<p>So I applied to JMU and I recently went on there to check my admission status but I also ended up clicking the "verify SAT and ACT" button. In there I was most surprised to see that along with my SAT scores, they had my ACT score!!! I took the ACT once, last spring, and I received a very low score so I didn't send it to any college.</p>
<p>-On the ACT, I never listed any colleges to receive my scores directly.
-I never had my ACT's sent to colleges via ACT.org.
-I never reported it, the only scores I sent were my SAT's.</p>
<p>How did JMU get a hold of my ACT composite score then? Does this mean that every other college I applied to has it as well?</p>
<p>Was the ACT score sent to your high school? Did your high school put the score somewhere on your transcript, or just submit it with anything else (ie: GC rec)?</p>
<p>Many public universities have automatic access to your scores, even if you don’t send them. This is because your scores are usually sent to the state’s department of education, who willingly gives it to any state agency who requests it. I know it works this way in Florida. Even if we don’t send it to any public college, the department of education automatically gets our info (Remember the " I agree to allow the release all necessary materials…" agreement on the application?) and gives it out to the public universities. This also happens in FL even if you are a private HS student. At least the good part is that you don’t have to pay to send it.</p>
<p>I assume this may be the case in other places in the US too.</p>
<p>very interesting. hmm I think I better talk to my guidance counselor/guidance lib people tomorrow about this problem. my best guess is that somehow my scores ended up on my transcript… and northeastmom, I’m from NY.</p>
<p>es222, thanks for letting me know your state. Please let me know what your GC says. I am very interested in knowing if they got this info through your transcript, or in some other way. </p>
<p>I hope that JMU is going to use your highest test scores, and will just disregard your ACT. You might ask your GC if you should send an email to admissions, and requesting them not to consider your ACT. You might want to tell them that you never sent the scores to them. </p>
<p>You might also post this on the parent board for additional advice.</p>
<p>es,
I would suspect the transcipt first, but if that is not it…Do you have a copy of the JMU application? If so, look and see if there was a waiver that you signed or checked off on that allowed the release of your scores. This is how they are able to bank and release the scores in Florida. Perhaps this practice is spreading to other areas of the country.</p>
<p>Ok, so I went into guidance and this is what I was told:
All of my test scores were included on my transcript. This means my SAT’s, my ACT - the whole shebang. She said that although all of my scores are listed, colleges will only look at the highest score (either SAT or ACT) and completely disregard the lower or lowest score(s). And she said that not only JMU practices this, but every other school follows this as well. So although JMU has my ACT score, it is a non-factor in admissions because my SAT is higher (22 ACT compared to a 1170/1840 SAT). Whew.</p>
<p>es222, Thank you for posting again to let us know how this happened. I have heard what your GC said at every info session that I have attended. Good luck!</p>