So I just got my April ACT score and I got a 33 (33E 29M 33R 36S) which I am very happy with as I got a 30 last time and I improved on every section. I am planning on applying to Brown, Dartmouth, Claremont McKenna, and some other very good schools and I am wondering how much of a difference a 33 vs a 34 or a 35 will make.
What do you want to major in? If it is math/engineering related you will probably want to get that math subscore up.
I want to major in Economics.
That really depends. At that point the difference in ACT score is not as important as the other parts of the application.
If finances are not a concern, there is no harm in trying again. Then again if you have the money to afford any of those schools, then you will probably get to take your pick at a few. There is a saying that a 34 is basically the same as a 36. A 33 is good enough, but take it again if you really feel that you need it.
P.S. Currently have a 94 in Differential Equations as a senior in differential equations at a community college, could not get above a 27 in ACT math to save my life. Strangely got a 35 in reading, the only subject I did not study for.
Im lucky that money isnt a problem for my family. I will try to take the test again in September most likely.
@THRUSSIANBADGER hey, i’m also a junior who got a 33. A few people have suggested to take it again, like literally 2 people, but the vast majority of people tell me i’d be crazy to take it again. I’m not applying to anywhere that selective, so i have a different perspective then you, but I do agree with what @AverageJoe22 said about getting the subscore up. The 2nd time I took it I got a 34E 33M 33R and 30S. So it’s not like I had one really bad section, and I never got above 27 on science practice tests so I couldn’t improve that if I tried. Schools like Brown and Dartmouth are hard to get into for everyone, so taking it again and bring your score up may help a tiiiiny bit, but the discrepancy between the scores from 33-36 is very small.