Who Is A Valedictorian? And How Do You Become One?

Many high school students want to be valedictorians because it is a great honor. But it’s hard to do, and by definition, only one high school student in each class can do it. So, what does it take to be valedictorian in real life?

What does “Valedictorian” mean?

Most of the time, the valedictorian is the person in the class with the highest weighted GPA. That means that they need to not only get good grades but also take courses that are hard.

The valedictorian usually gives a speech at the graduation ceremony, and they may also get to wear special regalia.

Is it a Good Idea to Be Valedictorian?

Being named valedictorian is, of course, a very big deal. But it has some bad things about it. For one thing, it can cause a lot of stress and competition with other high-achieving students, which could make school a hostile place. Also, if you study all the time and don’t do anything else, you won’t have time for extracurricular activities or to hang out with your friends.

Also, remember that being valedictorian won’t hurt your chances of getting into your dream college because rankings aren’t finalized until the second semester of senior year, which is after the college admissions cycle.

Your activities, essays, unique hooks, and story are the parts of your application that will make you stand out. Some people think it’s better to have a slightly lower (but still competitive) class rank and have time to do things outside of school that interest you. This will also help you grow as a person and get ready for the world outside of school.

How to Get to the Top of Your Class

1. Start out by making a plan.

If you want to be first in your class when you graduate, you’ll need to start working on your goals as soon as possible. Work on making a plan for studying and getting your work done during your freshman year.

2. Study, study, study.

How you do in school will determine if you are valedictorian. They are also important if you want to get into a good college.

Most top schools use the Academic Index, a metric based on your GPA and scores on standardized tests, to get rid of applicants before they even look at the rest of their applications. If you have a good GPA, you’ll be more likely to make the cut. This means you need to study and study hard.

3. Take a lot of difficult classes.

You can’t just get good grades and be valedictorian. Usually, the honor is based on your weighted GPA, so you’ll also need to take the most difficult courses you can. That means taking a lot of AP and IB classes.

If you want to be at the top of your class, you might be tempted to take a class that is easier and will make sure you get an A.

But if you want to go to college, you need to show that you can handle a tough course load. If a student thinks they can get at least a B in a course, we tell them to take the more advanced version.

4. Get a study buddy.

No, this isn’t a strategy to “keep your enemies close.” Working with other people will be good for both of you. To make sure that you and your friends are all working hard, you could get a study partner or start a group that holds everyone accountable.

5. Don’t worry about asking for help.

The people who teach you want you to do well. You don’t have to be in trouble to ask for help. Many people will be happy to help. This is also true of tutoring: if you want to go from an A to an A+, you can always use a little extra help.

Still, you should put your mental health above everything else. It is not worth putting your health at risk to become valedictorian.

Our free chance engine looks at your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you how likely you are to get in and how you can improve your chances.

Develop your interests outside of school.

Extracurricular activities are a key part of getting into college. They are a key way to stand out from other applicants who have good grades. To get ready, spend your high school years outside the classroom working on your interests and getting better at them. Try to have at least a few “tier 1” and “tier 2” activities, which are very special or rare, as well as a few “tier 3” and “tier 4” activities.

Get to know your teachers and your guidance counselor well.

Yes, these are the people who will write letters of recommendation for you to colleges. But getting to know them will help you in other ways as well. For example, they can give you tips on how to get through high school and give you ideas for internships, jobs, and other opportunities you could pursue. They can also be your long-term guides and help you through college and beyond.

Get better at writing and telling stories.

Not everyone will be a writer for a living, but writing is a part of almost every job you can think of. To write a good and interesting college essay, you also need to improve your writing skills and learn how to tell a story.

Even if you don’t like writing very much, you should spend time getting better at it.

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