Hi guys, I got a 34 ACT on my first sitting. I had taken a prep course for SAT/ACT and had studied on my own for it as well. I want to be able to get top merit scholarships bc right now I have only enough in my college fund to pay for undergrad. So I want to be able to get scholarships of 20-30k per year from top 50 universities and LACs. Would a 35 change my chances of getting these? And how hard is it to raise a 34 to a 35. I had a (35E, 35CR, 32M, 32S). I am in multivariable calc as a junior, so I feel pretty confident I can raise my math score up.
No, 34,35,36 are all 99th percentile. Spend your time on something you have a passion for.
No, raising your ACT from 34 to 35 will not impact your chances of big merit aid from top schools. You got the score you need…take the time you would have used studying and put it toward other parts of your resume such as keeping top grades and gaining depth and leadership in an EC you love.
…but will impact your chances is that many of the top universities don’t give much merit aid, and some (esp the top-top ones) don’t give any at all. Go to section H2A on the Common Data Set for the colleges that you are interested in to see how much non-need based aid they give and how many students get it, then figure out how competitive you are stats-wise.
Colleges use ‘merit’ money to woo students that they would really like to have, so figure out who that would be most likely be for you. Many colleges have specific things that they like (eg, Vandy seems to reward really high test scores). There are also the super-selective named merit scholarships.
Your score could drop too, and if you are applying to elite schools, some will require you to send all your scores. Move on to other things.
If your ACT score does drop, you can simply delete it.
I would retake it for merit. BU, Northeastern, and other similar ranked schools are more generous in the 35 range.
You don’t get ANY merit at top 20 “national universities” and few top 20 LACs. Keep that in mind
You can request to delete an ACT score but it takes time to complete the process.
The process normally can be completed within 2-8 weeks.
Today is March 29. OP is a Junior. Early applications are generally due Oct.
That’s 6 months from now. Plenty of time to delete.
I wonder why the above posters talk about “deleting” a lower score from an ACT test-sitting. Perhaps that is a option for which I am not aware. Anyway, ACT allows students to select which ACT (all or even just one) scores to send to colleges, from whichever test-sittings they choose. So, if you study hard, retake the ACT and then score lower, just don’t send the results from that lower-scored test date.
Personally, if you have the time, money and wish to, why not try for a higher test score?
^Deleting the scores from a National test date (Saturday) is totally an option. You can actually see your scores, then delete them if you don’t like them.
But if you choose to delete, you have to delete all the scores from a given Month. For example, you can’t delete just English, but keep Math, Reading and Science.
@MinnesotaDadof3 , but some schools explicitly require you send ALL ACT or SAT scores to them. If you send only one of two ACT scores, you are essentially lying to them. Whereas, if you delete a score (which, honestly, I never knew you could do either), you cannot send it and you are not lying to them, perhaps. A lawyerly distinction that would give me some discomfort though.
Do you really think most colleges care if you delete or hold back certain scores? Some do, but most don’t care.
If you have a good GPA, good ECs, good application, good essays, and good ACT/SAT scores, all they will care about is can you pay the $200k+ tuition without failing or dropping out midway.
College is big business.
For admissions purposes yes I think they do care, or they would not say to send them all. Now, as to how they know if an applicant does not send them all, you got me. Perhaps ACT or College Board tips them off?
If you are going to apply to any of the top 10 engineering programs and your math subscore is not 35 or 36, I would re-take it. Otherwise don’t bother unless you have lots of extra time.
That being said, my son scored a 33 and retook it, and got a 36. He only studied for a few weeks. It helped him be admitted to Vanderbilt, Rice, and Michigan engineering - and he was mentioned in the local paper along with other 36 scores, and he had some more interesting interviews when we visited NMF schools, so that was something.