your school is tough, and cut you some slack on low grades. On the other hand, if you’re ranked in the top 40% with a 4.0 GPA, they’ll see that your school grades very generously, which makes your grades seem less impressive and could put you in trouble if you have any borderline grades.</p>