I got a 32 Composite score on the September ACT with English: 35, Math: 30, Reading: 31, Science: 33. My philosophy is that a score of 30+ on the ACT is pretty good. But I’m aiming really competitive schools like NYU, Cooper Union, UChicaho, and Colgate University. I’m actually surprised that I scored so high for reading and science as I usually get 29’s on them. That being said, should I retake it to try and get in the range of 34-36?
@phatphysicist – Your 32 composite is very good. To give you an idea on how your score stacks up, here are average ACT composites for the schools you named:
NYU - 30
Cooper Union - 32
UChicago - 34
Colgate - 31
It’s also worth noting that UChicago superscores the ACT, meaning that if you retake the ACT, they’ll combine the highest subsection scores to give you the highest total composite.
Depending on your grades, extracurriculars, profile, etc, admission to UChicago may be attainable with a 32 composite. It totally depends on the rest of your application but a 32 is very strong!
@HigherEdData Thanks so much for your input!
If this is your first ACT, one hundred percent retake. The only reason I say this is because just one point higher will put you in the 99 percentile. The difference between a 32 and 33 is two times the amount of people score a 32 than a 33 or higher. A score of a 34 or higher will then make you eligible for a lot of scholarships so thats a plus. So if I were you I would take a bunch of practice tests, study over them, and go back in there and get that 33+. Good luck :).
UChicago is immensely competitive. Therefore, it would be your best interest to retake it, and since this was your first time taking the ACT (I presume) you should definitely, hopefully, be able to score higher! I hope I helped 
I would retake it, I also got a 32 on my ACT and was aiming for several “elite” schools but ultimately was not accepted. 32 is very good and will give you a chance anywhere but if you’re able to get a 33-34 it will help you out that much more.
@aeskimo I actually took the ACT twice. My first time I got a 28 so I immediately knew there had to be room for improvement. You said that getting a 33 puts me higher up than a 32. One of the colleges I listed above (Cooper Union) actually superscores the ACT. The first one I took I had English: 29, Math: 32, Reading: 24, Science 28. As mentioned before, my scores for the most recent one I took was English: 35, Math: 30, Reading: 31, Science: 33. You can instantly notice an increase by a large margin. My lowest for the second ACT was Math, but my math sub-score is higher in the first exam I took. Since, the college superscores, they would take my 32 for math and look at everything else from the second exam, giving me a total composite score of 33. Would this be fine or should I not take the risk?
Only take the test again if you have time to practice. Authentic tests, under time pressure. If you can put in significant time practicing, you might get a higher score. If your practices are showing no progress, you either need to call it good or make time to practice a lot more.
I agree with @CorncamMom
But is it fine if I superscore my exam scores?
I think the superscoring is automatic. All of the scores are reported on the Common App, plus your highest score on each section. Each college takes whatever information from that section that they want, but most of them will want a superscore. They usually have their policy on the admissions website.
@CorncamMom @aeskimo Thanks so much!
@CorncamMom Weren’t the scores on common APP self-reported? I doubt colleges will automatically superscore based on Common App.
Presumably, somebody will check the scores against the official reports from ACT and the College Board, but the Common App is where all of the various scores are laid out in one place, and colleges could use it for reference. Someone who has worked in admissions could weigh in here.