According to various debate rankings, I’m either 30th, 24th, or 10th in the nation in my form of debate (each site uses different ways of calculating results–ELO, ADP, polling coaches, etc.). How would adcoms verify these specific rankings, and how should I present them on the common app?
Anyone have a clue? I obviously want to put 10th, but I’m not sure if that’s counted as lying…
How about you say 10th according to wherever you found your ranking?
Not sure how debate rankings go, but I would be sure to use “the” debate ranking site. Use the main one admissions officers would know.
There’s no official ranking site–that’s the issue, so I don’t know what admission officers would use for sure. There are many ranking methods, and some sites have multiple rankings on them. If I put “10th according to ___,” would officers check other sites to make sure that particular site isn’t inflating my rank?
I mean if I were you, I’d want them to check. Make it as easy as possible for them to look if they chose to. If you really are rank 10 according to XYZ, I’d say it so they don’t look on website ABC and it doesn’t go with your rank.
They generally will not look things up unless that are very substantial ECs and awards easily shown by a quick google search.