I had a good composite ACT score but a bad essay score. Should I still send it to colleges?

Applying to College
1
  • I'm going to apply to highly selective colleges and I think the writing score might turn them off. I have a 4.0 GPA and do a lot of extracurriculars, but idk... Writing has not been my strong point.
  • My recent ACT got voided, so I lost a chance to send a better score or superscore. It is too late to take another ACT in time for college admissions, I think (I'm a senior.). Please advise me on this as well... should I try to get one in? It's already October?
  • But if I judge only based on my essay score and don't send it at all, I would have been wasting my time, money, and effort to take the test from the beginning.

That’s all that is going through my head in this moment. Am I overthinking it? If I take another ACT really quick, should I be okay? I don’t know what to do about it, guys. Thanks for any help.

2

What do you mean your last ACT got voided?

3

What is your current score?

4

There’s no chance of getting that score back; I filled in bubbles after time was called and they saw it.

5

31 composite. 16 for the essay.

6

You can take it in December and pay for scores to be rushed. It is usually okay anyway to send some parts of the app after the deadline, but it depends on the college. Not sure how selective you mean, but 31 is probably not in the realm of possibility for tippy tops. Re the writing score, as it was changed very recently, as of this Sep, a lot of colleges aren’t that concerned with the ACT essay. Don’t assume that is the case everywhere though. I would retake in December.