Simple Question, Help! I'm a bit confused.

Test Preparation
1

So basically, I have taken the ACT 3 times.

First time: 30C (30E, 30M, 30R, 28S) - Writing essay score: 10
Second time: 32C (33E, 32M, 33R, 28S) - No writing
Third time: 34C (36E, 35M, 33R, 31S) - No writing

When I submit test scores on my college applications, I have to send an ACT with writing (which is my first, and lowest) and I will want to send my 34 since it is remarkably better. Will colleges see the 30 and it will hurt my application? Or will they see the writing score from the 30 and then take the other scores from the 34?

If it helps, I am looking at programs such as CS at UIUC and at GA Tech (so they are highly competitive programs).

Based on the answers to my questions above, should I retake the ACT with writing? (In order to score a high score and a writing score on the same test).

Thanks!

2

Hey,

Don’t worry about the low scores too much. Most ivys (and other colleges) just look at your highest composite score and writing score.

Source: hours of research. same concern :slight_smile:

What schools are you looking to apply to?

3

@pnguon Thanks!
So far my list is Purdue, Ohio State, UIUC, Ga Tech, Cornell. And then my safeties.

4

If your GPA’s also pretty good (even if it’s not…), I’d say aim higher! :slight_smile: Good list so far, though.

5

@pnguon My GPA is actually a 4.0 UW and I’m probably going to major in CS. What are some schools that I could aim higher for? I know the ones I have above are solid and I like them so I really just need 1 or 2 more schools for my list to be finished.

6

Woah. That’s even higher than me, except Im going to major in Chem Engineering.

Uhh, maybe Princeton? Stanford?

7

@pnguon I know stanford is great, but I kind of wrote it off as impossible to get into. Same sort of thing with Princeton, but I may give those 2 another look. Thanks again!

8

Yea. Anytime. Give it a shot! I’m giving it a shot as well… haha.
(Im an international though)

9

Georgia Tech super super scores so you don’t have to retake it.