Hi everyone! So I am really interested in Vanderbilt but I will be applying regular decision. That being said I really would like to get in and want to have as good of chances as possible. I currently have a 34 on the ACT 36 R 35 E 34 S 31M and that was my second sitting which I did very very little prep for. Would it be worth my while to try and take it again to try and get it to a 35 or 36
No
You’re fine - your test scores are eligible for any school in the country (though I don’t know your subject tests, but Vandy certainly doesn’t require them). Move on. Focus on essays and presenting a brilliant and cohesive application.
Personally, I probably wouldn’t retake because I don’t like studying for or taking standardized tests, and a 34 is a good enough score.
However, to be honest, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to prep well and retake. Everyone on CC is going to tell you that once you hit a 34 you’re golden, but getting a 35 or 36 is somewhat better. This is especially true for the RD group at Vanderbilt, where they’re really score conscious. 34 is kind of the minimum for a non-hooked applicant to get accepted. If you don’t improve, just don’t submit it and no one will ever know; if you do improve, it can only help you. At this point in the game most of your app is set in stone; you can’t change your recs, ECs, etc., but with a few hours spent in a classroom on a Saturday morning you can bump up your chances. It just depends on how much that is worth to you.