@Cece0499 thankfully, adcoms look at standardized tests to check for grade inflation, so if the people ahead of you in school have lower standardized test scores than you (as looks to be likely), they’ll know something was up and view you more favorably. I hope the same thing works out for me. I’m working so hard for a 36 on the ACT for the same reason, so I stand out among my crazy class rank-obsessed classmates 
And good luck with the Ivies!!
@Cece0499 Aw, that’s too bad! Maybe instead of applying to a program, you could email professors at nearby unis and colleges for an internship. Imo, that shows a lot more independence and dedication.
@college2021 Welcome! 
Procrastination is real… haven’t started homework yet
At my school, honors classes don’t go into the weighted GPA unless they’re dual enrollment or something… last year the valedictorian took 17 AP classes! And there is definitely cheating that goes on… not in all the classes though, just the cutthroat curve-based ones like AP Bio.
Ya, there is sooooooooooooo much cheating that goes on at my school. It bugs me soooo much! Some people don’t even know that what they are doing is cheating until I tell them (like telling their friends about a test). It doesn’t matter if you are taking the easiest classes or the hardest cutthroat classes
At my school, you are automatically named valedictorian if you have 4.0+ weighted GPA. So at graduation, when they say “if you are valedictorian please stand,” a third of the class stands up. It totally takes away the meaning of valedictorian. Yes, we do have class rank but it doesn’t seem to matter since the term valedictorian is meaningless at my school. We have a top valedictorian though but it gets confusing since a third of the class can call themselves valedictorian.
Haha…I guess that’s good for me though…I’m #2 in the class and I can still call myself valedictorian…haha
But honestly, it’s ridiculous.
I’m lucky; my school in general has little cheating, and the cheating that does happen typically only occurs on homework graded for completion, which is essentially negligible gradewise. I can’t think of a single aspect of my school that could be called “cutthroat” – clubs are pretty lowkey. My school is a pretty challenging, small private, though.
@pseudoprimal sounds like my school. The only cheating that takes place is talking about tests and copying homework. And there’s no competition whatsoever. I guess I take my school for granted after hearing about your schools!
@coffeeaddicted thats a score to be extremely proud of once you reach it. But even if you don’t anything remotely close to a 36 is outstanding! Good luck (:
@athenanv13 we have a lotttt of people telling each other about the test since each class typically has at least 5 class periods during the day (I go to a huge public school). And for us, you’re A valedictorian if your unweighted GPA is 4.0, but you’re THE valedictorian if you have the highest weighted GPA. Right now we have like 10 people in contention for #1 haha (I’m in the 20’s so I don’t stand a chance; I’m just trying to keep my 4.0 UW and keep a rigorous schedule)
And thanks @Cece0499 ! I’ve already gotten a 35 so I like to say I’m retaking it out of pure vanity. I did get a 33 on science though and my major is in science so I kind of have to retake it, right? Lol
I’m laughing – only two of my classes have more than one section!
New Year’s Resolutions, anyone?
My new year’s resolutions are basically to make it through junior year with a decent or good GPA, do well on my ACT, continue my outside of school language studies, get my driver’s license, and be happy.
2015 was a great year for me. Never stressed, a whole new flock of friends, and academic+athletic success.
2016 is going to be a huge year for us, since we …
-find out what college we’re gonna attend (in ED/EA we trust)
-get our driver’s licence (although some of you may have it)
-have our last high school summer break
-turn 18! (not for me personally, but some you will)
@deeeznuts Those are scary thoughts! The college admission process seemed so far away but now this is the year!
Hey! I just wanted to introduce myself to this thread. I’m also in the class of 2017.
My New Year’s resolutions are to just get through this one last stretch before second semester of senior year without too much self-imposed stress and be happy while doing it.
I just found out that my school does not rank, and honestly, I’m so glad. That one fraction can and would cause me and many other students a lot of unnecessary anxiety if school rank were implemented.
Here’s Allen Cheng’s successful Harvard app. It just made me realize how little I’ve done in terms of EC’s.
That article makes me feel so bad about myself. :((
Oh well, I’m still going to apply to Stanford and Columbia anyway 