Great Extra Credits/GPA/Class Rank - Poor test scores

Applying to College
1

<p>I am taking the ACT in two weeks and I have noticed from pre-tests that I am not going to do amazingly on the test. My scores have been coming out around a 25 every time that I have practiced. I am REALLY worried that this is going to hurt my chances of acceptance.</p>

<p>Explanation: I was the recipient of a scholarship through Rotary Exchange Student and they sent me to Chile in South America as an exchange student. I just returned back to the US this past month and I feel and AM completely unprepared for the test - haven't even taken geometry yet.</p>

<p>My extra carr.'s are really good...especially with my exchange. My GPA is about a 3.6 (96%) and my class rank is around 40/500 leaving me in the top 10 percent.</p>

<p>Will a low ACT score really hurt someone applying to institutions like Tufts, Columbia, or University of Texas at Austin - if the student has strong GPA, Academic Rigor, Extra Credits, Essay...?</p>

<p>I am really nervous that my score is going to be below a 26.</p>

2

<p>It matters who you are and where you're coming from. If you are a urm - low income, minority, etc. - then it really won't matter too much. Colleges like Columbia do accept kids with lower ACT scores (in your range) but that group that they select is VERY small. </p>

<p>In addition - I don't want this to sound harsh, but remember, these standardized tests ATTEMPT to represent your 'competency' (if you will). If you're getting in the 26- range, Columbia or Tufts may not be the place for you. [Of course, if you get a 27 or a 28, you may be better off)</p>

<p>It will ALL come down to your demographic. Even with outstanding 'everything else,' colleges need to make sure you can handle what they throw at you. It may not be fair, but that's how it goes. If you're an affluent white male/female, then your chances, I'm afraid to say, are quite low.</p>