strange ACT score... for Yale?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I just took the ACT and got a 31... nothing special I know, but here is my problem:
English: 32
Math: 36
Reading: 26
Science: 31</p>

<p>Perfect math score, noxious reading score. How will Yale's admissions committee view my 31? Will they think, "whoa nice math score, bad reading... whatever, accepted" or more like "reading... 26?... seriously?... rejected."?</p>

<p>I got a 2260 on the SAT. Should I even send my ACT score? The perfect math would probably look good; but I'm afraid my reading will immediately turn away the admissions committee. My counselor said colleges are looking for ways to accept me, not vice versa, so I should send all scores. Do you agree with this?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

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<p>Is the 2260 out of balance like your SAT score, or are the scores reasonably balanced? If they are better balanced, I wouldn’t send the ACT.</p>

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<p>To be candid, that would be exactly my worry.</p>

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<p>Generally, yes. When it comes to Yale and its peer institutions, no. Or more precisely, yes, but the bar is so much higher. They may be looking for reasons to admit you, but the number of extremely well qualified applicants so far exceeds the number of spaces in the freshman class that any reason not to accept you is just about disqualifying. When it comes to sending Yale your ACT, I think your counselor is giving you bad advice.</p>

3

<p>I would just stay with the SAT. The low ACT reading score is a turn off.</p>

4

<p>It also probably depends on what you’re trying to sell yourself as. If you want to be a math major and have a number of math-related strengths, then maybe send it. But was your SAT math score really high (750+)? If so, I’d just send your SAT.</p>

5

<p>Ok, thanks for the help guys. My SAT math was also quite high, and I will be retaking it this January (cutting it close, I know) to hopefully get a perfect score.</p>

<p>So for Harvard/Yale you recommend that I should not send. But, what about for the comparatively lesser selective colleges (duke, northwestern, notre dame)?</p>

6

<p>Also, do I get any special letter for the perfect math score? A friend of mine got a perfect composite score and received a special letter. just curious :)</p>

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<p>I don’t think Duke, Northwestern and Notre Dame are less selective by enough of a margin to make a real difference–at least, not for the purposes of this discussion. If you were talking about University of Oklahoma, it might change matters some (no disrespect intended to any Sooners on the board), but those universities you’ve mentioned all deny way more applicants than they admit.</p>

8

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<p>No…</p>

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<p>Perhaps, but a 31 is no reason to accept you.</p>

9

<p>Do you have two subject test scores? Otherwise, you do need to send Yale your ACT score. </p>

<p>There are only about 400-600 perfect composite scorers each year out of a few million. So your friend is special enough to receive a letter.</p>

10

<p>Questions about specific schools belong on the individual college forum, please repost there.</p>