ACTs in September

Test Preparation
1

<p>As many of you already know, ACT only allows testing in selected states in September.</p>

<p>"The September 24, 2005, test date is available only in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington."</p>

<p>Since I live in Massachusetts, the closest states to me that offer ACT testing are either Pennsylvania or Maryland. (Yeah, REAL close..)..</p>

<p>If I don't take this september testing, I'll only have one more chance (October) to retake my ACTs. I want as many chances as possible, so this is a problem. I am one of those people who do significantly better on ACT than the SATs, so I need to take the ACTs. It's not a coincidence that I'm applying to a lot of mid-western schools.</p>

<p>Now, I'm thinking:</p>

<p>Is it worth going to PA to take this ACT test?</p>

<p>Monetary dilemmas:</p>

<p>$30 to take the test
$80 for an overnight hotel
$110 for roundtrip airfare (go southwest airlines ^_^)
(or $80 for roundtrip trainfare)
(or $40 for roundtrip gas fare)</p>

<p>That's a lot of money for a TEST.</p>

<p>I also need to find a way to convince my parents to let me go to PA (alone, probably) to take this test. <em>Thinks and requests advice.</em></p>

2

<p>Probably even the inconvenience of flying, staying in an unfamiliar environment/bed might adversely affect your testing perfomance. It might just be me, but I wouldn't want any surprises the day before an important test like: "We don't have any records of your hotel reservation..." (Actually happened once).</p>

<p>:)</p>

3

<p>Well, you have one more chance to take the exam in December. I'm in the same boat, however, but I think it's unfair to students in all of the other non-testing states.</p>

4

<p>polaris746,</p>

<p>I too live in MA, and I've already signed up for the test in PA. This way, I can test in September and October.</p>

<p>The way I look at it is going to PA for one night might affect where I go to college for four years, so I'll take the sacrifice. </p>

<p>I'm taking the train.</p>

5

<p>Where in PA are you taking the test? Are you going straight to Philly?</p>

6

<p>Isn't the December 10th exam in time for RD?</p>

7

<p>For RD, yes. Not for ED or EA. Might be barely in time for ED II.</p>

8

<h2>I don't understand they won't test in New York and well--Mass. for that matter.</h2>

<p>Polaris, what have you been doing to prep?</p>

9

<p>I plan on driving from my home state of Minnesota to Illinois (about 300 miles) to be able to take the ACT an extra time in September. Being in a strange place doesn’t really affect my ability to sleep, but if it does I would advise against doing this. However, if you think you will be able to do your best, you are financially capable of taking on the expense, and (most importantly) you actually WANT to then I would advise you to go for it.
P.S. I agree that it is completely unfair to offer extra test dates to some people and not to others. I wonder what the rationale behind this policy is.</p>

10

<p>You can actually take a test in a state in which you are not a resident?....really?...well, there's the ACT in October across the country, right? There are precious few colleges I would fly and stay overnight for, the costs are insane. Why would you do this for a standarized test?</p>

11

<p>Is your score really going to change between September and October anyways? I'd just stay home and take 2 practice tests instead from the Real ACT book, saves you a crisp 150 bucks.</p>

<p>Although I write this while I reside in Sunny California..:)</p>

12

<p>My dad has denied me the permission of travelling to another state to take the ACT again. What also makes me angry is that they only offer the test in October and December - so if you blow your chances in October you can't apply early decision.</p>

13

<p>I'm too afraid to ask my dad, as the answer will most likely be "no."</p>

14

<p>if u do go with it, make sure u get a hell of a score man.. i wouldnt want to spend so much time and money on something that doesnt work out.. be ready to work your butt off if you are willing to go through with this.. best of luck</p>