<p>It seems as if the % reporting rank fluxuates extremely little year by year as well. I checked Cornell’s numbers, and for 2009 it was 88% in top-10%; 38% submitting. 2010: 90%, 35%… makes you wonder if they’re intentionally obscuring the blemishes (while at the same time making it so their numbers aren’t too unbelievable). </p>
<p>At the same time, Princeton’s goes from 97 to 95 to 99% while % reporting remains at 30, 30 and 29 respectively. </p>
<p>As someone whose rank falls outside 10% at an extremely competitive public, this interests me. Does the USNWR criteria prevent colleges from taking students outside top-10%, or are they intentionally messing with the numbers to allow them to practice more hollistic admissions?</p>