I'm kinda confused about how to report my class rank. My school does exact ranks, but the app options are exact, decile, quintile... What's the difference and what does it mean for me when I apply to colleges? Should I just enter my exact rank, or is there a strategy here?
When filling out the class rank section on your college applications, you'll be presented with a few different options to report your rank. The 'exact' option allows you to input your specific numerical rank within your graduating class.
'Decile' and 'quintile' refer to percentile groupings—a decile would divide the class into 10 equal groups, and a quintile would divide it into 5. For instance, if you're in the top 10% of your class, you would be in the first decile. Similarly, the top 20% would correspond to the first quintile.
If your school provides an exact rank, it's generally best to report that, as it gives a clear picture of your standing within your class. There's no real strategy to choosing between these options; it's more about the level of detail your high school provides.
Since your school does exact ranks, you should go ahead and report your exact class rank on the applications. Doing so will give the admissions committee the most accurate information about your academic performance relative to your peers.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.