Hey everyone! Do you guys think I should retake the ACT for the 4th time? My highest composite is 32 but with superscore it’s 34 (lol rip math cause it lowers every time I take the act). I’m applying to schools like Yale, Stanford, Brown, Williams, Grinnell, Colby for their American Studies major. I’m currently on a gap year and I feel like maybe taking the test for the 4th time is a little excessive and I don’t think it’d be wise to devote more time to standardized tests during my gap year. Do you think it would be worth it to retake it in hopes of getting a 34+?
Don’t take it a fourth time. Your score is 32. Please apply to additional colleges that are less competitive than the ones you listed. ALSO, FWIW, you don’t apply into a specific major at any of these colleges.
Thank you for your reply! And yes I’m for sure applying to safeties and matches. I only listed the reaches because I know for my safeties and matches my ACT score is competitive enough
Your scores are good, but I would recommend taking the ACT again given that you are looking at very competitive schools. Also, higher scores will be helpful for merit aid. Of the schools on your list, I believe Grinnell is the only one that offers merit aid. But, many of your safeties and matches will likely offer merit aid as well and spending an extra $50 and four hours on an ACT test could yield significant additional merit aid. Some schools have defined merit aid amounts that vary by GPA and test scores. Lake Forest College publishes their merit aid calculation matrix. At several other schools, you can figure out their matrix by plugging various values into their online price calculators.
The composite is less important than the subs, for tippy top colleges. So in a superscore “eyeball,” you have:
31E, 35M, 34R, 34S. Of course, it takes a lot more than scores and if you’re a stem wannabe, it’s possible they’d have some concern about the declining M. If you’re humanities, the E is low. Know that the rest of the package needs to match.
I agree no point in showing 4 test sets. But even if a college doesn’t admit by major, you can bet they take the major(s) you state into consideration, when looking for appropriate strengths. Same for ECs.