Other than Ivy admissions, is there a point to try to get a 33 or higher on the act? I am a sophomore going to take the ACT in June, and will probably get a 31 or 32 based on my practice tests. If there is a benefit for 33 or 34 for scholarships or future stuff, then I may be interested. Thank you.
Yes for some schools a 34 can get you a full ride and 33 will get you nothing so check on the schools that give merit and their scholarship giving scores. For ivy’s a 33/34 differences is notable kind of. 32/33 is good but 34-36 is great. Not saying you won’t get in with a 33 because that’s not true, but with ivy’s you can use every little boost.
Well thanks, I am not considering ivys, and after some research I found many schools will give a perfect scholarship for 2400 or 36, but I definitely do not think I can achieve that, and in my junior year I will already have too much to focus on with the PSAT and AP tests and classes. Thank You.
I really admire your honesty and knowing your priorities and your capabilities without necessarily taking the “easiest option”. This admirable attitude of yours will allow you to enjoy your high school life without putting you at too much of a disadvantage in your college applications! I wish more kids in high school were like you–practical, realistic, yet ambitious. This is a much better perspective compared to others who feel that they need to retake exams until they get a 35-36 in the ACT, and get perfect 800s in each SAT subject test. You will read threads where students who scored a 780 in a subject test retake them, because they are so close to getting 800. I hope they still have a balanced life…
You mention the PSAT. If you think you will be in range for NMSF, you will need to take the SAT in order to obtain a confirming score. Granted, if you think your ACT score will top out at 31 or 32, NMSF may not be attainable, unless you live in a state with a low cut-off score. (It is in the 220+ range where I live but I have seen some states with scores as low as 208.)
Not looking to add one more thing to your Jr year, but just something to keep in mind if you are already thinking about the PSAT. The PSAT does not really serve any other purpose.
As commented above, and ignoring Ivy admissions, if you are hoping to receive merit aid, the award level will vary from 31 to 33 and you won’t need to shoot all the way to 36 to see an increased award amount. Again, varies by school, and if you have already researched all the schools you are considering, then this will not matter to you.