Is there a significant difference between a 33 and 34 ACT for top-20 schools? I understand that it’s only one point, but there seems to be a giant gap between the two scores in terms of admissions at top schools.
We’ve had three kids go through the process. According to our GC, you’ll have your application read at that score level anyway. -not a problem
The only place we’ve seen it make a difference is when applying for the medical scholars programs out there where the student is applying for undergrad and med school all at once. In that case, if our student fell below a 35, the advice was to retake the exam.
I’m not sure why PokeyJoe’s kids would be advised to take the exam over if the score feel below 35. That apparently was not based on any data suggesting that a 34 was not high enough. Studying for these exams takes a lot of time for some students. It seems to me that studying and retaking the exam by a student getting a 33 or 34 is a poor use of time. isn’t the student involved in important activities beyond the test. I’d think a better use of the time would be to invest it in activities or in academic work.
I don’t think there’s a huge difference. I have a 33 (34 superscored) and I never felt that my scores were inadequate, especially since I have excellent SAT subject tests scores.
I had a kid with a 32 get into Duke, Brown, Penn, JHU, UNC-Ch, Michigan, etc. Since the top category on the CDS is 30-36 I would guess there is a much bigger difference between a 29 and 30 then between a 30 and 31. But I would also guess that the difference between a 33 and 34 is marginal.
The higher you go on the scale, the smaller the difference between two scores. For example, the difference between a 35 and 36 is smaller than the difference between a 34 and a 35. As with a 33 and a 34, there is a difference, but the difference isn’t big. At top-tier institutions, admissions is focused more on the applicant as a person (holistic) than the test scores.
@lostaccount The advice given was based on admissions data from the medical scholar programs DS is interested in. The middle 50% range for accepted students at one target is an ACT score from 33-35. The goal was to be in the top 25% of students applying for the program so, that made 35 the goal. Fwiw, DC did score a 35 on his first test attempt. He’s done without prolonged testing. 
Assuming one is applying to schools that don’t require the submission of every test score, I don’t see the harm in trying for a higher score. No matter how you slice it, a 35 is better than a 34 and a 36 is higher than a 35.
My son has never really “prepared” that much for the ACT. He had a 34 on his last two outings and has a 35 superscore, and is waiting for his most recent test. He takes the test again in April along with every junior in our state. He wants to make a true 35, and who knows, maybe he’ll even make a true 36.
At top 20 schools, going from a 33 to a 34 usually bumps you from the median of enrolled students to the top 25%. However, nobody can say for sure whether that makes a difference specifically for your individual application.
No, there’s not a big difference. The difference between a 33 and a 34 can be one question.