Final answer:
The mistake the person is making is assuming that being ranked first guarantees admission to a top law school, neglecting other important admissions criteria like LSAT scores and personal statements, as well as the potentially complex psychological impacts of expectations and labels on students as demonstrated in Jeremy Iversen's research.
Step-by-step explanation:
The person who says "you’re sure to get into a top law school; you were ranked first in our class in college!" may be making an erroneous assumption about admissions processes for law schools. While being ranked first in your class is an impressive achievement that could enhance an application, law school admissions also heavily weigh other factors such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores, personal statements, and letters of recommendation. Furthermore, the assumption ignores the fact that every applicant has a unique set of experiences and qualities that may affect their admission beyond class rank.
Such a statement also simplifies the complexities of admission decisions and fails to take into account instances where students may face challenges despite previous success, as evidenced in the case of Jeremy Iversen's research in High School Confidential. Teachers labeling students can have significant psychological effects, potentially causing students to 'live down to' negative labels, and admissions committees are aware that a student's past performance isn't the sole indicator of future success.