Submitting ACT score or going Test optional

Not sure when colleges start to release Common Data Sets for the class of 2025 admission cycle, but you will want to have that info handy, as test optional really skewed the middle 50 at some institutions. The general rule of thumb when applying to selective colleges is:

• 75th percentile or above: submit with confidence, no exceptions

• 50th percentile: most likely submit. There could be some situations where you’d think twice (say you are applying to a STEM major and can only test once and you got a 28 on math and that is 25th or below for the subject)

• 25th percentile or below: probably don’t submit. You might if it is the reverse of the situation above (say 36M 36S 28E 28R), or if you are first-gen, URM, Nobel Prize winner, etc

A 32 is a great score, highly competitive at all but 50-75 or so colleges and will get you merit money all by itself at some colleges. So be proud of it even if at some places you don’t submit it.

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