<p>You should aim at above the admission average (i.e. 50 percentile) for any school, not the 25%. Unless you have hooks or very strong in other credential, having just the ACT at 25% with average in everything else would make you a reach for any school.</p>
<p>Not true at all. The fact that many in the 50th percentile do have higher scores is not the same as that being the reason they are there. The school literally stops looking at the scores once you cross their minimum. Especially the Ivy League schools. They are significantly more interested in kids that fill out their school cultural expectations. The reason the 50th percentile is so high is that kids who score that well tend to want to go to the prestigious schools. That, and so many lack the understanding of how it works and re-take to get higher scores. </p>
<p>If the schools were only placing based upon test scores, your premise would be correct. The difference is mainly the difference between correlation and causation. Admitted students have high scores correlation yes. Causation, only to a point.</p>
<p>@billcsho @Torveaux I just want to be on the safe side with my academic statistics. I understand that they focus a lot on ECs and such but I feel like with a little more practice I could significantly improve my score which will def help me have a better chance either way</p>
<p>25% is definitely not a threshold for admission. Period.
If you look at the admission stats, you will see the admission rate of 25-50% is far lower than 50-75%. If your score is above 75%, then a further higher score may make little difference in admission.
Most of those students accepted with ACT scores around or below 25% would have better SAT scores, hooks, outstanding EC, or athletic recruit.</p>
<p>I’m going to have to disagree with Torveaux. Sure, a 31 is a good score (not for me), but if you have the opportunity to improve the score, THEN GO FOR IT. There’s nothing wrong with getting a higher school; it will obviously help you. Let’s say there were two identical people with the same ECs, essays, resume, grades, but different ACT scores. Which will the colleges pick? I think that question is self explanatory.</p>
<p>or get off of this stupid website and make a difference…</p>
<p>I understand that 31 is considered a good score but I personally think for me it is a bad score because I think I can do better, and a lot of what I miss is random stupid stuff.</p>
<p>@XCBro4Life I’m pretty sure spending like 5 min on CC replying to comments or read helpful advice will not hinder my ability to make a difference, actually the opposite but thank you for your opinion.</p>
<p>@billcsho. Sorry. I am not trying to be combative, but what you are saying is simply not true. While many of the admitted student have higher than a 31 (or equivalent SAT scores), the scores themselves above that point have little or nothing to do with admission. It is a complete waste of time for a student with scores in that range to spend time seeking a 36. The fact that the average is high is due to the fact that the most qualified students (GPA, class rank, ECs etc.) tend to have those scores, not that those scores are driving the decisions. In general, the Ivy schools are especially disdainful of the tests as they have some perceived bias. Think of it this way. If those same kids applied but no test scores were used in the decision making process, the results would likely not change much. The admitted students would be generally well-rounded high performing students with a widely varied background and interests. Your comments are simply failing to take into account that it is not the score that is driving the admission rate, but the admission rate that results in those particular scores. If all you have to show is a bit higher ACT score, you are not getting in any way. It is much more about ECs and such than it is about test scores.</p>
<p>@tommyd36. No issues at all with someone going for it, it just will not matter a bit. The ‘equal’ ECs, etc. are a myth. To each of these schools, they are trying to build a holistic class. Much more likely for an obscure hobby or ethnic background, childhood tragedy or similar circumstance to sway the opinion than a particular score above a certain point. They also like geographically diverse classes (to a point, not equality of geography, but they want exemplars from the whole country and all over the world). The people I know who went to or were admitted to Ivy league schools are very consistent in their assessment. It is much more about your background and interests than test scores. You need to be smart, but once you are in the 30s the law of diminishing returns takes effect and you are wasting your time. </p>
<p>II remember there being a study done about students who retake the tests and how they tend to perform much more poorly in the high end schools when they get in than their peers who did well the first time. It is rather like cramming for an IQ test. Boosting your score does not make you any smarter. You cannot retake every exam in college until you get the score you want. Think long and hard about whether you really have the chops to take on the best and brightest for curves and research opportunities. Some do, some don’t. Not judging here at all.</p>
<p>Good luck to you all on whatever you pursue.</p>
<p>It is true that when a student has a high enough score, further increase in score may have little impact in admission chance. I am just telling you the 25% is simply not a high enough score. You can look at the data in Parchment, Cappex, etc and count all those dots to see for yourself.
There is an old thread on matching schools:
<a href=“Definition of Reach-Match-Safety Schools - Parents Forum - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/361654-definition-of-reach-match-safety-schools.html</a>
The general consensus is you need to be in the upper 50% comfortably to be considered a match.</p>
<p>@VaishS More like 5 hours</p>
<p>@XCBro4Life umm… yeah I def spend 5 hours on CC a day lolll</p>
<p>@VaishS sorry meant 6</p>
<p>@XCBro4Life so youre going to argue with me about how long I spend on CC when you pretty much know nothing about me? and if you think CC is “stupid” why do you come on here?
And even if I spend 15 hours a day on CC how does that affect you? The thread was about me needing ACT advice not someone telling me what I do with my time.</p>
<p>@VaishS study mo & stay off.</p>
<p>@XCBro4Life thats the first peice of semi-helpful advice ina while, Thank you and will do.</p>
<p>@VaishS stays off this website for 5 hour intervals good job.</p>
<p>There are test strategies that help. A majority of students who get at a certain level of ACT score have difficulty going up one or two points more after you get to a 30. Practice testing and perhaps 1 on 1 tutoring can improve your ACT score.</p>
<p>Have you taken a SAT? My oral surgeon felt stuck on ACT at 30 or 31, then took the SAT and got a 35 equivalent. He felt like he was too slow of a reader for ACT. He got into the slot he wanted (guaranteed med school for incoming freshman). </p>
<p>I know from recent conversations, Vanderbilt requires a 31 to get looked at. </p>
<p>The test is one dimension of the applicant. Some schools have automatic scholarships with specific GPA and ACT/SAT scores.</p>
<p>There may be ‘diminishing return’ on time spent on ACT prep and result. Your time may be better spent in other areas of your overall scholastic and extra-curricular development and achievements.</p>
<p>@SOSConcern Ok thanks! </p>
<p>If you’re a junior, I know several of the math teachers make an effort to cover all of the material that would be presented on the ACT by the time your entire school takes it (or the SAT, depending on where you are).</p>