<p>Okay, so I just took the Sept. ACT (my third time around) and... yeah that science section...</p>
<p>This time I actually studied (used Barron's 36) and I thought that I had prepared fairly well. I didn't go insane or anything, I just did the practice problems in that book and one english section from the princeton review, and I thought I would do pretty pretty good today and beat my 31 from April and June.</p>
<p>I feel pretty good about the English and Reading sections, but on the math section I didn't pace myself appropriately and took too long on the first 30, had to guess on the last 2 in the section and a couple more. But that science section... that just wrecked me.</p>
<p>I really wanted to shoot for a 33+ this time, but I'm pretty sure I've come short of that goal and possibly gotten <31. I keep telling myself, "It's just a number", but I still feel awful. It's not just a question of admission for most places I'm applying to, but just for financial aid/scholarships it could be a difference of $6000 (St. Olaf). I was also really intent on applying to Carleton EA... not sure if that's a good idea anymore...</p>
<p>So there's my feelings-rant. Where do I go from here?</p>
<p>Writing: I felt great. Maybe missed 1 or 2.
Math: Ehhhh, took too long on the first 30. It’s critical I get the first 30 correct because I know I won’t get more than couple of the last ones. Overall i think I did what I usually do which is a 29 to 31.
Reading: I felt great again. Maybe missed 1 or 2.
Science: First passage, ok. Second passage, I couldn’t get two questions. I don’t know why. I ended up spending 3 minutes on the two combined. Freaked out and left them and moved on. Guitar question, I started getting worried. The syringe question I was getting really frustrated. By the time I was on the second question for the DNA one I wanted to break the desk I was sitting at.</p>
<p>See, I don’t know what I got at all. So now I have to decide if I want to retake the test in October. The deadline is September 27th I think or whatever. Results for multiple choice come out 3 days after that. I’m already taking the SAT in October. I won’t have to study for the ACT again, it’s just luck of the draw with what questions I get. I don’t know if I should retake it or not though.</p>
<p>Once you get into the 30s, that’s pretty much good enough. Since scores reflect a range of values and not an absolute value, once schools know that you are capable of scoring in the 30s, that is good enough. To be honest, I think that what really makes or breaks applications are the essays.</p>