I’m a high school junior and I took the ACT with writing in September. I didn’t prepare for it, because I planned to use the scores that I got to pinpoint where I ought to study more. I haven’t gotten my writing scores yet, but I ended up scoring 35 Reading, 33 Mathematics, 35 English, and 34 Science, with a 34 composite. My counselor tells me that I don’t have to take it again, but I’m wondering if it’s worth it to spend money and time on ACT prep to bring it up to a 35. Does it really make that much of a difference to colleges? (I’m aiming for UCLA/UCSD/USC/Columbia, etc)
My GPA and extracurriculars are good, so I’m wondering if I should just focus on keeping straight A’s instead of focusing on test prep. I don’t think that I have the self-discipline to be able to effectively cover all the topics necessary for ACT prep.
Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks!
Is there a big difference? No.
Should you retake it again? Sure. If you’re a Junior and have spare time, I wouldn’t see why you shouldn’t aim for a 35 or 36. It would definitely make you a(n even slightly) stronger applicant. For the colleges you’re applying to, your score is great, but it is your decision whether you feel the 35 or 36 is necessary.
There is little to differentiate the top 1% of test takers. 34 is a great score. Of course, anyone with a 34 would rather have a 35 or 36! You can only miss a few questions in each section to get a 34. Taking it again does not guarantee a higher score - unlike somebody who got an 18 with no studying. You are wiser to focus on maintaining good grades and rounding out your applications.
That is a great score and I think many people will tell you you don’t need to take it again. If you were my child and were trying for highly selective CS/Engineering programs I would not object to you trying to get your Math higher but I’d leave it up to you.
For admission of most schools, there is little difference between 34 and 35. However, there may be a big difference in chance for merit aids for some schools.
It is great that you have reached a great score for your target schools early in Junior year. My D2 is in the same situation who also took the September ACT. Now she is focusing on PSAT and SAT (mandatory) and she plans to retake it next year before EA application to see if she may have a chance for merit aids. Just put it at a lower priority.
For Columbia maybe…but not for the others in your list.
How about for those handful of schools that have a 34 as top 25%; does a 35 superscore give the applicant a boost? I have twin DD’s that each just accomplished that goal with a 35 superscore derived from two 34 single-sitting ACT tests a year apart. They are both applying to WAS (not P) + Middlebury and Bowdoin (understand that Amherst and Bowdoin don’t superscore), as well as some of the undergraduate focused Ivies, including Brown, Dartmouth.
In your case it would only matter- and just a little- if you are applying to a top 10 engineering school: Caltech, MIT, Stanford, Michigan etc, and only because your 33 mathematics score. Otherwise excellent job and spend the time getting excellent grades and tackling leadership positions at your school.
Yes, of course it matters. 1 more point on the ACT means quite a bit – a full 6-10 more questions answered correctly.