By: Ani Nrusimha
Let me be clear: as the Valedictorian of the class of 2017, I abhor class rank.
Class rank may seem to be commonplace in America, but it is the definition of a zero sum game; one person doing better inherently means another person does worse. This game is one with very real consequences, yet full of oddities and flaws that lead it to become a game of exploitation. This game leads to an unhealthy environment where stress levels balloon and sensibility disappears.
To understand the problems with class rank, we must first understand the system itself. First of all, it only counts grades from the first three years of high school for students who have been here for the entire duration. Second, it only counts academic grades and AP (Advanced Placement) grades, so Mr. Durr taking off points for poor football skills won’t hurt your rank. Finally, it is not an average grade; different classes have different weights. For example, a grade of an 80 in an AP class has the same ‘weight’ as a grade of 90 in an A class which is equivalent to a 100 in a regents class. This is to reward students who challenge themselves by taking APs, but for the ever competitive students at East, this is a decree to maximize rigor.
The incentives are stacked for piling on more AP classes. Think of it in terms of your schedule: could you have added an AP, increasing your workload, and get a 90 in it? If so, you probably could improve your class rank. Now repeat this ad nauseam, not accounting for sleep, until your schedule is filled with APs. It doesn’t matter if you don’t get a healthy amount of sleep. It doesn’t matter if your grades in most classes deteriorate. As senior Xingyang Li said, “I bombed the first AP Bio test. However, upperclassman told me my grades would get boosted throughout, so I stuck with it. Bio was not for me, but whatever. Worth.”
Xingyang took three AP classes his sophomore year, and seven his junior year. Taking six college level classes in junior year is borderline standard for those aiming to be top ten; considering this is similar rigor to an actual college with three classes per semester, it’s mind blowing how juniors regularly do this with much less free time, due to daily school and numerous extracurriculars, when they are still in high school. When I was a freshman, seven APs was considered self destructive. Now, a couple people do it every year.
As Will Zhang, class rank #4 stated, “Often when determining courses to take, class rank influences the choice of classes that I take. Instead of opting for elective classes I might enjoy, I have to aggressively pursue much harder classes in order to compete with other students. Class rank is busted.”
Will’s worries about competition are not unfounded. Many of those who are at the top of the rank have sacrificed classes they might enjoy, or delayed them until senior year, in order to make their class rank increase. I for one never got to take Turbulent Sixties because it was an elective not offered in my senior year.
As you are reading this, you might be a little confused. Why is class rank a big deal again? Why are these super competitive students working so hard for it?
The East Side News has published numerous reports on the use and misuse of Class Rank, as well as what students, teachers, administrators, and even alumni think of it. Read those articles at eastsidenews.org. But for now, let me explain the two main benefits to a better class rank.
The most notable benefit is that those with better class rank have an increased chance of getting into a given college. Class rank allows colleges to see a student’s academic achievements relative to others in their class, but this idea falls flat where abnormally high AP counts are regular. From local reporting about other local valedictorians, some outside of East’s top ten have taken far more APs than the region’s best and brightest.
The second benefit, and probably the most important, was for scholarships. Many scholarships are locked for a certain percentage of the students. For example. To enter the Pittsburgh Honors College, an applicant must be in the top 5% of their class. Entering this college is essential for merit scholarships and preferential housing and classes. Several other colleges have similar benefits. As senior Edward Shen stated, “being in the top 5% gives me a leg up over other applicants.” Though this might seem insignificant to many, thousands of dollars can be on the line for scholarships.
These are very significant to a senior. Thus, class rank is of paramount importance for the highly competitive portion of East high school. There need to be changes in this system to stem the overexertion of students and allow students to pursue their interests in school.
