How to Become Valedictorian

How to Become a Valedictorian for School

A valedictorian is a very prestigious honor given to the student who is at the very top of his or her class. From the time students are old enough to understand what a valedictorian is, they may decide that this is a goal they want to achieve for themselves. However, becoming a valedictorian, or top student, is something few people can say they have achieved in their lifetime. Of course, this means that the road to becoming a valedictorian isn't an easy one, and if you're a student who wants this for yourself, prepare to work extremely hard.

College admissions like to see valedictorians with good grades and a great weighted GPA apply to their sessions. Many senior year students have a desire to apply for valedictorian, but not all schools hold the position anymore. Many schools offer a selection process for valedictorians, but some offer the position to the leading student in their class rank only. Straight A students aren’t always selected for valedictorian either, so check your school’s admissions process to see if you qualify for the position. If you are considering this position, then make sure you make your experience worth it for your graduation ceremony honor.

Why Do You Want to Be a Valedictorian?

If you want to know how to become valedictorian, then the first thing you need to ask yourself is "Why?" For some people, it's an external reason, like wanting to please their family. For others, it's an internal reason, like simply wanting the achievement for themselves. Sometimes, it's both. Whatever the reasons may be, you really should only pursue this goal if it's truly something you want. Otherwise, the stress can become too much. After all, you will be the one putting in most of the hard work and not the others, so do some reflection to see if this is right for you.

Work Hard From a Young Age

Once you've decided that this is, in fact, an important goal you want to set for yourself, it's time to buckle down. Most valedictorians start working hard from a very young age. If you want to get into the highest-level courses in high school, then you'll need to be in high-level courses from middle school. To get into those, you'll have to make yourself known in elementary school. Of course, there's always room for improvement. If you're not doing well in one subject in sixth grade, that doesn't mean you can't be valedictorian. It just means you have to continue working hard.

Some things you'll have to do as you grow as a student are simple things, like handing your work in on time and making sure it's correct. It also involves taking the time to review topics that you don’t quite understand and meeting with your teacher until you feel confident in the material. You'll have to make sure you spend more time studying than watching TV, and you may have to be willing to give up some things you enjoy doing in the meantime. This all starts with building good habits and having some self-discipline. Figure out what will motivate you to work hard, whether it's rewarding yourself with a treat every so often, or taking a break from studying. It will also be important to seek advice and support from family and friends, so they can help make sure you stay on track.

Get Involved in Extracurriculars

In addition to obtaining a standard valedictorian GPA average, you will also have to get involved in extracurricular activities. This is a great way to show your school (and yourself) how you choose to spend your time outside the classroom. To choose an extracurricular activity you can excel in, find things you're interested in and that can help you grow as a person. Of course, there are certain extracurriculars that prospective valedictorians tend to enroll in more than others, like music, language club, honor society, debate team or Model UN, just to name a few. Whatever you choose, make sure you do your best to stick with it and ask the club leader how to get involved in a leadership position. Also, try to choose extracurriculars that don't conflict with one another timewise. Study groups are another great way to boost your involvement with others at school, while working towards your grades.

Make Yourself Stand Out in Class

Speaking of leadership positions, if you're wondering how to become valedictorian, then you must make yourself stand out from your peers by being an exceptional student, one that teachers and other students can rely on. Is there a position you can apply for in your class, or in a club you're in? Take it upon yourself to apply for the role. If you want to be chosen for valedictorian, then you simply have to make yourself unique in the eyes of the administration. Get to know your teachers well, so you can go to them when you need help, and you can also look to them to write you references if needed.

Take High-Level Classes

If you've been working hard since you were a young student, then it's likely you're already quite accustomed to being in advanced classes. You're probably familiar with the demands of these kinds of classes, whether that be numerous assignments, tests, projects and overall time studying. But, when you get into high school, these high-level classes may be a lot different and more difficult to get used to. And, if you want to be valedictorian, you will have to keep pushing forward so that you can be placed in the highest level classes at your school as a junior and senior. By getting into these classes and demonstrating that you're able to dedicate consistent time and effort to them, you'll be on the right path to becoming valedictorian.

Some students even take community college classes if they've already exceeded the highest levels at their school. These high level classes can be in the categories of English, science, math or history, to name a few. AP courses, or Advanced Placement courses, allow high schoolers to get a head start on college classes within their high school experience and courses taken. These courses can often influence class rank and stance in college applications as it heightens a student’s grade point average and makes them higher in their graduating class ranking. While most freshman year students can’t take higher level classes, they can take advanced classes to get a head start on their journey to higher education.

Maintaining a Valedictorian GPA Average

While it's extremely important to get into honors and AP classes (preferably, all AP), you'll also need to do really well in those classes in order to obtain and maintain the typical valedictorian average. Even though the criteria for choosing a valedictorian is different at every school, it's safe to say that you must have one of the highest GPAs in the school (in addition to all your other achievements) in order to achieve this goal. In general, though, the valedictorian GPA average tends to be a 4.0, or an A, depending on which scale your school uses.

