I don’t know why I have such a negative idea about superscoring, but I think I heard somewhere that colleges don’t really like superscoring. Is this true? I got a 34 composite but I am considering retaking to get a 35 or a 36 (I’m looking at super competitive colleges, mostly ivies) but if superscoring really doesn’t matter than I might do that? Should I superscore or send in my flat composite or should I just take it again?
If your colleges offer superscoring, then that means they don’t have anything against it. Colleges that don’t believe in it will not offer it. A 34 composite is great. How many times have you taken the ACT?
I’ve taken it 3 times, which I’m not sure is too much for colleges who require all scores.
If you’re going to take it again, I definitely would not take it more than once. 3-4 is usually the maximum amount of scores top colleges want it to see. I really think that the 34 will get you wherever you want to go as long as it’s backed up by very strong grades, ec’s, etc.
For starters, you do not superscore; if a college superscores, they will do so.
FYI, few Ivy League colleges (and others at that tier) superscores ACT.
A better course of action might be to take the SAT since you already have an excellent ACT score (as there is no guarantee that a second sitting for the ACT will help–even with superscoring).
If it helps, my superscore comes out to a 35 Composite.
Then move on. Or try the SAT.
Okay I am required to take the Sat in April at my school so I’ll probably just study for that!
Ya, that’s great. Choose a handful of schools to see their admissions criteria. We were surprised that many schools don’t superscore the ACT but do superscore the SAT.
What about if first ACT (spring soph year) was
33: 34E, 31M, 32R, 33S
Second (Feb Jr year)
34: 36E, 33M, 34R, 32S
Superscore doesn’t actually move it to a 35. She’s thinking of taking one more time in April to bring her S back up to 34 and Math over 34. Math is her biggest concern as she is applying to MIT and other schools for engineering. Is 3 times too many?
She has taken SAT once 1500: 740 EBRW/760 Math
Normally a 34 would be more than enough for a school but MIT and Cal Tech seem to like higher numbers. Three times should be OK. Make sure you get the Subject Tests done too. http://mitadmissions.org/apply/freshman/tests
Take the ACT as many times as necessary.
You can permanently delete any ACT scores you don’t like. But they have to be from National Test Dates.
You can’t delete State mandated tests.