How do I inform adcoms of my class rank without my class rank?

Question

The state school I attended is most likely not on the radar of the schools I'm considering for an MBA so I doubt they are familiar with the school's grading policies/averages. Of course, the school doesn't release class rank so I'm trying to figure out how to let them know that my 3.5 ranks me above the majority of my peers without lying and saying top 10%. Any ideas?

CriticalSquare · Answer

Were you given any graduating honors / awards / recognition? If so, that can be a great way to showcase relative placement without a hard number such as top 10%.

Bhavik

tronic1 · Answer

Yes, Cum Laude, but I was under the impression that the Latin honors were awarded for simply exceeding certain GPA thresholds and had zero correlation to class rank. I understand what you mean by listing the honor, which I plan on doing, but I could rank first or last and still be Cum Laude. Part of the reason I'm looking for more distinction is because I failed Calculus my first year and don't want adcoms to blink too long at the blemish.

CriticalSquare · Answer

Hey there,

Yes, you're absolutely correct in that they're not substitutes. But they're 2nd best options. To your point, however, yes, hundreds of people could qualify. That's where 3rd tier information comes into play (major, difficulty of institution, etc.). It isn't a science and it leaves a bit in the hand of the reader. The problem with not being given a rank is that you can't just make one up. And if you don't know, you have to be conservative. And if you do that, then adcoms will assume something worse than is actually the case. Let's say you're top 15% but you're not 100% sure, so you say top 20%. Then the adcom is going to assume you were 19% or something because you put the lowest number that applies. In this case, you're better off with your GPA and honors as well as any awards / merit based scholarships. Class rank isn't a requirement after all.

Bhavik

tronic1 · Answer

Thanks, I actually figured out last night I ranked 3 of 8 for a summer graduation but I'm not about to include this percent since I believe I would've ranked much higher had I graduated during a spring or fall term. I suppose I'll just just work on drafting a killer optional essay over the next 9 months that attempts to explain the school's grading policies and my hardships.

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Posted from my mobile device

CriticalSquare · Answer

Ah yes, the curse of summer graduations! One last piece of advice, if you had significant hardship (i.e. something more than "I was immature" or a family situation that legitimately took away from your studies) then yes, explain that in your optional essay. But if it is something less significant, it might not need explaining. Because you don't want to seem like you're making excuses, right? Also, you don't need to explain your school's grading policies unless they are so utterly abstract no one would be expected to understand that. Which, I assume, is not the case here?

Bhavik

Bhavik

tronic1 · Answer

Nothing out of the ordinary, just worked ~20 hours a week from 16 through college graduation, commuted an hour each way everyday for four years and graduated from a difficult major and school that actively tries to weed people out well into the third year through course load and grades.

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Posted from my mobile device

CriticalSquare · Answer

Hey there,

So working through college is something to share - and you should bring it to their attention. But not in an optional essay - perhaps in the resume somehow might look more natural. The commuting, difficult major, school, etc. - that's nothing you should bring up. They'll know about the latter two and the former isn't really relevant.

Bhavik

tronic1 · Answer

Thanks for the insights. Instead of posting a new thread, what are your thoughts on 42 months WE and 30 years old at matriculation? (I took a year off after undergrad to travel and then did a 2 year masters)

CriticalSquare · Answer

You're on par for the WE but your age puts you a little high. Traveling for a year isn't the end of the world but a 2 years master will need to be explained. You're going to need to weave together a really strong story around why a 2 year MBA is now necessary on top of that.

Bhavik

Bhavik

friskymarkets · Answer

Do b-schools verify the class rank? I am sure I was in the top 10 in my batch but my university doesn't give this in any written form

How do I inform adcoms of my class rank without my class rank?

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