<p>I'm currently in a real bind right now. I've been considering applying early to the University of Chicago. Many of my stats are on par and my essays have been doing quite well. My biggest detriment, however, are my test scores. To put in some perspective, I score a 32 on the September ACT going in blind (it was really just to try it out considering SAT wasn't improving much). That lies within the university's average, but it isn't stellar. I'm convinced that I can score higher (hopefully around a 34) if I were to take it again. The drawback is that the December ACT would be ineligible for the EA, therefore I'd need to apply normal.</p>
<p>CC, do you guys think that applying normal with a slightly higher ACT score will be beneficial enough to outweigh any reason to apply early?</p>
<p>It all depends on how confident you are in getting that 34. If you absolutely knew you were going to get it, then that’s a pretty big leap and would be worth waiting for. But it’s easy to say you think you can do it, actually doing it is something else. Are you hitting it repeatedly on trial exams? If yes, then your goal is realistic, if not, then you’re just kidding yourself that you’ll do better on an actual exam.</p>
<p>Remember, on the ACT at the upper end, your margin for error is very, very small. On each section, we’re talking only one or two additional correct answers, which doesn’t sound like much, until you realize that what that really means is you’ll only be allowed very, very few incorrect answers. One brain fart and you’re back to 32 on the section.</p>