ACT vs SAT for top tier's

<p>fml, "top tiers" I mean.</p>

<p>When you're applying to top tier schools (Duke, Johns Hopkins, etc) that are outside of your state, is it still okay to just submit ACT scores? The schools accept ACT plus writing, but a very small number of students do so. Does which one you submit affect your chances of being accepted? I made a 1940 on my SAT and 32 on my ACT, so I'd be much more inclined (unless I do better this next time around, of course) to just submit my ACT scores. I just want to know if this is a good idea. </p>

<p>Also, if you go to JHU or Duke, can you rank EC's, community service, and grades on importance on applications? grazie!</p>

<p>The schools readily accept ACT or SAT and do not consider one better than the other. Eastern schools (and west coast schools) tend to get far more students applying with SAT’s mainly becuase they get more applicants from their geographical region than elsewhere and the SAT is the test most high school students take in the east (the same is applicable to the west coast). In areas in the middle of the country where the ACT is the test usually taken, the opposite occurs with most submitting the ACT. Those geogrphical phenomena do not mean the colleges prefer one over the other.</p>

<p>You can definitely send the ACT w/ Writing in place of the SAT. If your ACT score is higher, you should definitely send it instead of the SAT. It won’t hurt your profile in any way- the tests are valued equally. </p>

<p>Some schools may also want you to send SAT Subject Test scores. Just gotta look into each schools requirements. This would be separate from the ACT/SAT requirement.</p>

<p>On most applications, there will be a number of spaces for you to list and describe your extra-curricular activities, and the application will usually recommend you rank them in order of importance to you. However I don’t think they really give much consideration to the order you rank them.</p>

<p>You won’t be able to flat out rank everything in any application though
(ex. 1. Sports… 2. Grades… 3. Service… 4. Working)</p>

<p>There is usually an “additional info” section though, which you could use to explain how you value that kinda stuff. There’s also often a place to expand on one activity in particular, where ideally you’d talk about your most important/interesting one.</p>