since some colleges DO look at how many times youve taken the act..

<p>is taking it the 3rd time too much?</p>

<p>You can take the ACT as much as you want. For the ACT, you can send a report for a specific date only.</p>

<p>but for my school, the ACT score shows up on our transcripts.. soo.. how does that work out?</p>

<p>don't worry about taking it a third time, is my opinion. Plenty of students sit for the real SAT three times and I don't believe they are viewed as going over the top or weak test takers or test score grubbers.
Just alter your preparation if you do it a third time..otherwise..what is the point? My 2nd son got the same composite score on the real SAT twice...so although we knew he could do a bit better if he dropped activities and focused on test prep, we just dropped it and that was a personal choice...not to hound him.<br>
He had done some prep, and we were satisfied that the score was "about accurate" of his best effort. Instead, he switched to the ACT..which was actually a higher score for him.<br>
One thing we know from first son..who upped his SATs by 200 points doing some self study..is that then you can be admitted to schools full of kids who hit that score with very little prep..and then superior test takers areyour "new peers" for midterms, finals ect. Make sure you are aiming for goals that suit your temperament, abilities and career dreams...Son at Duke is extremely happy around very gifted people and thrives there and copes with being in the middle of the school in test talent. He has also grown tremendously socially and intellectually there.</p>

<p>It is good to learn "who you are" and what level of stress you can assume in your personality. Son number one has adjusted to not being the top at Duke...He has a very good GPA, but many of his friends are better exam takers and simply can do things faster.....without a doubt. He loves being around his peers and learns as much from his peers as from his teachers. It is a stress he assumes gracefully....no longer being at the top of a cohort of smart kids. </p>

<p>So..just a little ramble on what can happen for kids whose test scores rise from personal effort...when you land in a school with kids who hit those scores with ease.</p>

<p>oh,when you sign up for your test, don't put your high school code. That way, the scores don't reach your school. When you receive your scores and it turns out good, then you can send to your school plus colleges.</p>