An Argument in Favor of Removing Ranking in College Admissions

What is a class rank? Well, it's in the name. A class rank organizes students in order from the student who has the highest grade point average, or GPA, to the student who has the lowest. 232 out of the 500 public school districts in the United States acknowledge the top students in the class, such as the valedictorian and salutatorian. This information is analyzed by colleges and taken into account during the college admission process (Lang 1). Class ranks are determined by factoring in the student's academic data. They compare students' academic progress with all the other students in the class.

The students' grades in their classes are all taken into account and summarized as their GPA. Then, the GPA is ranked from highest to lowest in the class ("Class Rank and College Admission"). In addition to class rank, other factors influence a student's college admission such as standardized test scores, completed high school courses, overall grades, personal essays, teacher recommendations, leadership qualities, and talents. Since there are numerous different criteria that are taken into account, unhealthy competition between classmates emerge, and different weights cause unreliability during the college admission process, class ranks should not be incorporated into the college admission process.

Class ranks turn "academics into a competitive sport..." (Kohn 1). This simple system of ranking students stimulates not-so-friendly competition between friends and classmates. The overachievers at the top of the class strive to earn higher GPAs and fight over the prestigious title of valedictorian. Although they put in all the work needed in order to surpass the student in front, they are working hard mainly due to the fact that they want to beat their classmates, not because they are passionate about what they are learning. Last year, in our high school, there was a roughly .01 difference in the GPAS of the valedictorian and salutatorian. This insignificantly small difference determined which student topped the class, even though it essentially showed that both students had the same GPA. Education should promote a healthy environment where students are comfortable with collaborating with their peers, rather than one where students completely isolate themselves due to stressful competition. Class ranks unnecessarily increase unhealthy competition which causes students to lose a genuine passion in learning.

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In addition to the stressful competition, class ranks are unreliable due to the fact that different high schools apply different weights to their students' GPAs. This may bring forth unfair advantages and/or disadvantages to applicants. This also leads to the argument that colleges must research the backgrounds of all the high schools of their applicants, and use this information to make a decision (Walker 2). This tedious procedure is ineffective since it requires an extensive amount of time and the application process cannot afford to take too much time. Moreover, highly selective colleges with a less variety of types of students will have to distinguish each applicant based on the quality of the high school. They must look at the types of students that attend the high school to see if the applicant will truly fit in their college. The unique ways that high schools use to calculate class rank cause inconsistencies within the college admission process.

While some disagree with the incorporation of class rank into college applications, many high schools still use this system so that colleges can determine which students are allowed admission. According to an online newspaper, class ranks are motivators for students. The author believes this system is "motivation-based competition" (Kim). Class rank can be used to provoke competition in order for students to have a reason to try in school. If students are too lenient with their grades, then they will not be impelled to reach their full potential and get the highest class rank they possibly can.

This system helps students genuinely attempt to get good grades since they will be driven to get into a decent college or one of their choice. Students will work towards a high class rank in order to attract colleges they desire to take admission in. This argument is not logical since it fails to address the other factors that are taken into account during college admissions. Students will still have to attempt to get good grades since their high school GPA will still have a significant role in their college application. In addition, students must strive to earn good scores on standardized tests, such as the ACT and/or SAT. All in all, students will compete with themselves, rather than their fellow classmates. They will work to improve out of their own will, not for the sake of beating their peers ("Final Report: What East Thinks of Class Rank Pros and Cons").

Class ranks should not be implemented into the college admission process. The various other factors that are taken into account, such as GPA, are more significant and they do not promote unhealthy competition between classmates. Not only will this reduce the already high stress level of students, not having class ranks will make the admission process less time- consuming and more reliable. Other than during the college admission process, class ranks currently do not have another significant role in society. Therefore, all high schools should gradually start to abolish the system of class rank.

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