So I, and many others, took the ACT today. Most colleges say that for Regular decision, the December ACT date is the latest date they accept. However, deadlines are January 1st. If the test was on 12th, and it takes 5 weeks to get the score report, then that means colleges wouldn’t get the score until mid January. Does this mean you can submit your application before January, and simply send the ACT scores when they become available?
I have another ACT I can send (31) but I am sure I did better on this one, so could I also just send the 31 and send the higher one when it becomes available, hoping that they take it into consideration?
My daughter took it today as well. Most scores should be reported online to students by December 22, I don’t know how long it takes to get them to colleges after that. What did you think of the test? My daughter found herself rushing through the reading section but thought the math and science sections were easier then expected. Maybe that’s because she really prepped for math, but I hope she didn’t mess up reading which should have been easiest for her.
I just reread your post. The scores my daughter had on the SAT will probably get her into her selected schools, but some of them said if her ACT score was higher they would consider that for merit aid even after the admissions deadline. I guess it’s up to the school.
Do your schools have a definate Jan 1 deadline? I know our HS guidance counselor does for applications, but some of my daughter’s schools accept applications later on. So maybe ACT scores arriving later would be ok.
@redeye41 I also think math and science was easy, but reading was rushed a tad. I bet your daughter gets a high score, as most of my fellow test-takers were athletes 
Basically on the commonapp if you mark on the ACT section that you are taking it in december, you simply submit all the other components of the application and if they say that they accept the december one, then you just send it once you get it.
The problem is my school puts the ACT score on the transcript, and i have a 31 on it, so i need to tell them to remove it from the transcript to be sure the higher score is considered.
If the college has an early January app deadline but also says it takes the December ACT, then you are dealing with a college that accepts test scores after the application deadline. Typically the section scores are out before the app deadline but for many their writing scores are not out until first part of January, and ACT does not send any scores until you have your writing scores if you took the writing test. Some of those colleges actually also give you dates, beyond the app decline, by which they want test scores , e.g., January 10 or even later, and genrally if they arrive by mid-January you are usually OK. In fact, many of those with early Jan app deadlines even accept the Jan SAT test.
Moreover, for regular admission, the typical practice of colleges, when they do not have your test scores by any due date for them or by mid to late Jan if Dec was the last allowable test date, is to send a notice to the appl;icant telling him what is missing and that it needs to provided promptly or by some specified date, i.e., you get a second chance to submit your scores.