<p>Before everyone gets too riled up, this is a legit question. Bear with me. So, I got a 36 composite on the ACT, but I received a 7 on the essay portion of the test. Does anyone have any suggestions for what I should do? I really want to attend Yale and I don't want something like this holding me back, especially since I am not a bad writer... I guess my best excuse is that I ran out of time (no watch, no clock visible).</p>
<p>Yea, you'd better. I barely got into Yale with a 37 on my ACT.</p>
<p>Too bad this isn't my attempt at trolling these boards; this is an honest question. I'm sorry I'm not an admissions pro, I really have no idea how these things are evaluated.</p>
<p>I'm trying to take your question seriously, pro. I guess the risk would be if you wrote an absolutely incredible application essay and an admissions officer took a look at your ACT essay score to check for consistancy. I don't think a 7 would cast doubt on your essay, but then, I'm not in admissions.</p>
<p>Everyone on this board is so hostile.. I don't know if you guys represent Yale class of whatever, but I'm seriously reconsidering applying.</p>
<p>You already have a perfect score. Just send good essays with it.</p>
<p>Low essay scores shouldn't be anything to worry about. I'm sure colleges will opt to evaluate your writing with your application essay rather than a roughshod timed thing that really does a poor job overall. You're fine.</p>
<p>Thank you masterdebater and innervisions for your input. Anymore (sincere) comments are welcome!</p>
<p>and thank you riverrunner too!</p>
<p>You have better things to worry about.</p>
<p>That's a fair assessment, but could you elaborate to ease my mind and bandage my insecurities? :P</p>
<p>I personally think that imperfections make an application more authentic. Colleges don't want robots, they want people. And seeing as how you have a perfect ACT score, I really don't think that that is something to worry about. My advice is to show you're a real person with passions and talent.</p>
<p>And you are right, sometimes these boards can be a little hostile. Don't be discouraged! I'm sure you are an amazing applicant. Best of luck! :-)</p>
<p>thank you for your comment embeezy, i really appreciate it. lucky number 7, i guess!</p>
<p>If you retake it, chances are you won't get a 36 again. I don't mean this in a bad way - there is definitely an element of luck to getting a 36.
Your writing may improve, but if your composite goes down, it was not worth it. Most schools won't look at the writing from one test and the composite from another.</p>
<p>i got in with a 32 and a 2140. high test scores are not going to get you into yale. they could fill entire classes with 36s and 2400s, but they don't. your scores are above and beyond in range for yale, now go have some fun or something!</p>
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they could fill entire classes with 36s and 2400s
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<p>No college larger than Caltech can fill an entering class with 2400s. </p>
<p>I agree with the point that the OP doesn't need to retake his ACT to have whatever shot he may have at getting into Yale.</p>
<p>It used to be the case that there were a few thousand 1600's though? Or where does that idea come from in the first place?</p>
<p>I remember reading that some of the top schools received enough applications with perfect scores to hypothetically fill their entire class with them.</p>
<p>HAHAHAHAHAA.</p>
<p>Don't worry about it. If you write a good essay, then they won't really care. It's a standardized test, after all, and it's common for people to do worse than they normally would because they're under the pressure.</p>
<p>If they reject you, I'm 9.99999999999999999999% sure it wouldn't be because of your writing section in the ACT. Seriously though, I'd be over the freaking moon if I got a 36!!!!! Who cares about the 7!</p>
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It used to be the case that there were a few thousand 1600's though?
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</p>
<p>Scores of 1600 were always very rare until "recentering," and they haven't been particularly common since recentering. </p>
<p>SAT</a> Equivalence Tables </p>
<p>Yale has never been in a position to admit only students with perfect SAT (or ACT) scores--its entering class each year is too large.</p>
<p>Procrastination: Your question is a legitimate one. In addition to writing great essays, another way to offset a mediocre writing score is by asking an English teacher to write one of your recommendations. I don't think it's necessary to retake a 36. I sent you a PM.</p>