ACT with writing too low?

Applying to College
1

<p>I applied to Penn and scored a 27 Composite and a horrible 8 on the writing. According to CollegeBoard (<a href="http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=1464&profileId=6)%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=1464&profileId=6)&lt;/a>, Penn's middle 50% for ACT composite is 28-33 so I'm guessing I'm at least in the ballpark. Although, I'm not sure how recent those score ranges are and if my writing score is too low.</p>

2

<p><a href="http://www.admissionsug.upenn.edu/applying/profile.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.admissionsug.upenn.edu/applying/profile.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>ACT Middle 50% of accepted students: 31-34</p>

<p>so collegeboard is not really recent. penn's going to be a reach with a 27</p>

3

<p>Would you say it's a slight or huge reach if the rest of my application is good?</p>

<p>Also, on that same page on CollegeBoard, it states the most important, important, etc. admission factors. Are these accurate at all? Does anyone know how they got this info?</p>

4

<p>I'd think it would still be a huge reach. Any way you could retake?</p>

5

<p>Retaking this December. I was overwhelmed by the timing. Any tips for timing? Do you just give yourselves a minute for each problem and if it's taking too long, you just skip it? Really in need of some strategies here.</p>

<p>Anyhow, I think it would be too late for me to raise my ACT for Penn since I applied ED. I'm hoping ED will raise my chances.</p>

6

<p>eisd, tip for the ACT: perform triage. Whenever you look at problem, quickly determine which of three categories it falls into: doable, doable with some time, and impossible. Make two-three rounds for each section, doing the doables fist, spending whatever time left over for the more difficult ones, and then just randomly guessing on the ones you know you have no clue what to put down. Definitely skip problems that you don't know -- each problem is worth the same amount of weight and random guessing isn't penalized. Good luck with Penn.</p>

7

<p>take practice tests to determine what strategy works best for you. make sure you time yourself, and take the timing seriously. have a parent proctor you if it helps.</p>

8

<p>Is the writing score too low though?</p>

9

<p>yep. too low. aim for the double digits.</p>

10

<p>Well you said you already applied ED so is debating whether it's too low/too much of a reach really going to help now? It's really to say if Penn is a reach for you too since we don't know any of your other stats. If the rest of your app is good I wouldn't worry too much about the lower test score- good luck w/ Penn!!!</p>

11

<p>Even if you applied ED, it's important to get real so that you put the proper energy into other applications. Penn is a big reach with those scores.</p>

12

<p>OK, how can I improve my writing score? I did everything exactly the way Princeton Review outlined it and scored an 8. I was only missing one sentence from one of my argument paragraphs because time ran out.</p>

<p>Also, would Cornell be possible with these scores or should I look lower?</p>

13

<p>It's not just writing, it's the 27. Cornell is a reach. Even if you were in the 50% range, being at the bottom of it at a top school doesn't do much good without a hook as 60% of every class are hooked candidates.</p>