<p>UW-Madison does NOT super score. They also do not care what the intended major is as students are admitted to the university as a whole and can change majors (also school/college) at any time. I’m sure many students would list a major easier to get into if they knew it would increase their chances of acceptance.</p>
<p>Have your D concentrate on the math concepts that she missed in the past. It is possible she could improve her score in math while not decreasing her other scores. Remember the science et al sections involve data interpretation skills, not science knowledge. It is easier to review math concepts than to learn to write better et al. Good luck to her. It also won’t hurt her to know this when it comes time for any college’s math placement tests- she could avoid needing a basic math course.</p>
<p>OP, I say this with no disrespect (honestly!) but it sounds a little like you are trying to convince yourself (or your D) perhaps falsely that she might have a chance at a reach school. There is ALWAYS a chance if you’re close with stats, but please, please, please, be realistic with yourself and her to feel free to apply but to have other choices and KNOW that the school you speak of will be a reach. </p>
<p>Most schools with that high of an ACT average have PLENTY of 32 and up composite scores to choose from and sadly, generally won’t be examining the individual sections of that many students. I don’t have firm evidence of this, but I think I feel somewhat confident saying this.</p>
<p>Apply. Take the test again if she wants. But please don’t sugar coat or count on anything and make sure she too is honestly aware of her chances. (is this for freshman year 2015???)</p>
<p>Re-reading the original post, I see that the scores you mention are just based on practice tests scores - so I’m assuming she is a junior? </p>
<p>Let her take the test, see what she gets and THEN start planning your applications. Let her go in stress free to take the first test - without the fear and expectation that she has to score high with that exclusive college dangling in front of her. </p>
<p>Too much pressure worrying about this now before you actually have a composite! </p>
<p>UofM does say in their admissions/tour meetings that the do look closely at the subscores. They use COE has an example and say they look at the math score. My guess is that it is a college by college decision whether they superscore (to be able to report higher scores for USNWR and common data set) and it is a college by college action if they look more closely at the subscore aligned with what the student plans for a major. </p>
<p>Oh for heavens sake. Please come back when your daughter has actual ACT and SAT scores. You might be surprised with the actual test results. Get a math SAT tutor.</p>
<p>To op, don’t base your planning on practice scores, as said above. The Sat math includes geometry, not trig, and the ACT includes trig. Your D must figure out what areas she is missing and study those. Math is IMHO, the easier section to improve on (as opposed to reading, verbal type, especially on ACT, which IMO is more of a time challenge than SAT). Actually, once a student has prepped a certain amount, I don’t believe that switching tests is per se bad. Some students may find after a lot of prep that they do better on a test, just because of the additional prep (not whether it was specific to the the test). When my D applied several cycles ago, I called various schools to see if ACT was superscored, and I had a list, which I no longer have (computer died). Certain schools in top 20 do superscore, and you can call Admissions offices for schools of interest to confirm if you can not find it on line. </p>
<p>Fwiw, one correct question more on the ACT science section probably goes up to 31 or 32 as I recall. I think science is primarily a test of reading (reading FAST), and for a good reader, who does well on ACT reading, this could be improved. </p>
<p>I do not believe that very competitive schools look at ACT subsections either. I do know of a student who got perfect on one SAT section and just below 700 on another, and got into very top schools. Everyone felt that the below 700 was discounted due to the student’s area of interest, but who knows. I know of another kid with one perfect SAT section and below 600 on the other and did not get into super reaches. The below 600 was also not the student’s area of interest. </p>
<p>In terms of applications looked over with a fine tooth comb as you suggest in your post #15, it was my impression that smaller schools (LAC), especially ED decisions might get a closer detailed review. When you are in the RD pool of tens of thousands in the universities with many applicants, I can’t believe that they can look so closely. I think the Act composite would be what they see and that is it. I was told by one school that superscored that the best scores were entered, and that is what went to the committee. In a sense the ACT composite may hinder a student who is lopsided in that SAT, although combined seems to always be looked at by section (at least to me - maybe someone else knows differently.) Also in some of the LAC’s the interview was required, and I think this could help a student with lopsided scores have a chance to explain their passions etc. </p>
<p>Thanks all. Primarily asking the question now in case she might want to switch her study focus to the SAT - and there are different strategies needed for that test. But it’s true that what she actually scores on any section may be quite different from practice testing (even after several practice tests). Of course she will apply to many different ranges of schools - that goes without saying. But she does have a dream!</p>
<p>The number of schools that super score the ACT, per the links provided, was less <100. That makes for a nice little list, but in absolute terms goes to show that most schools to not super score the ACT. In fact, a case can be made with those numbers that virtually no schools super score the ACT given how many schools there are in the USA.</p>
<p>And if she is a junior, her “dream” could change numerous times between now and when she makes a matriculation decision by May 1 of her senior year of high school.</p>
<p>Plus, there is plenty of time to look for other colleges where her dreams can be fulfilled.</p>
<p>NYU DOES NOT superscore ACT. In fact they told us during the recent info session that they don’t even superscore the SAT. I’m not sure where that list came from but I wonder what other schools are incorrect on the list. </p>
<p>I stand corrected - sorry - I cannot delete my post . I was misinformed and had heard that super scoring was becoming the norm for the ACT. The schools that we are looking at do superscore .</p>
<p>lr4550, I did not check all the colleges on the list. The ones that we are interested in have the correct information. I did not create the list, it is just a link. Sorry for the misunderstanding. </p>
<p>^ No worries, just wanted to makes sure everyone checks the websites where they are applying as it would be a shame to assume that their schools of interest superscore the ACT based on the link :)</p>