Retaking the ACT: A minor emergency, help needed

Test Preparation
1

Hi, I really need some advice! I’m a rising senior and I took the ACT for the first time this past April. Even though I didn’t study too much, I did decently & got a 29C! (I know for everyone on this website that might be really bad, but for me I think it’s decent, please don’t judge) Even though I was pleased (especially considering I didn’t prep much) I know I can get into the 30’s if I study. But here’s where I run into a bit of a problem:

I’d like to take it as soon as possible, considering the fact that I’d really like to submit my college apps early in hopes of getting decent scholarships. However, the next date for the ACT is September 10th, the day after my 18th birthday. Yikes. Even though I don’t have anything huge planned for my birthday (I don’t do parties or anything, I’m a fairly quiet person) it’s going to be on a Friday & I’d like to go to dinner & have a small little celebration in the evening with my family. I’m just worried about whether or not I’d get enough sleep the night before.

My other option is to take it in October. The problem with that is scores won’t be available until Nov. 8, which doesn’t make the cutoff for early deadlines Nov. 1.

Also, I realize that the deadline for the Sep. 10 ACT has already passed. I discussed all of this with my mom, & she thought I didn’t need to take it in September. She thought October was fine, even though I told her about the Nov. 1 deadline, because our top choice is Loyola Chicago and their priority deadline isn’t until December 1.

Even though the problem was more or less resolved, I’m starting to panic a little now because I’m worried that October 22 is too late. I’m a careful person & I’d rather have my new scores sooner rather than later just to be safe. But on the other hand, taking it in October would also give me more time to study & be fine for regular decision. I don’t have to study much- I already did pretty well in English & reading (getting a 32 & 35, respectively) so I just need to focus on math & science.

Just thought I’d mention that I’m also planning on taking the SAT Oct. 1, since I have yet to take the real thing, but did pretty well on the pSAT. Those scores will be available by Nov 1.

Ideally, I’d be emailing my college counselor about this, but since it’s still summertime she isn’t available. I’d really appreciate if anyone could chip in some thoughts, since I could still register for the Sep. 10 test with the late fee. What do you all think I should do?

2

Why does your birthday dinner have to be on the exact day of your birthday? Even for birthday parties for impatient 6 year olds, most parents will schedule the party on the weekend. Why can’t you go to dinner the evening after you take the exam? Do you have relatives flying in from cross country, who can only attend dinner on that Friday?

You seriously need to think about your priorities.

3

Most colleges accept scores after the deadline if the test sitting was before the deadline.

4

While the colleges will still accept the Oct test, why wait another month to see where you stand? Your fall test results may cause you to rethink your list of schools.

You seriously can’t just wait 24 hours to have a dinner?

5

My 18th birthday was on a Monday. My friends were all available the following weekend so that’s when we had the dinner and get-together. In those days we actually cared about thinking like an adult.

6

Most colleges with EA and ED application deadlines in early November accept the Ocotber ACT and some even take the Nov SAT, i.e., the application deadline is not the test score deadline. You should check what your likely college choices accept before deciding the issue.

However, you mention Loyola Chicago which means you may be from Illinois and you might intend to apply to University of Illinois Urbana Champaign EA. Be aware it has a Nov 1 EA applicaition deadline which requires test scores to actually be in its hands by that date, so the Oct ACT would be too late to apply to UIUC EA…

7

September 10 is a Saturday. Saturday night is a great night for a family birthday dinner.

Is this really a minor emergency?

8

My daughters 18th birthday is the 8th and she is taking the test on the 10th! I don’t see what the big deal is. Go out for a nice dinner and make it an early evening!

9

Definitely take it as many times as you can (regardless of circumstance) until you get the score that you want. Four hours of testing now could decide college admission or result in thousands in scholarship money. :-bd

10

According to Loyola Chicago’s website it says they have rolling admissions and the application opens in August (no date listed).

The 1 Dec deadline says “… Priority deadline to submit all application materials for students to receive academic scholarship consideration…”

Take the Sep ACT.

11

You can still sign up for the SEPT 10 ACT. The Late Registration deadline is August 19.

If you really have to ask others if you should either party or take a test you clearly need to take (then why else are you stressing?), then maybe you should reconsider your College options.

12

Late registration is august 9th not 19th.

13

@Jpgranier No. The deadline is the 19th. Where are you getting your info from

http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/taking-the-test.html

14

wow… i searched act dates earlier this week and a chart comes up to the first link with incorrect information… http://www.studypoint.com/ed/act-test-dates/ Wanted to take the September ACT but I thought it was too late. Thanks for clearing that up!

15

^Studypoint.com is not the official ACT site. It’s a 3rd party. Of course you’ll get the wrong info.

16

Yep, it’s Friday 8/19 for late reg.

17

@PrimeMeridian I really appreciate the fact that you took the time to reply to my post. I understand my post sounded silly. Based on your comment and the comment of others, I spoke to my mother & really insisted that I take it Sep. 10. She then told me that my sister was planning on coming in the 9th to surprise me. She lives in Arizona. She bought the tickets already and is coming in Friday & leaving Sunday morning. Ever since she moved out I rarely get to see her. So yes, to answer your question, apparently I do have relatives flying in from cross country. No need to bash on me again, though, I insisted that I take it the 10th anyway. I have priorities and I know this test is really important and it’s better to take it sooner rather than later. I am not an impatient 6 year old.

@Mamelot @mmk2015 I am actually capable of thinking like an adult. Since the beginning I really wanted to take it on the 10th, because I know that my birthday doesn’t matter, and that getting my scores in on time just in case is so much more important. The reason why I didn’t was because my mom was really insistent that October would be fine, and that I’d be busy that September weekend. Now I know exactly why she was insisting. Either way, now that I know, I still am taking the test the 10th, because in fact I am capable of figuring out my priorities.

None of you know me personally. You don’t know who I am or all of the things I need to consider while making my decisions. I came to CC because I knew I should take it the 10th, but with my mom telling me the opposite I was confused. I am a logical person and capable of making adult decisions & that’s why I began to question her reasoning (instead of just blindly following her advice) & came to college confidential to see if others thought taking it in October would be okay. I needed another perspective. Reading your comments confirmed what I had thought from the beginning & thanks to that my mom saw reason & I made the registration for the 10th.

All of you helped a lot and I honestly thank you. But to the few of you that treated me as though I was a child, you have no right to pass judgement on me, my priorities, and my college choices.

18

“I’d really appreciate if anyone could chip in some thoughts”

OP, isn’t that what we gave you? Thoughts. Maybe they’re were a bit harsh, but how else are you going to realize that you already had your answer.

19

But she’s leaving on Sunday. So what’s the big deal about having a more minimal celebration on Friday, then having a more expansive celebration on Saturday?

20

OP, I think you got some flack because of your thread title. Most posters would hardly consider this a “minor emergency.” JMO.