Confused about the term Valedictorian

This might sound a bit silly but what does 'valedictorian' mean exactly? I've heard it thrown around a lot but never really got a clear explanation. Does it hold any significance when applying to college?

Certainly, there's no such thing as a silly question when it comes to understanding terms related to high school and college. A "valedictorian" is a student who is recognized for achieving the highest academic standing in their graduating class. This title is traditionally awarded to the student with the top GPA at the time of graduation, although the exact criteria can vary from school to school.

In regard to college admissions, being a valedictorian can be beneficial but it's not the only factor that colleges consider. It demonstrates consistent high academic achievement, which is something colleges like to see. However, keep in mind that colleges also look at a slew of other factors, such as your course rigor, SAT or ACT scores, extracurricular involvement—especially those where you have shown deep involvement or leadership—and your essays.

Remember though, colleges are increasingly noting that they want to see students with a special depth of experience in one or two activities (i.e. "spikes"), not just a smorgasbord of activities. So while being valedictorian is academically prestigious, it will be treated as one of many factors in the holistic admissions process.

Moreover, many schools are moving away from the valedictorian system or don't rank students at all. If your school doesn't have a valedictorian title, don't worry. Colleges understand that different high schools have different systems and they mainly look at your transcript to inform themselves about your academic performance.