Is taking ACT worth it if all your schools say SAT OR ACT w/ writing?

Applying to College
1

<p>First time around on SAT - 800/750/720. Last year AP Bio - 4 SAT II Bio 790. Six AP tests and two more SAT II tests coming up in May. Seems like enough is enough already unless the the ACT is actually going to move the needle. Thoughts appreciated. Could schools that say SAT OR ACT with writing have an unspoken expectation of receiving both? Thanks.</p>

2

<p>No need to take the ACT. In fact it’d be overkill. Focus on other aspects of your application, which at this point become much more important, and start looking for matches and safeties.</p>

3

<p>Agreed. Your SAT scores are good enough that the ACT won’t get you anything additional.</p>

4

<p>Thanks much!</p>

5

<p>May I ask why you took 6 AP courses your junior year? The reason I ask (too late for you now but hopefully younger students will read this post) is that colleges want to see a senior year course schedule as rigorous or more rigorous than the junior year. And the college application process is, in many ways, the time commitment of 1-2 extra classes as well. So your senior year you would possibly need to take 5 or more AP classes, and the work load required for that plus applications means you would get very little sleep – let alone have time to do anything meaningful that you are passionate about outside of academics.</p>

6

<p>@Momof2back2back One of my AP tests is for Computer Science which I studied on my own and took a class in Java at the local community college the previous summer - rather than taking an AP class per se. So really I only took five AP classes but I’m taking six tests. One thing I did to ease the load of Junior year was to take the CP English class. Having looked at the AP English work load that might have pushed things over the edge. I will take AP English in my Senior year as the teacher seems great plus AP Japanese, AP Government and Politics, AP Chemistry, Multi-variate Calculus, fourth year Chinese (due to self study) and lastly and “leastly” some artsy fartsy course that they force you to take to graduate (oh why oh why?) In the past I’ve been able to do soccer in the winter and badminton in the spring while keeping the grades up. I will try and work on the college essays this summer.</p>