What do all valedictorians have in common?

Everyone remembers their class valedictorian: perfect grades, perfect test scores and in some cases, perfect hair.

What makes a great valedictorian?

With that in mind, the key to a great valedictory speech is to keep it simple, short (ten minutes is perfect), mention lots of people by name, tell stories, and practice it so much that you don't have to read it. You want to deliver it like you're having an animated chat with a close friend.

Do valedictorians tend to fail?

Do valedictorians tend to fail? The research, published by Boston College researcher Karen Arnold, showed that while nearly all the valedictorians did well, precisely none were standout successes. Though 90% were professionals and 40% reached the highest tier in their fields, there were no visionaries in the group.

What should I look for in a valedictorian?

The most common method of selection is typically based upon the highest grade point average. Some institutions confer the title on the class member chosen to deliver the final graduation address, regardless of the speaker's academic credentials.

How well do valedictorians do in life?

“There is little debate that high school success predicted college success. Nearly 90 percent [of valedictorians followed in one study] are now in professional careers with 40 percent in the highest tier jobs. They are reliable, consistent, and well-adjusted, and by all measures the majority have good lives.

Brutally Honest Valedictorian Regrets Being Top of the Class

What is the average IQ of a valedictorian?

The top (highest grade) students usually have IQs in the 120–130 range.

Do you have to be smart to be valedictorian?

Great students are not innately intelligent, they understand they can develop and grow their academic prowess like any skill. Valedictorians are not born smart, they are developed in the classroom. They are those 'roll the sleeves up, gear down, and grind' kind of students.

How hard is it to be a valedictorian?

The title of valedictorian is used to distinguish indivduals who have achieved the highest level of academic excellence. Students who earn an unweighted 4.0 GPA, through the seventh semester of high school, will receive valedictorian designation.

Is being valedictorian a big deal?

Along with acknowledging academic success, being the valedictorian of your class also opens opportunities. Many colleges award those given the title of valedictorian with scholarships and even if someone is not planning on attending college, the title will still look good on a resume.

Do colleges care if you are valedictorian?

Being named valedictorian or salutatorian does not factor into college admissions, because these honors are not determined until the end of your senior year of high school.

Where do most valedictorians end up?

Nearly 90 percent are now in professional careers with 40 percent in the highest tier jobs. They are reliable, consistent, and well-adjusted, and by all measures the majority have good lives.

Can a school have 2 valedictorians?

New Trend: More Than One Valedictorian

At some schools, in fact, over dozens of students qualify for the honor. At Stratford High School near Houston, 30 students were named valedictorians for the class of 2010. Schools recognize multiple valedictorians to reduce the pressure and competition among students.

Are valedictorians all 4 years?

Yes, the valedictorian title is based on all four years.

Typically, the title will be determined through the weighted GPA of all four years of school.

What are the top 3 graduates called?

The highest academic distinction is summa cum laude, followed by magna cum laude and cum laude.

What do valedictorians talk about?

A valedictorian speech should include highlights, lessons learned, people who deserve thanks, and remembrance of anyone who may have died. Wrap up your speech with something motivational. What should I talk about in a valedictorian speech? In your valedictorian speech, talk about the shared experiences of your class.

Can there be 3 valedictorian?

There shall be one valedictorian and one salutatorian for all the graduating classes. However, in case of a tie between two candidates, both may be declared valedictorians and/or salutatorians. 3.

Do valedictorians get rich?

So Karen Arnold did research at Boston College looking at the success levels of valedictorians. And, In general, high school valedictorians do well but they don't actually reach the highest level of success metrics. They don't become the billionaires.

What is the hardest school to get into?

Harvard University — 3.19%

With a record-low admission rate of just 3.19% for the class of 2026, Harvard currently ranks as the most difficult school to get into.

Do valedictorians get money?

While the scholarship award for valedictorians varies from school to school, the award can be a significant amount of money. Some valedictorian scholarships will often be awarded as an academic or leadership-based award rather than a financial aid award.

Is valedictorian just based on grades?

Valedictorian doesn't just depend on your grades. Because your weighted GPA is typically the metric that will qualify you for the honor, you'll also need to take a challenging course load, the most challenging one available to you. That means plenty of honors and AP or IB courses.

What is the highest GPA ever?

It Depends on the Scale

A GPA higher than 5.0 is rare, but school point systems are occasionally structured so that students taking advanced classes can rack up bonus points. One student even managed to land a stunning 10.03 GPA by taking 17 advanced classes at a school that awarded bonus points.

What is the highest honor roll?

Cum laude grade point average estimates: gpa for cum laude - 3.5 to 3.7; gpa for magna cum laude - 3.8 to 3.9; gpa for summa cum laude - 4.0+.

Are valedictorians the most successful?

The research, published by Boston College researcher Karen Arnold, showed that while nearly all the valedictorians did well, precisely none were standout successes. Though 90% were professionals and 40% reached the highest tier in their fields, there were no visionaries in the group.

Can a valedictorian get into Harvard?

How many valedictorians does Harvard accept? If you're a high-school valedictorian applying to Harvard, you have only a 25 percent chance of being admitted. Admission is denied to 75 percent of the high-school valedictorians who apply to Harvard every year.

Can you still be valedictorian with an A?

On an unweighted scale, GPAs only go up to a 4.0, which is equivalent to an A in any class regardless of level. In this case, the valedictorian could be a student who was in lower level classes but earned all A's.