So, in my junior year my school has had an enormous amount of pressure surrounding ACT scores and the whole ordeal. This caused me to go into panic overdrive and I took it 3 times last year, two national and one state-required through my school. My first score was a 29, then 30, then 31. My E/M/S/W scores all fluctuate between 28-32 (I’ve gotten a 32 on all 4 on 3 different test dates). I only took the writing once and got a 8/12 and 26 E/W combined. I’m fairly happy with my composite, although my goal is a 32-34. I really want to retake the ACT because I feel like I didn’t concentrate on the essay section (I just wrote without thinking about anything, bad idea). However, it has come to my attention that colleges look down upon ACT testing more than 3 times. So, in your opinion, should I sign up for the upcoming ACT in October/ another test date?
For Yale and Brown you will probably need higher. It’s better to take a 4th test and get a 33-34 than to only take 3 and apply with a 31 for those two schools.
I’m well aware that Yale is a reach school for me, luckily test scores are just a portion of the application. I do want to take the ACT a final time but I just don’t want to come off as desperate to colleges. Plus, I have yet to take one in my senior year. Thank you for the inputs
I can’t recall if these are no choice schools or not. If not, obviously you can send only your top scores. Look to see if your schools look at sub-scores or just the composites. Those that look at Sub-scores may super-score-in which case you state you have 32 and 32. I know students who had the same composite at each sitting but had a pattern that resulted in a 36 for the first two administrations. For such a student, taking it a few times meant some schools viewed those students as having 36-36 even with a lower composite. And it was worth it. But unless you are have evidence that you’d raise at least one of the first 2 sub-scores appreciably it may make sense to focus on other activities.
When you send ACT scores to colleges, you have more control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one, unless it is specifically stated that the school wants them all (Penn and Yale do). Most of the schools on your list will not super score the ACT, but they will take your best composite.
I believe only Yale requires all ACT scores sent in (I’ve sent all 3 currently). And I don’t think any of the colleges I’m currently interested in super-score. I think I will register for the October ACT+Writing since it is the last accepted ACT deadline for most early action colleges. Thanks for all the insights!
Take it 10 times. Delete any score you don’t like. So once the Deleted scores disappear, send all your scores. You won’t look desperate if only 2, maybe 3, tests are still on your record. No one needs to know how many times you took it.