Hi everyone, recently I heard the term 'salutatorian' tossed around in my school. What does it mean exactly? Is it like a distinction given to graduating students? Every detail will be appreciated!
Hello! A Salutatorian is a term used in high schools and colleges to recognize a student who has the second highest grade point average (GPA) in the graduating class. It's a very prestigious title, as it indicates outstanding academic achievement.
There's often some variation in how schools determine who will be the Salutatorian, but it is typically based on GPA from all four years of high school (or college). Schools may consider weighted GPAs—which take into account the difficulty level of the courses—versus unweighted GPAs, which do not.
In addition to receiving recognition, the Salutatorian often has the opportunity to give a speech during the graduation ceremony, just before the Valedictorian—who has the highest GPA—does. The speech given by the Salutatorian is traditionally called the salutatory address.
Holding the title of Salutatorian can also be beneficial when applying for college scholarships, and can be a nice addition to a college application. This distinction can show strong academic ability and is often indicative of hard work, resilience, and dedication towards studies—an impression that can often impress college admissions officers.
Hope this clears up your confusion!
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