<p>DS took the ACT in February and his composite was 28: english 29, math 27, reading 31, science 26, and combined english writing 27- writing 8.</p>
<p>DS retook the ACT in June and his composited was 32: english 35, math 31, reading 33, science 28, combined writing/english 30 The issue is that he got a 6 on his writing:(</p>
<p>DS will be applying to pharmacy schools- University of Toledo, Findlay, and Ohio Northern.</p>
<p>Here are my questions:
1. Should he report both testing date scores?
2. Will the 6 hurt him? The colleges say must submit writing from 1 test but they say they don't use it in making a decision. Is this true?<br>
3. He is happy with the 32. Should he retake it and hope to get his writing score up? </p>
<p>Pharmacy school is harder to get into. Does it look better to only submit the 32 test or does it look better to show how he improved from a 28 to a 32?</p>
<p>Schools will usually look at the highest scores so the 32 is all that will count (hopefully!). Others may actually breakup the scores into the sections and then look at the highest ones. It depends on each schools’ policy. I would go to their websites and see what it is. Based on that, make the decision to send one or both (if you can even do that… I was under the impression that there was no such thing as “score choice” for the ACT).</p>
<p>ACT has always allowed you to send the score/scores you want. I don’t think that most schools are really looking at the writing, so I’d just send the 32. Or, better yet, consider having him take it again in Sept.</p>
<p>I believe the Collegeboard websited shows exactly whether writing is considered for admission. Each school does look at it differently. I asked my son to call the admission offices to find out what their policy is, and frankly most schools encouraged him to send in both seatings, which would double the cost. I asked my son to find out specifically as to whether the school takes the highest subsections to mix and match between seatings, only looks at the composite score, or looks at subsection scores from the highest composite score. Then he inquired about the writing score. We ended up sending in scores from 2 seatings to a few schools, and scores from one seating at other schools. I hope this helps.</p>
<p>I would ask the colleges directly. Some will take the highest composite, others will take the individual scores and come up with the “highest” number. When the colleges assemble the highest number it enhances their stats in addition to whatever glow the student receives. I would simply ask and then react accordingly. ACT allows you to select what sittings (one or more) you wish to send. My S2 had two sittings with similar composites but one sitting was quite high toward the English/reading side and the other was high toward the math/science, writing was the same and composite was only one point difference. The colleges that took the highest english/reading and the highest math/science of course came up with a much higher composite. Just ask.</p>
<p>DS (usually very good on testing) had a 6 in ACT essay. Never figured out why. The low % concerned me a lot until I figured out only the top students good at writing opt for to take that part. </p>
<p>He did retake it without writing, but the top schools he applied to wanted SAT or ACT with writing. Luckily SAT scores were great.</p>
<p>In retrospect and with CC followup discussions, we probably should have let him take the ACT retry with writing. It sounds like composite score is the main thing looked at.</p>
<p>Yes, I do believe most colleges are primarily concerned with the composite. My kids tells me the writing is formulaic and the way to get the higher score is to write “the way they (the test graders) want.” I told them it was a good lesson because people (teachers/profs/employers) do have preferences regarding writing style. I told them it was a “handy” skill to understand that and be able to adapt.</p>
<p>Per the ACT website it should be possible for GC to get scanned-in essay online. But ours never figured it out. We think son’s issue might have had to do with an uninspiring prompt (which was something like value of atheletics in school - he is a musician).</p>
<p>Ask the schools how they use the score; I doubt that the writing score matters nearly so much as the other portions. No one writes up to their potential in half an hour.</p>
<p>I don’t know how well the collegedata.com website is viewed here on CC, but I have been using it to fill in some of the blanks in the spreadsheets that will go in the Big Binder Of Doom.</p>
<p>If the school reports how they use the writing ACT portion, they will report it on the site. Some of them use the essay part as a cross reference to your written essay, apparently, so as to ferret out cheating. Others don’t report.</p>
<p>You could call the school and ask, would probably be the most accurate way to find out how they use them.</p>
<p>My DD got a 34 composite but only a 7 and then 8 upon retake on the writing if I remember correctly. She was very upset with that. When results came, they said something about no arguements for opposing viewpoint? I believe prompt was something like the one mentioned. “Importance of gym class in school day”. DD took one viewpoint and defended. She was taught to only defend one side in an essay. The comment from the score report seemed to suggest they wanted both sides presented. </p>
<p>There are threads here on CC that talk about how to get a better score on your writing section. Read them over if interested but I would go with the score DS got. DD did great on admissions and merit offers so the writing score seemed not to matter.</p>
<p>All the scores of the second test surpassed those of the first, except for writing.
I would not submit both unless the school required it. There’s no harm in testing again, or trying the SAT.<br>
I’d want to put my best foot forward.</p>
<p>To Coloradomom- I’m surprised student wasn’t inspired by that topic- I am guessing you mean student was hard-pressed to find great value in sports since he isn’t involved in them. But he might have chosen to write on the little value offered by athletics as his angle, so I’m surprised he wasn’t inspired. Sounds like an opportunity for a kid that might have little interest in sports to really “shout out” about other things and why they are important to him. We often think of “the value of sports” meaning - why they are great. But that isn’t the only perspective of that phrase. A value can be high or low. Student could argue the value is very small, and then present his reasoning.</p>
<p>I believe that he will good with his last score. I know someonw with lower one who got into UT Pharmacy. However, I do not know her writing score. I do not know if you have to report both. I would contact Ad. Com of Toledo Pharmacy directly with this and possibly other questions. I am not sure how one can improve writing / reading. My D. has always had problem with Reading score in all test from elementary thru ACT. She is naturally good writer. These skills are not like math / science. Also, it looks better when ACT is not taken many times. But, it is ultimately your S’s decision.</p>
<p>I am confused. I thought Pharmacy was a graduate school progam and required a Bachelor’s degree first. Admission to graduate schools are based upon performance in undergraduate studies and in this case the MCAT. </p>
<p>It would seem that your child needs to apply to a 4 year college to secure a Bachelor’s degree perhaps in Chemistry and/or Biology first. </p>
<p>Some schools accept students into graduate programs as freshmen. They just have to maintain a certain GPA or may have a minimum score they have to meet on graduate admissions’ test.</p>
<p>Ohio Northern has direct admit to 6 year program as freshman as long as grades are kept up.</p>
<p>He has very good english and reading scores - I think schools would look at those and say writing was a fluke. </p>
<p>It is amazing to me that D took ACT 4 years ago when “writing” section was newish and schools weren’t taking it too seriously and now 4 years later, they still aren’t (often). Doesn’t seem to be a very well put together part of the test.</p>