I am from a rural high-school from Minnesota with around 1500 students. Very few if any students apply to Michigan from my school. I play soccer and football and am a captain for soccer and our football team just won state. My GPA is a 3.98 unweighted and have taken AP courses and the hardest classes that my school offers. My first ACT was a 29 and I retook it and got a 35 with an 8 on writing. I got a 206 composite on the PSAT and have a slim chance at being commended. Other things I am involved in is student council (junior class president), DECA (State qualifier in 8 events in three years and likely next years’ president), highest choir and band my school has including three extra curricular bands (pep, jazz, marching) and two choirs (carolers, mens chorus). I am heavily involved in church and am on council at the largest church in my town. I also take part in mentoring in younglife. I helped start a soccer program in town for kids with disabilities and was nominated as a finalist for Minnesota Youth Soccer Volunteer of the Year. I know this isn’t very eloquent but here are the facts among others. What are my chances at Ross or a dual-degree including engineering?
How does one get a 3.98 UW GPA? Did you take 50 classes in high school?
On Umich’s standards on GPA evaluation it will count as a 4.0, my mistake though good call. I don’t recall what it is but I have two freshman A-'s from being an idiot, but have since gotten all A’s.
My other school I am applying to include Northwestern, Penn, Washington (Seattle), Cornell among others. Have not decided on business or engineering yet
I think you have a great shot especially with the 35 ACT. Hopefully your essays were equally impressive. Coming from a school/area that does not send a lot of kids to Michigan also makes you stand out
Did ACT ask you to explain how & why you were able to achieve such a dramatic improvement in your score (29 to a 35) ?
With a 4.0 GPA & a 35 ACT, any business school is a realistic possibility for you. However, I am not sure that Ross is as predictable as applicants would like it to be. You are smart to have applied to several other universities. However, you need a safety or some match schools which offer merit scholarships. Have you considered applying to Indiana & to the University of Pittsburgh ?
@Publisher… Besides being absurd ACT wouldn’t calculate that. It happens all the time. Sometimes it’s nerves but usually it is the timing of the test. Without doing a lot of practice tests the ACT tends to be a fast-paced test. Also going through it once gives you a chance to see your strengths and weaknesses so you can home down and improve.
Not absurd. Happens frequently.
@Publisher didn’t mean it as a personal attack. Just never heard of any students that I know of with big leaps being contacted by ACT or any other college board.
@The-0rac1e look into Industrial engineering. It marries engineering and business. Many go into financial engineering, management, and leads in the business sector. Just an idea.
@Knowsstuff: Just research “ACT cheating” & you will learn that this is not uncommon when testers get substantially different scores. There is a College Confidential thread from 4/25/17 (I think) that deals with this.
And I am NOT accusing OP of cheating, just curious if he was contacted by ACT security.
Just read a thread that you suggested. That’s crazy! Didn’t know that really happens. Sorry about that. I am not going to even think “how” someone would even be able to cheat I just know many people that have gotten much higher scores from either practice testing or getting a tutor to home down on their weaknesses… Never heard anyone being contacted. Feel bad for the ones that have been though.
Apparently the letter is titled “Official Score Review Letter” from the ACT if a subsequent score is 4 points or more higher than a previous score.
Of those who have been through this process, the choices given are cancel, retake or appeal. The appeals process takes over two months & is often unsuccessful. Most posters suggest just retaking the test.
@Publisher I’ve looked at Pitt and did not fall in love with it and my older brother goes to Indiana and want to do my own thing. I haven’t been asked yet by ACT. I just did a lot of studying and took an english class that actually taught me grammar rulers (English went from 23 to 34).
Thank you all this was very helpful to me!
Your improved score may have correlated with another standardized test score such as the PSAT–so no need for any further inquiry. Congratulations on achieving an outstanding score on the ACT !