<p>My dream school is Stanford (and I have a soft spot for Yale, too) but I know that a lot of the people that apply to those colleges are geniuses and they get ACTs around 34+, right? The highest I've gotten is 31 (on the 4th try!!). Should I try again? I'm not sure because on one hand, it took me a while to get to 31. On the other hand, though, I feel like the next test date, December, is far enough away so that I could maybe study for my most difficult parts?</p>
<p>No you’re boned. Obviously Stanford only accepts 2400’s and 36’s. Enjoy community college.</p>
<p>Truthfully, Stanford looks at your entire application holistically. Plenty of people get in each year with a 31 or under, just not as high of a percentage of applicants. If you stand out enough on the other sections of your application, with amazing essays and EC’s, you should have just as good of a chance as anyone. Good luck.</p>
<p>To be honest, I wish Stanford only cared about test scores. Then I would stand a pretty damn good chance ;)</p>
<p>You’re fine! I have a 31 ACT too, and im’ not worried about that hurting me at all. Heck, more than 50% of 36 and 2400’s get rejected!</p>
<p>If you have taken it that many times, make sure you send the highest subscores. They do not superscore, but they will see that your subscores are higher and that could be in your favor somewhat.</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>True, but over 92% of the entire applicant pool gets rejected anyways. Perfect stats by no means get you in, but it’s definitely a boost. I’m willing to bet that higher stats have higher admission rates than those with lower stats, although they’re both very low.</p>
<p>Stanford’s little brochure online just gives stats for 30 - 36 ACT scores, then 27 - 29 i think. Your chances are doubled if you get into the 30 range, but honestly, I dont think it makes much of a difference from then on. Remember, the difference between a 34 and a 31 can be as minuscule as 3 questions right/wrong</p>
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<p>Not really. For each section it would be 3 questions (and since the 31 the OP got is probably the composite score, the missed problems would differ by 12).</p>
<p>@OP, A 31 is a decent score. If you have great credentials in the other parts of the application, your chances will be fine, respectively.</p>
<p>Okay great, over 50% of 2400s and 36s get rejected, but over 80% of those who do not have 2400s and 36s get rejected -_-</p>
<p>does stanford superscore?</p>
<p>You could try taking the test once more, but if you are a good writer who is passionate about what she does, why should you? As BigKev has mentioned, Stanford reviews applications holistically and while your score might not put your application at the top of the stack from the start, your dedication to/passion for your extracurriculars/academic pursuits and your excellent essays–assuming you can write them 
--just might.</p>
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<p>If I had gotten 3 more questions right, 2 on English, one on science, I would’ve jumped from a 31 to a 34, maybe a 33 depending on the curve.</p>
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<p>As opposed to… 94+% of non-36/2400’s? I like the first probability much better :)</p>
<p>It’s true. Top colleges like Stanford do tend to rake in high-number students. However, they look at their applicants as a whole. Usually, those people who get in with high numbers are also strong in other areas. It just so happens that they have the 34+ and 2400s to back themselves up as well. </p>
<p>If you have something to give to Stanford–something that makes you a wholesome applicant–your 31 shouldn’t deter your chances significantly. </p>
<p>I suggest that if you’re going to retake, you better get a higher score…considering how it would be your 5th try? It’s definitely possible to improve drastically. In my first try, I went in and gave the ACT a test-run, only to receive a demeaning 30. I didn’t study for the second time; however, I was more familiar with the entire testing process and got a 34!</p>
<p>Work hard! Deserve victory!</p>