Class rank not the only determinant of success
Posted by Katelyn Frueh on Monday, May 31, 2010
Under: News
Class rank may not hold as high a regard in the process of developing future success as some student may have originally thought.
The levels of anxiety most students face throughout their academic career stream from one plausible concern: the academic achievement they know is vital to earn in high school to ensure post secondary success.
Class rank is one major concern for striving students, but, according to guidance counselor Daniel Barber, it is not the only determining factor.
"Class rank doesn't matter as much as it used to," said Barber, "A lot of unnecessary worry and stress happen as a result of it."
Part of the problem is that students are uninformed of what exactly goes into class rank. According to the Souderton Area High School Student Agenda, class rank is calculated using quality points (QPA) and is not based on cumulative grade point average (GPA).
Quality points are a cumulative record of all final grades multiplied by the course weight and course credit, and are different than the system that was used in the past when class rank was only determined by GPA.
Class ranks are run twice a year - at the end of semester one and at the end of the year. In the past, class rank used to not truthfully and adequately measure a student's efforts.
"By the way class rank was calculated, it ended up being that if you did well in a few amount of classes, you would have a higher class rank," said Barber, "But now, under the quality points formula or QPA, the more classes you take means the more credits you earn which boosts your class rank."
The main concern students have with class rank is the impact it has on getting them into a highly regarded, competitive college. But what students do not understand it eh ambiguity the system entails.
"Class rank doesn’t mean as much as the quality of work and the courses [a student] takes," said Barber, "It's completely arbitrary to the system you're using."
For some students, even a powerful class rank doesn't guarantee a top school.
"Good class rank definitely helps you," said California Institute of Technology senior and Souderton graduate David Kratz, "That said, I know there is some limit. I got rejected from MIT despite being valedictorian. Valedictorian doesn't assure you of getting in everywhere. Likewise, I'm sure MIT isn't composed only of valedictorians."
A misconception students often have about class rank is that it will ensure success. They believe that class rank will ultimately provide them with success and happiness.
"While having a good class rank is unequivocally a good thing, it is not eh only predictor of success (I'm not sure it's even up there with the best ones,)" said Kratz.
The levels of anxiety most students face throughout their academic career stream from one plausible concern: the academic achievement they know is vital to earn in high school to ensure post secondary success.
Class rank is one major concern for striving students, but, according to guidance counselor Daniel Barber, it is not the only determining factor.
"Class rank doesn't matter as much as it used to," said Barber, "A lot of unnecessary worry and stress happen as a result of it."
Part of the problem is that students are uninformed of what exactly goes into class rank. According to the Souderton Area High School Student Agenda, class rank is calculated using quality points (QPA) and is not based on cumulative grade point average (GPA).
Quality points are a cumulative record of all final grades multiplied by the course weight and course credit, and are different than the system that was used in the past when class rank was only determined by GPA.
Class ranks are run twice a year - at the end of semester one and at the end of the year. In the past, class rank used to not truthfully and adequately measure a student's efforts.
"By the way class rank was calculated, it ended up being that if you did well in a few amount of classes, you would have a higher class rank," said Barber, "But now, under the quality points formula or QPA, the more classes you take means the more credits you earn which boosts your class rank."
The main concern students have with class rank is the impact it has on getting them into a highly regarded, competitive college. But what students do not understand it eh ambiguity the system entails.
"Class rank doesn’t mean as much as the quality of work and the courses [a student] takes," said Barber, "It's completely arbitrary to the system you're using."
For some students, even a powerful class rank doesn't guarantee a top school.
"Good class rank definitely helps you," said California Institute of Technology senior and Souderton graduate David Kratz, "That said, I know there is some limit. I got rejected from MIT despite being valedictorian. Valedictorian doesn't assure you of getting in everywhere. Likewise, I'm sure MIT isn't composed only of valedictorians."
A misconception students often have about class rank is that it will ensure success. They believe that class rank will ultimately provide them with success and happiness.
"While having a good class rank is unequivocally a good thing, it is not eh only predictor of success (I'm not sure it's even up there with the best ones,)" said Kratz.
In : News