<p>The valedictorian situation does not matter.</p>
<p>An important thing to remember is that applicants are evaluated not so much as individuals but how they can contribute to the larger whole of a class and on campus in general.</p>
<p>Letters from teachers or mentors outside of school can make a big difference too, but call admissions to check if those added letters are okay to submit and how to submit them (in a supplement most likely).</p>
<p>Ivies like Harvard are big on “character,” and there are many ways to try to assess that, not all of them effective. I know plenty of smart kids with amazing character who didn’t get in. Either they were not savvy in their application or the college already had someone admitted who offered a similar picture, I would say. You really cannot control your chances beyond a certain point.</p>