Alabama Rush and First Cuts: Predetermined?

[KSUViolet06]

^^^My brother is currently a senior. He says that they inform the valedictorian that they're #1, but no one else.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

^^^My brother is currently a senior. He says that they inform the valedictorian that they're #1, but no one else.

Thanks!

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Most of our high schools here have eliminated class rank. I guess it hurts too many students' feelings.

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

How does the school determine the valedictorian, or did they eliminate that too?

When I was a high school senior *ahem* years ago, students were given decile rankings, so you were told if you were in the top 10%, second 10%, etc. The exceptions were the valedictorian and salutatorian, who were told they were #1 and #2 respectively. These rankings were set at the end of junior year, so you could theoretically blow off your entire senior year (or ace your classes during your senior year, for that matter) without your decile ranking changing.

That said, I believe the high school sent each student's final GPA to the college s/he would be attending, so the GLOs would be looking at the student's entire high school performance and would know if the PNM had blown off his/her senior year.

I don't understand the idea of getting rid of high school class rankings altogether. On the one hand, I can see where it would hurt to be told, "There are 250 people in your graduating class, and, well, you're #250." On the other hand, I'd want some idea of where I stood within that pool of 250 - particularly if I were at or near the top of the class, so that I could report that information on my college applications and improve my chances of admission. Decile rankings are IMO a decent compromise.

</threadjack>

[DGTess]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

When I was a high school senior *ahem* years ago, students were given decile rankings, so you were told if you were in the top 10%, second 10%, etc. The exceptions were the valedictorian and salutatorian, who were told they were #1 and #2 respectively. These rankings were set at the end of junior year, so you could theoretically blow off your entire senior year (or ace your classes during your senior year, for that matter) without your decile ranking changing.

That said, I believe the high school sent each student's final GPA to the college s/he would be attending, so the GLOs would be looking at the student's entire high school performance and would know if the PNM had blown off his/her senior year.

I don't understand the idea of getting rid of high school class rankings altogether. On the one hand, I can see where it would hurt to be told, "There are 250 people in your graduating class, and, well, you're #250." On the other hand, I'd want some idea of where I stood within that pool of 250 - particularly if I were at or near the top of the class, so that I could report that information on my college applications and improve my chances of admission. Decile rankings are IMO a decent compromise.

</threadjack>

I'm pretty sure if you're #250, you pretty much know where you stand in class.

That said, the guy who graduates last in his class from medical school still is called "Doctor".

[FuturePNMMom]

I was helping a Sophomore girl at UA find some recs for recruitment this year and am curious to get your opinion on her situation.

She is a beautiful girl with a stellar high school resume (4.0 unweighted GPA, first in her class, very involved in all kinds of leadership, athletic, good ACT score), but did not get involved her Freshman year at UA and has below a 3.0 college GPA. He resume is basically what you would expect from an incoming student except she added the one line about her college GPA but put it in between her high school information.

My daughter went through recruitment last year as a Freshman at another competitive SEC school very successfully and has loved every second of her sorority life, but since it wasn't at Bama, I didn't know what advice to give her this girl except enjoy the experience, visit each house with an open mind, be yourself, and know that there will be cuts, but it only takes one bid. I was honest that I felt that she could have a tough time because it is harder as a Sophomore, but anything is possible.

I do know that we don't talk about specific recruitment practices, but in general when you are already a college student going through recruitment, do they really care about what you did in high school or are they more concerned about what you have done since you became a UA student?