How is Class Rank determined at your child's school?

ucbalumnus
Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:29:41 +0000

cromette:

I hear what you’re saying…but why WOULDN’T you give more academic credit to a kid that chooses AP Physics as an elective over Art I? That seems fair to me, actually.



A student concerned about gaming a weighted-GPA-based ranking system may choose to take an open period instead of a non-weighted elective. Would you rather see a student take 5 weighted courses, or the same 5 weighted courses plus 1 non-weighted course that s/he really would rather take but hesitates because it will cost him/her in the class ranking (assuming that the student can get A grades in all courses with or without the extra course)?

Given what has been said about the importance of class rank in the super-selective colleges that people talk about a lot here (i.e. that rank #1 or #2 is highly desirable for an unhooked applicant), and the thread about parents throwing parties because some competitor got a B grade, one would hope that the incentives would be set up to avoid giving incentive for students to take lighter course loads.