Hi everyone,
I’m a junior who is looking to apply to a bunch of BS/MD programs next year.
Since the acceptance rates for those programs are so low regardless of the institution, I really want to make my chances as good as possible by improving these miniscule details, which is why I’m harping on these miniscule details.
I’m very aware that standardized test do not make an acceptance-- there are other stats, interviews, essays, etc that are much more important, but I want the best chances I can get, as I said before.
I’ve only taken the SAT and ACT once each so far, did not prepare much at all for ACT (lol at science).
SAT- 2310
CR- 760 (-3)
M- 750 (-1)
W- 800/10 (-0)
**I took the SAT Math2 and got an 800, which might count for something, but losing 50 points on 1 question is just argh
ACT- 34
E- 34
M- 36
R- 36
S- 29 (should I retake the ACT just to improve this section? score distribution is very lopsided)
W- 10
Any input would be wonderful. Thanks!
(I didn’t read some parts of your post, so it’ll be a tad bit repetitive, “grades don’t make acceptance, etc”, so this is just a forewarning and apology) For the Drexel BA/MD 7-year program (2 or 4% acceptance rate) you can submit an (multiple) ACT and/or SAT score(s), but the only problem is that they have minimums. Therefore, you must score at least a 32 on ACT or a 1300 or 1370 (I forget which one) on CR+Math.
Should you retake your ACT? Sure. I went in blind and got a not too impressive 28 (retaking it soon), but I got a 34 on the science section. I did well on the science only because all of the science courses I’ve taken since junior year (anatomy/phy, hnrs phys, AP Bio, AP Phys C…not that it matters…just say’n), so it gets better with practice, like the other sections. You have the potential to score a 36 on the ACT, but only if you spend a lot of time taking practice tests and taking a lot of hard courses. I won’t worry too much about your writing subscore (since it’s not added into the composite score), but it’s very easy to get a 12 (I got an 8) because it is very formulaic (a bunch of examples on this website).
I heard is that it is highly recommended that a candidate takes both Math 2 and Chem SAT 2. I also heard that there are interviews and supplements that are very competitive and need to be done professionally (even though I did see on some blogs on this website that the interview was kind of chill). Most importantly, you need to be unique. There are thousands of applicants with test scores & gpas similar to yours, so you need to make yourself stand out. Do internships, volunteering, start a company, top/close to top of your class, entrepreneurship, lab research, a job, a lot of leadership positions, start clubs, etc, etc. I was going to apply to some pre-med programs, but I didn't realize how competitive it was till a few months ago (I'm a senior who took all ACT/SAT from oct-current, sweg). Don't make my mistake. Search far and wide for all of your answers.
@IndubitableDan thank you so much for the advice and insight! I’m thinking that I should retake the ACT to improve my science score, since it really is quite a lopsided distribution. Best of luck on your endeavors, and thanks for stopping by.
On another note, what’s your opinion on BA/MD programs?
So many things wrong with post #1. Science on the ACT does not test science knowledge but the ability to read and make inferences from charts and tables. There is absolutely no reason to retake any test when you have a 2310 SAT. And yes, the Math 2 will help.
^^^he’s right, but it won’t hurt if you’re going for IVY League pre-med schools. I never said the science ACT tested knowledge, but I can see why, since I didn’t clarify. However, it does require a basic knowledge (sublimation, solute, solvent, condensation, products/reactants, gravity, and other middle school level science). What else was wrong was with my post @"Erin’s Dad" (sorry if I’m sounding irritated. False info is never good, obviously.)
http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/act/chapter14section3.rhtml
On re-reading your post I was a little over the top on my assessment. But a 34 ACT shouldn’t be a detriment to the OP either, though I would just send the SAT unless required to send both. Even in that case a 34 won’t cause any reduction in the OP’s file for a top school.
Which ones are you applying to and why BS/MD?
@mom2collegekids UConn, Stony Brook, GWU, Boston U, Brown, University of Rochester
I’ve had a passion for medicine ever since a young age. I know a lot of pre meds say that and eventually go on to other professions, but I’ve done a lot of research on this career, shadowed doctors, etc. and I can’t imagine doing anything else. 
@"Erin’s Dad"
I understand that 2310/34 is pretty good already, but at my high school (very competitive), there are 40+ people with same-higher stats and same goals as me. I may be nit-picking at this point, but I am just really nervous that a 29 on the ACT in science is going to look really bad even though I have a composite of 34-- I’ve gotten 4.0s in all my science classes (currently enrolled in AP Chem which is actually pretty fun) but I’m afraid that those skills didn’t translate into a good result on the ACT. Then again, I didn’t practice much for the ACT so it might not be so hard to raise my score when I know certain strategies.
And with regards to the SAT- when I did practice tests, I got 780-800 on CR and always got 800 on Math. All my classmates who have taken the SAT have gotten a 2360 and above in one sitting.
I think I can definitely bring my score up, but is it worth it?
I don’t think its worth retaking. D got a 36 on science section af ACT and she’s not interested in STEM fields. Her view is it was just reading charts. I would spend my energy on figuring out what you are going to do this summer in the medical fields. With a 2310 and presumably good grades the deciding factor is more likely to be ECs that demonstrate your passion for medicine than a few more test points