Hi reddit. So I got a 35.25 composite, and I was considering to retake it because I was only one question away from a perfect score.
However, is there any difference between a 35 and 36? My rationale is that a handful of people in my junior grade (around 10 that I know of) already has a 35. But, I do not know a single person with a 36. Wouldn’t getting a 36 make myself stand out above the crowd, and to admissions officers even if the difference between a 35 and 36 isn’t all that major?
And my question about superscoring is I want to apply to Columbia and it says that they accept superscores.
Does that mean I can submit both my scores from my 1st and 2nd attempt (which superscores to a 36) and they just see it as a 36 composite? Or does it say that it’s been superscored? And does anyone know how this will work with the new section policy in effect September 2020?
No, past a certain point it doesn’t matter. I remember struggling with this until I realized that, with the ACT, any score 33+ is seen as the highest category in terms of standardized testing. Therefore, in terms of admissions, a 35 and 36 are equivalent.
Though this is a bit anecdotal, I got a 35 and got into Harvard REA (I also had a 35.25 – 36M, 36E, 35S, 34R). My friend got a 34 and got into Brown ED. My other friend (had a 36, highest GPA, most # of APs) got rejected from Stanford REA.
Remember that there will be many other academically capable students and that there is the possibility of someone with lower stats could beat the rest of the pack. Therefore, I’d focus more on essays and getting great recommendations because along with the interview, THOSE are the things that will make you “stand out above the crowd.”
Disagree with this. I’m quite sure that two otherwise identical applications, one with a 33 ACT and one with 36, would certainly not be considered identical. Especially at schools like MIT where 33 is below the 25th percentile.
Every data point carries weight. 35.25 to 35.5 may be a very minor difference, not enough to re-test, but it’s not zero.
If the school to which you are applying superscores, then yes, sending both scores will result in the admissions staff considering your ACT score to be the superscore of the two.
Fwiw, 36 is the highest ACT score. Only four 36s is perfect. Composite doesn’t really mean much to an admissions committee - they look at all 4 scores. A 35.25 will be more beneficial than a 34.5, even though ACT rounds them both to a 35.
Listen podcasts featuring the Dartmouth and Penn admissions deans in the Dave Berry thread he recently posted.
It’s not monolithic. If you are applying to Penn Wharton or Engineering. Or huntsman. It may be a tiebreaker. Nursing or A & S. Close to zero.
Dartmouth. Irrelevant.
It’s about the school and their specific personality.
Cornell Stem. Sure it might matter. Brown PLME yes. Cornell Econ or Brown whatever. Probably not at all.
They pay way more attention to the total package and your story. Important to come alive to them and show how you will impact the school and ultimately the world. In 15 minutes and 650 words. Supplemental recs activity sheets. All can be make or break.
They all speak to big misunderstanding of students and their parents who believe it’s like an Olympic running event where winners and losers are easily defined by scores.
Somone here said it best. It’s more like figure skating. Very subjective.
Definately more about how you are running the race and where you want it to go than the time on the clock. Ie stats.
Now. 33 and 35 are different. But a 35 vs 36 will be a race won by the total package.
Good luck and listen to the pods. They were eye opening.