Should I retake?

<p>So, I just got my scores back from the February ACT:</p>

<p>Composite: 33
English: 35
Math: 30
Reading: 36
Science: 31
Writing: 10</p>

<p>I know that a 33 is a good score. However, I think that if I study, I should be able to raise my math and science scores, especially since I'm farther in trigonometry than I was when I took the test.</p>

<p>Should I retake the test? Just some extra information, I'm applying to Columbia and Northwestern, and I'm just not sure if the possibility of the better score will make that much of a difference.</p>

<p>Thanks for any advice you can give me.</p>

<p>I would. You need a higher score to be competitive at Columbia, dunno about Northwestern. And you're right, being farther along in Trig will probably help a lot.</p>

<p>Mmm ... that score is very competitive score though. Granted, it isn't perfect, but it is very competitive score. I wouldn't retake it just because it is enough and for Columbia, if you do ED, you are in (granted, everything else is okay too).</p>

<p>What it comes down to is the rest of your profile. Your score is great, but top schools admissions are so difficult to gauge that you're going to want your test scores to be the highest they can be... so your application overall looks the best it can. If you were to submit this score you'd be alright, but without any particular hooks (I don't know the rest of your stats/info) you might look a lot like many other applicants. amaster008 is right, it is competitive, but for a 'normal' applicant without a hook, you want your application's stats to be high. Particularly if you are fairly sure you can raise it; unless money's an issue, what's the harm (save for a lost Saturday morning)?</p>

<p>That said, if you have a hook, I probably wouldn't worry about it.</p>

<p>how did you get your english scores to be so high?? any tips?</p>

<p>Here's my stats:</p>

<p>Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Mixed, Asian/Caucasian
School: Not very competitive
Class: Junior
Rank: 14/485
State: OH
Wanting to apply to : Columbia, Northwestern, Loyola...not really sure where else yet</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 both UW/W (I think? I'm not really sure how it works, but I have all As)
SAT: not taken yet
ACT: C:33, E:35, M:30, R:36, S:31
PSAT: 226</p>

<p>Current Classes:
Honors English III
AP US History
Pre-Calculus Honors
French IV
Genetics Honors
AP Statistics
Chemistry Honors
Trigonometry Honors</p>

<p>Potential Classes for Next Year:
AP English
AP Calculus AB
AP French
AP Biology
AP European History
AP Psychology
Physics Honors or Creative Writing & Publishing (can't decide)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Captain of Academic Quiz Team
Secretary of French Club
JV Tennis
On Executive Board (oversees Student Senate)
Co-founder of Lit. Club
Tutoring once a week for elementary students
Volunteering at the library last summer (plan to restart again)</p>

<p>Miscellaneous:
Nominated for Gifted School summer program (only one in district)
Accepted to Columbia Summer Program for High School Students</p>

<p>Sorry, but I didn't really do anything specific for the English sections. I've always just been good at reading. I would say just work on reading a lot, so you can get faster</p>

<p>You have great stats (I'm mixed Asian/white too, haha) and I think you're very competitive for all those schools. I guess what I'd say is I wouldn't worry about it, but if I were you, I'd retake because of the math deal.</p>

<p>For Columbia, it might be worth retaking the test. However, that score is above average for the middle 50 percentile at Northwestern.</p>

<p>i have a 33, and am applying to columbia next year.
i'm not retaking.</p>

<p>You may find this useful:</p>

<p>[thread=660294]Is a 33 ACT okay?[/thread]</p>

<p>If I had a 33 I wouldn't retake the test. I think if you would feel better about retaking the test then do so.</p>

<p>I would retake it as well, especially if you think you can improve. I took it in December and got a 32 and am retaking it later to raise my math score (I accidentally skipped two entire pages which really was not good). For me, I know my main issue for the math was staying on pace and not running out of time, and I'm sure that if you take it again, you'll know what to expect as far as pace goes.
Good luck :)</p>

<p>just work on your math and science and you'll get a 34 ;D</p>