New to ACT?

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I'm an undergrad freshmen looking to transfer out of my state university, but I noticed how my SATs (first time-- 1720, second time-- 1800) were pure crap after officially attempting it twice. I have to admit though I kinda did bare minimum studying since I didn't really give a rat's ass about college during H.S. Now I see the light.
So I've decided to take the ACT this upcoming December. I would've gone for the feb test date but there are no testing centers in NY during that time.
With this in mind, I have less than 3 months to prepare for the ACT.
Are there any suggestions, tips, advices? </p>

<p>I have already ordered the red book (seeing how popular it is in CC) and plan on rimming through the entire book.
I am still not familiar with the ACT structure yet, but I get the general gist of it.
Thanks!!</p>

<p>There are lots of information online, especially on this site that deal with tips, how-tos, and what not. 3 months are plenty to raise your score to a reasonable range (high 20s ~ low 30s). Also take advantage of released exams by ACT for every year. Get another ACT prep book to go along with the red book. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>I most definitely will take advantage of the released exams. I reallly do hope that 3 months is enough since I’ve spent a year prepping for the SATs with volunteer tutors and the end results weren’t as great as I thought it would be. Thanks!</p>

<p>You have to push yourself - I did a practice test every two days. I did the test over and over again, and surprisingly found out that I’ve missed same questions for previous times I took the same exams. Only the results will tell.</p>

<p>Will try to! What kinda sucks the most is that the ACT test date is during the finals month.
Would you mind telling me what you got on the practice tests vs what you got on the real exam? That would be really rad. </p>

<p>**Oh and, what range would be considered a good score? (perhaps good enough for NYU?) I know that for the SATs, 2000+ is good enough for most private colleges. </p>

<p>Among the private schools, there are Ivys plus some, then the “excellent” colleges below that level, and the list goes on. It’s really hard to generalize all private schools with one score - 2000 may be good for some private colleges, but for NYU, it seems average, if not lower. </p>

<p>I took ACT twice last year, both got 30 and 31. I’m taking it again tomorrow, hoping for a 34. On the practice tests, I’ve been consistently getting 31-33, 34 from the one I finally took today. It also depends on the environment you are taking in - it may not go as well as you planned, so always consider that factor. </p>

<p>Ah, didn’t know you’d be taking it tomorrow.</p>

<p>Good luck during the ACT test!!</p>

<p>I didn’t think that ACT scores mattered in transfers? Or does it matter because you have only been in college for like a semester, so they don’t really have anything else to base it on?</p>

<p>I’m planning on applying as an incoming sophomore.
I’ve read that the admissions committee would be reviewing over your high school GPA, standardized test scores, etc etc because by the time you’ve finished applying, they would only receive your first semester grades-- and that doesn’t really show much other than improvements, rigor, or something. </p>