Reporting class rank on Common App?

Hey everyone! So, I'm starting to work on my Common App, and I noticed there's a section for class rank. My school does report class rank, but I'm not sure if I need to input it. What are your thoughts on including class rank in the Common App? Will it help or hurt my chances? Thanks in advance!

Hello! While your school does report class rank, it's not mandatory for you to include it in your Common App. Colleges that require or consider class rank will most likely have access to that information through your high school transcript. However, adding your class rank could provide further context on your academic performance, particularly if you hold a high rank within your class.

If your class rank is strong and places you as a top-performing student, reporting it in the Common App could potentially strengthen your application. It could help admissions officers understand your achievements in comparison to your classmates. On the other hand, if your class rank is not as high as you might hope and you feel it could paint your application negatively, you may choose to forgo mentioning it.

Always be aware that admissions offices look at various factors, so, in the end, the decision to include or exclude class rank will be up to you, based on how you think it fits within the context of your overall application package, and is unlikely to be the determining factor for your application one way or another. Best of luck with your applications!