Overall, it just needs to be the highest out of your peers. Therefore, if every single person in your class has below a 3.6, then you could still theoretically be selected as valedictorian with a 3.8 GPA. If you're struggling to maintain this average in some of your classes, then don't be afraid to reach out to your teachers for extra help. Test scores, like those in the ACT scores, can also reflect your GPA and class grades. Make sure to look at both your unweighted GPA and weighted GPA when applying.

Find Out Your School’s Criteria for Choosing Valedictorian

In addition to having that perfect GPA, you also need to discover what the other requirements are at your particular school if you're wondering how to become valedictorian. Though most schools tend to require the same criteria, such as being involved in extracurriculars, having a high GPA, taking on leadership positions and more, your school may also require some other criteria. Find out from teachers or other administrators what those requirements are. Perhaps you have to invent something, start a new club at your school or volunteer. Check these when you first enter high school and keep checking, again and again, to make sure there aren't any changes. You wouldn't want to discover at the last minute that you've missed something you needed.

Take Care of Your Health

If you're pursuing valedictorian, then it's likely you might get a little overworked from time to time. With extra hours being put into your day and many extracurricular activities to attend, it can be difficult to find time for doing basic things like sleeping or just taking a rest. This can have the potential to make you sick or cause you to feel very stressed and anxious. Therefore, if you're interested in becoming valedictorian, it's necessary that you take time to recharge your batteries. Whether this means taking a day off here and there or making sure to get proper care and rest when you're sick, you need to prioritize these things just as much as anything else. Mental health is important to keep on track for becoming valedictorian as well, as stress, anxiety and other mental disorders can arise from the class load and GPA needs.

Surround Yourself with Supportive People

Part of taking care of your health means surrounding yourself with the right people. If you're working hard to become valedictorian, there's a chance that you'll have very limited time to socialize. But socializing is important. It helps you to stay positive and build skills that are required in every other aspect of your life. Choose carefully who you want to socialize with, as you should pick friends that encourage you to reach your goals and not take your attention away from those goals.

In addition to spending time with your encouraging peers, you should also reach out to adults who can help and support you as much as possible, especially if you're feeling a little off. Talk to social workers, guidance counselors, your parents as well as aunts and uncles who want you to succeed and be happy.

Valedictorian vs. Salutatorian

Even though you may have valedictorian as your ultimate goal, perhaps you're okay with achieving second-best too, which is salutatorian. In fact, those who shoot for the moon may be just as pleased with landing among the stars. If you don't achieve valedictorian, there's a chance that you will still achieve one of the highest honors a student can achieve in high school, which is salutatorian. Typically, a salutatorian delivers the opening remarks at graduation and gets loads of praise for all the hard work put in over the last four years of high school.

Things to Consider

Being named valedictorian is truly an accomplishment. However, considering in most cases only one student can be valedictorian, you also need to come to terms with the fact that there's always a chance you may not become valedictorian, either. This can be a real disappointment when you've put in so much work over the last four years. But don't get down on yourself. If you don't get named a valedictorian, or even salutatorian, you've still worked extremely hard, and you should be proud of yourself. Hopefully, you were able to learn a lot about yourself throughout the process, and you now know that you're capable of overcoming any obstacles that come your way.

At the same time, many of those who are pursuing the title of valedictorian are doing so because they think it will help them to get into the school they want. But if this is your reason for wanting the title, think again. Being named valedictorian (or salutatorian) doesn't necessarily guarantee you a spot in the school of your dreams. Likewise, just because you're not valedictorian, doesn't mean you can't get into your dream school, either. When colleges look at your application, they are looking at different qualities from what your high school is looking at when it comes to choosing valedictorian. Remember that there are no guarantees.

Internships and volunteer experiences also look great on college applications and in valedictorian selections in your class. These experiences from those in high school also get recognized by higher level colleges, like ivy league schools or selective colleges, for how a student’s work ethic is. Students in their last year that have the highest grade point average in their class are often offered intern and volunteer opportunities throughout their high school career, along with other high school students with high grades. Community service opportunities allow students to learn different skills from classes, and these opportunities also allow them to grow in new ways outside of the classroom.

What Is the Valedictorian Speech?

If you do get chosen to be valedictorian, that's an absolutely amazing honor that only a few people can say they've achieved. It's so rare that many people can't even say that they know a valedictorian themselves. But with great honor comes responsibility, and that's why you'll be required to give a valedictorian speech at some point in your commencement. What is the valedictorian speech? The speech can discuss your experiences, what you hope to do after graduation or it can tell a story that's inspiring to others.