Should I really retake for that seemingly "magical" 32+ ACT?

Is a 31 ACT Score and a 3.79 GPA (4.27 Weighted) really too low for Ivies? I am top 10% of my class btw. I just got my score back after my second time taking it. I got a 30 the first time, 31 the second. I am a URM (black) and have hooks/a unique situation. I am a quadruplet, and I am also a NSLI-Y scholarship recipient, a scholarship awarded by the state dept. to study language abroad. I’ll be going to Morocco this summer, and return proficient in Arabic as a result. The schools I’m looking at are: Georgetown, Priceton, Yale, Columbia, UPenn (Huntsman). Is it really worth taking the test a third time for that elusive 32 or higher? Will it really be the deciding factor?

Yeah I would say you should try to get a higher score. A 31 isn’t very impressive for most of those schools.

thanks for the advice @Roxbury_resident . But will a 31 vs like a 33 really be that much more impressive to admissions officers? Is it really worth another $60 bucks and countless hours of prep?

Just look at the middle 50% of test scores for those schools and you’ll see how big of a difference it is

I’ve already done that. The middle 50% for Gtown is 29-33. Columbia, 31-33. Pton and Yale, 32-34.

@Roxbury_resident

It’s advantageous to you to be as high in that middle 50 as you can. For 2 of those schools you aren’t in the middle 50%, and for one you’re on the lower end. You’ll have better chances with a higher score.

Aight then, I’ll def consider taking it again, or perhaps taking the SAT @Roxbury_resident

Don’t fall for the false narrative. The reason the stats are so high is more about pressure on sites like this for kids to press harder. There is no evidence that the test scores being a point higher had any bearing on acceptance or not. The Ivies are more interested in students that fit their goals for a diverse class than for a point or two more in stats. Face it, nearly everyone who applies will have great grades and test scores (including 31s). The admissions people move on to other areas.

80% of the Freshman class of Columbia had between a 32 and a 36. 73% of Yale’s class had between a 32 and 36. I’m not saying a 31 will disqualify you, I just think it would be in your best interest to try for a 33 or so.

Okay, thanks to you both @Torveaux and @Roxbury_resident. I don’t think I’ll retake tho. If I got a 30 the first time, a 31 the second, my score probably won’t increase significantly with a 3rd take. It is what it is. I don’t think it’ll be the deciding factor. And if it is, then I don’t want to go to that university anyway.

If you don’t mind me asking what, even though you said you don’t think you will retake, what were your scores on each individual section. If you only have one section you’re having trouble with you can focus on that section and see an increase of a point or two if you did poorly on that section the last two times you’ve taken the ACT.

I wish you the best of luck next year

Try the SAT. That 31 is limiting for the schools you are targeting, even as a URM.

Here is my score break down:
31C- 31E, 28 M, 28 S, 36 R, 23 W

Reading is my strong area. I knew I scored perfect when I finished the section. Science and Math are my weak areas, in science I got a 32 (the first time, when I got a 30 C). In math I got a 27 the first time, when I got a 30.

@Roxbury_resident @Undecided3494

If reading is your strong suit than you shouldn’t be struggling that much with the science you should be able to do much better. My guess is that you are trying to do the passages in order when you should be doing the conflicted views passage after you’ve finished everything else. That should raise the science to a 33 or 34 and then if you put some time in on Math you should be able to get 2 or 3 more points. You definitely have the ability to get a 33 or even 34. Trust me I got a 32 my first try and then studied English a lot more and got a 35 the second time. The other option is to take the SAT and you can’t really go wrong with either option.

I think that retaking the ACT can’t hurt you, but you have a lot of hooks and would provide a lot of diversity at these schools. Retaking the ACT will only help your chances, but you have a really good shot based on the description you gave of yourself. Quite honestly, the only things that are holding you back from higher scores are your math and sciences scores, so you might be better off with the SAT. Ultimately, I don’t think you can increase your score too much more without a ton of studying in your weak areas, which I don’t know if you want to do. Here’s a tip about the science section: it isn’t science as much as it’s understanding graphs. Make sure you can read and interpret data, and that’ll help your score immensely.

I think I’ll try the SAT

But I’ve got hooks so I might not take any other standardized tests besides the SAT 2s

For me, not taking it (also 31) was kind of my way of rebelling against the schools that emphasize scores so much. I wouldn’t worry about it. Rather than digging your head into a book on a test that will never help anyone after high school, why not continue doing stuff you’re passionate about? Make a difference rather than be a tool. But it is completely up to you though. I did get into Princeton with that score, if that helps. And I’m Asian.