Sparknotes: 283 Great Colleges -- does this make sense?

Parents Forum
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<p>So, my kids picked out a bunch of college books, including this one (it seemed to have nice graphics, LOL). Anyway - it gives "26" at the average freshman ACT score for these colleges (I am just picking a few as I skim through): Amherst, Barnard, Brown, Carleton, Davidson, Duke, Northwestern, Rice, Swarthmore, Williams. Princeton and Wash U are at 27. I see nothing higher than that in the book, anywhere. </p>

<p>I never took the ACT and I don't have a real sense for what ACT scores mean the way I do for SAT's, but does this make any sense whatsoever? It has to be a mistake, right?</p>

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<p>Must be a typo. Probably supposed to be 36. For a high-end school 26 is a very mediocre score. For ACT:SAT conversion, 36 = 2400.</p>

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<p>It’s nonsense. A 26 ACT corresponds to around a 1760 new SAT. Hardly anyone at the listed schools would have a score that low.</p>

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<p>I know that 36 = 2400, but that doesn’t help me know what a 30 or 32 or 34 means :-). Just not as familiar!</p>

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<p>[SAT-ACT</a> Conversion chart](<a href=“http://www.spartanburg6.k12.sc.us/dhs/Guidance%20website/SAT-ACT%20Conversion%20chart.html]SAT-ACT”>http://www.spartanburg6.k12.sc.us/dhs/Guidance%20website/SAT-ACT%20Conversion%20chart.html)</p>

<p>Also,</p>

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<p>I’d agree, but, there’s no way a school could have an average ACT or even 75th percentile of 36. Far too few people get 36s.</p>

<p>I have no idea why this data is so messed up, but I hope the conversion chart (approximate) helps. And for more accurate data, go to collegeboard:</p>

<p>[::</a> College Planning Made Easy | Inside Source for College Admissions Requirements](<a href=“http://www.collegeboard.com%5D::”>http://www.collegeboard.com)</p>

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<p>[SAT-ACT</a> Concordance Tables](<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/data-reports-research/sat/sat-act]SAT-ACT”>Score Comparisons – SAT Suite | College Board)</p>

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<p>Pizzagirl, I think you can google ACT/SAT conversion to get a chart. My guess is the average ACT would be higher than 30 at the schools listed above.</p>

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<p>I’ve noticed that for Eastern and Western schools where submitting SAT scores is the norm, SAT mid-50%tile ranges tend to be higher than ACT mid-50%tile ranges. I have no clue why this is. According to one popular college site, Amherst’s average ACT score is 31 … but the average SAT score converts to ACT = 33. Big difference there.</p>

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<p>This might help. Go to the ACT area for your state and then near the end of the report it shows the ranges or ACT scores for certain colleges. Very interesting stuff</p>

<p>[ACT</a> National and State Scores for 2009: State Reports](<a href=“http://www.act.org/news/data/09/statemenu.html]ACT”>http://www.act.org/news/data/09/statemenu.html)</p>

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<p>Rice does not state an average but gives how many in different brackets:
Score Applied Accpt Enrolled
36-34 460 278 75<br>
33-31 892 268 86<br>
30-28 725 125 57<br>
27-25 483 55 29<br>
24-22 230 15 11<br>
< 22 156 5 5</p>

<p>You would in no way get a 26 average out of that.</p>