<p>I've taken the ACT 3 times- I've gotten 34, 32, 35 (In that order). I've just finished up my junior year. When I got back the 35, I was part extremely happy and part disappointed that I couldn't get that one little extra point I wanted. Now, here's the thing. Our school lets you take the ACT free of cost one time in your senior year. And both my parents and a lot of the people I've discussed this with think it's a good idea to retake it, do some studying (I didn't study all that much for it in the last 3 times I took it), and shoot for the 36. </p>
<p>However, I know some schools discourage taking tests like these a bunch of times cuz it makes you look like an obsessive robot with no life. For example, I'm kinda considering Yale and Harvard, and they both say they discourage more than 2 attempts.</p>
<p>Also, I have a question about the writing section of the ACT. I got a 9 on the essay when I got the 32, but it bumped up to a 12(perfect score) when I got the 35. Now, I don't have to take the essay part again, right? Do I get to keep my 12? Or do I have to take it again if I decide to test again?</p>
<p>Wait it a minute...you want to retake a 35?
C'mon...overachieving a little bit here...stay with the score</p>
<p>People won't care that you took the test four times b/c your scores are all really high.</p>
<p>And if you want to get into Harvard and Yale, which look down upon taking it twice, then don't. A 35 is excellent (a 32 is where the 99th percentile is)</p>
<p>You should probably make sure your SAT score is high if anything else.</p>
<p>omfg. you are actually going to retake a 35 for a 36. That's a bit overachieveing...</p>
<p>Don't retake and be happy with your score :P</p>
<h2>"You should probably make sure your SAT score is high if anything else."</h2>
<p>Why should he/she? Colleges only look at your top scores anyway.</p>
<p>for the retaking part, for acts doesn't it not matter at all as they only send out the score that you want them to send (unlike the sat which sends all your scores)? </p>
<p>do schools know how many times you've taken the act?</p>
<p>yeah,yeah,yeah, i know. i am a stupid overacheiver :P i had actually resolved to stop after my 3rd try, before i found out about my score, but my parents and my guidance counselour are telling me to go ahead and go for it. </p>
<p>i dunno. </p>
<p>But, silverpetal, I'm pretty sure all the ACT scores will get sent if you choose to send one, but most schools will take your highest.</p>
<p>Thanks alot for your input</p>
<p>The schools will only know which ACT scores you want them to know. Send only one...your highest. They won't know how many times you took to get it.</p>
<p>Fellow overachiever here... Hehe, I was actually in a similar situation (35 my first time). My English score (30) really bothered me for a while because I'd been doing a lot better on practice tests... anyway, after much deliberation, I decided not to retake. A 36 is really nice just for personal reasons, but to colleges, 35 and 36 are practically indistinguishable. Another reason I didn't retake was the money and time issue; I didn't want to pay or take more time to study (but seems like those aren't problems for you). Basically, retaking would just be to satisfy your ego... nothing wrong with that, but perhaps you have better things to do with your time? (SAT IIs? :p). I dunno, just think about it.</p>
<p>Oh, and ditto what quiltguru said; each ACT test date is sent separately, so you get to choose the scores that colleges see.</p>
<p>If you do decide to go for perfection, good luck with it ^.^</p>