ACT weight compared to SAT

Applying to College
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<p>An ACT 32 is at the 99th percentile.</p>

<p>[ACT</a> Score Information: National Ranks for Test Scores and Composite Score](<a href=“ACT Test Scores | ACT Scoring | ACT”>ACT Test Scores | ACT Scoring | ACT)</p>

<p>Also relevant is the fact that traditionally ACT-focused states generally do worse on the PSAT, which is likely only partially attributable to their being focused on the ACT.</p>

<p>That isn’t why.</p>

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<p>Submit the ACT. We come from a heavily SAT state (NY). My son took the ACT 1 time, got a 33 on it and was done. He was accepted ED at a top LAC. This is one thing you should just mark off your list and stop stressing about. That is a great score, puts you in the zone for any college in the country. Make sure you take SAT2s, if you haven’t already. Good luck.</p>

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<p>As to the perfect SAT score being rarer than the perfect ACT, it is not a factor of anything but the additon of the writing section and score into the total. Before writing became part of the test the percentage of test takers who took the SAT that made a perfect score on the SAT (1600) was annually about 4 times the percentage of test takers who took the ACT and made a perfect score (36) on the ACT.</p>

<p>It never ceases to amaze how many base their differences of opinion on SAT v ACT tests on the presumption that those who live in the middle of the country and mostly take the ACT are dumber than east and west coasters who mostly take the SAT. It is also interesting that in the last few years there is actually a group of colleges that have gone from not stating a preference for which test score you submit to stating a preference: the Cal Poly’s which are in that west coast state where the SAT dominates – they now have a preference for the ACT.</p>

<p>Also, as to Princeton, it did have a preference for the SAT until about 6 years ago and dropped it and said it would no longer treat the tests differently for admission.</p>

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<p>Actually, I recall seeing statistics on this forum where “midwesterners” outperformed “costers” in terms of median SAT/ACT. I don’t know about the extremes, but saying that midwesterners are dumber is an erroneous generalization.</p>

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<p>Your link appears to be mistaken. Please see the official report: <a href=“http://www.act.org/news/data/09/pdf/National2009.pdf[/url]”>http://www.act.org/news/data/09/pdf/National2009.pdf&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I am not clear on what you’re saying.</p>

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<p>Silver…your link (an ACT link) is based only on the scores of 2009 students. </p>

<p>My link (an ACT link) is based on three years of scores. National Ranks for Test Scores and Composite Score (based on ACT-tested high school graduates from 2007, 2008, and 2009 and reported on score reports during 2009–2010)</p>

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<p>Isn’t this a classic argument?
Drusda, I really like the point you make about the rarity of 36’s compared SAT’s before the writing was added.
From what I understand, excellent ACT score = excellent SAT score, am I wrong?
Anyway, you can even use a statistical conversion chart if you’re in doubt.
Here’s collegeboard’s <a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/act-sat-concordance-tables.pdf[/url]”>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/act-sat-concordance-tables.pdf&lt;/a&gt;, here’s ACT’s [ACT-SAT</a> Concordance](<a href=“http://www.act.org/aap/concordance/index.html]ACT-SAT”>http://www.act.org/aap/concordance/index.html).</p>

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Probably partially political correctness and partially they don’t care anymore. Does the SAT reveal more unique info than the ACT does (most people would agree that good students = good ACT scorers)? Probably. Will it kill a school to admit a student who is a very hard worker but won’t necessarily be a prodigy alumni? No. Intelligence is becoming scarcer a direct factor of success, especially at the upper echelon of intelligence levels. Colleges want brilliant alumni, yes, but they above all want successful ones. Those who have drive and ambition and have a fair amount of intelligence are primed for success as much as anybody else.</p>

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<p>Here is an additional one for those who are interested: [Estimated</a> Relationship between ACT Composite Score and SAT CR+M+W Score](<a href=“http://www.act.org/aap/concordance/estimate.html]Estimated”>http://www.act.org/aap/concordance/estimate.html).</p>

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<p>I suppose our use of the present tense in describing the percentile indicated to me that we were attempting to describe what the percentile is, not what it used to be; the best way to accomplish this is by using the most recent data.</p>

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<p>You will have to check the Score Choice policies if you want to send SAT Subject Test scores, which many of the top schools require. Some require you to send the SAT scores if you send Subject Test scores.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/746094-no-score-choice-allowed-can-you-submit-subject-test-scores-w-o-sat-scores.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/746094-no-score-choice-allowed-can-you-submit-subject-test-scores-w-o-sat-scores.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>My S also had a 35 ACT and not-quite-as-good SAT score (2220). He sent only the ACT score (and subject test scores) and was accepted ED to his top school (Wash U in St. Louis). Had he not been accepted ED, at all of the other schools he would have submitted only the ACT + Subject Test scores and not the SAT scores, where permitted.</p>

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<p>The coasts do have some very high performing high schools. They also have the very, very, lowest.</p>

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<p>There is probably a bias against the ACT and it is probably dependent upon the school. If you look at the schools that accept the ACT in lieu of the SAT and SAT subject tests (like Yale, Penn, Duke, Brown) you will see a higher number of people getting accepted with ACT scores.</p>

<p>For me my SAT was significantly worse than my ACT score. I got a 2070 and a 34. Not surprisingly I was rejected at Princeton but got accepted into Yale.</p>

<p>Even though I am done with the admissions process, I still find it kind of ridiculous how this website gives the impression that every person in the world got a 2200+ or a 34+ on the ACT.</p>

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<p>I would suggest that you send your ACT score.</p>