<p>Hello! I'm going to be a senior next year, and this June I took the ACT. It was sort of a spur of the moment thing. Here in NY, most kids really focus on the SAT, and the ACT is kind of an after thought. I got a 33, which is a great score I know, and I'm very happy. But my Science score was a 29. Because I'm considering applying to WCAS (to major in some sort of science) or McCormick, do you think that the Science score will hinder my application? On the other hand, my math is strong on both tests (740 and 35...and a 710 on Math I SAT II...OOPS!) Anyway, should I retake the ACT? Thanks so much!</p>
<p>The scores look fine.</p>
<p>If you have reason to believe you can raise your score materially, the consider taking them over. How was your SAT CR? Perhaps you don’t need to even submit the ACT (or if CR s low, perhaps you don’t have to submit the SATs?)</p>
<p>Honestly, though once scores are over a certain level, I’m not how much it helps.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. Although I do feel I have the ability to raise my Science score, I would reallllllly love to move on from all of these Standardized Tests, unless it is really necessary for me to improve them. And my superscore SAT is 2230 (CR 710, M 740 W 780).</p>
<p>A 2230 is definitely a respectable score when applying to any top school - I mean if it was a little higher that’s all the better, but it’s in the range where it doesn’t matter too much. A 2230 and 2290 are virtually identical; admittance hinders on your application as a whole. You might as well not submit your ACT unless you feel that it helps you (you have to weigh the benefits of a great score of a 33 or a lower science score). I would bet that the majority of applicants don’t even take the ACT though. </p>
<p>What peaks my interest more is the fact that you took the Math I SAT Subject Test…and only scored a 710. Applicants for any school like Northwestern should be taking the Math II SAT especially if you intend to major in a science/mathematical field. I’d nix the ACT and utilize your summer in getting a 750+ on the Math II. That should be your prime concern. By the way, did you take any other subject tests? I know Northwestern “recommends” three, but you should have at least two, three preferably.</p>
<p>Tinfoyl, you make great points. In response to the SAT II question, I have also taken US History (790) and Physics (750). As for the Math I, for some reason, no matter how many times I take it, I always score low (First time 690, second time 710). I don’t even know what would happen if I took the Math II…</p>
<p>Those are two strong subject test scores, drewski. Personally, I would take the Math II test - just buy a prep book and study up. Given your high Physics score and your math scores on both the SAT I and ACT, I don’t see why you can’t get at least a 730+ on a Math II. With a few months until October, who knows? I just think that it’s almost an automatic that McCormick prefers its applicants take the Math II’s given their high caliber profiles. </p>
<p>I have a friend who is an engineer at Mellon, and he was in AP classes for math and science and performed great, but he was not confident on how he would do on the math subject tests. He decided to sign up for both the Math I and Math II tests on the same day; he figured he would put all he could into the Math II and it would translate into a high Math I score at the least. He ended up getting a 770 on the Math II’s and didn’t even need the Math I score - it essentially provided him with a backup plan though in case everything went to hell in a handbasket.</p>
<p>I would definitely take Math II! The curve is much more generous on that test than on Math I. Try getting the Barron’s prep book; it helped me a lot. Amd what about your GPA and extracurriculars?</p>
<p>I guess I have a challenge ahead of me! Thanks for all of the info. (I love how this went from ACT to SAT II…)</p>
<p>Lorax, GPA and ECs are not a problem. I’m ranked very high in my class and have multiple leadership positions and basically live at school with all of my activities.</p>
<p>drewski:</p>
<p>Many students who take both actually do better on the Math level II than the Math level I. I think it has to do with the fact that they actually studied the level II syllabus more recently.</p>
<p>As to taking the SAT or ACT over. I wouldn’t worry overly about the science, which is more of a science reasoning test than an applied science test. </p>
<p>Your ACT of 33 equates to about 1480 +/- on the two part SAT (you got a 1450) or a 2190 on the three part SAT (you got a 2230). So basically, your SAT and ACT appear to be consistent with each other. When you start out this high, its hard to improve significantly (there’s just not a lot of room for significant improvement), and one would expect that you’ll have to put in a lot of work to have a reasonable chance of this.</p>
<p>But it certainly wouldn’t hurt (at least at schools that superscore) to retake the test. It just may not help. I really don’t know whether a marginal improvement would make any difference at all. </p>
<p>My only thought, is that if for any reason you have to budget your time, I’d make sure that your essays are all excellent and polished. Even with your impressive record, a mediocre essay will hurt your chances at many schools. So, if you have to choose between preparing for another round of standardized tests or writing a really fantastic essay – write the great essay.</p>