<p>Ok... I have no idea where to post this, but i've just received my ACT scores and I got 24. I'm super worried as to where to apply and where I will be accepted. I do super well at school! I take the IB and i'm predicted to have 40/42 points! That's an A* in each subject but two. I also take part in so many activities including MUN. Where should I apply? will i get into university?</p>
<p>…Do some research please.
also, list your specs, class, and any test scores, and gpa if you want to get estimates here.
Even dumbs go to college, fyi.</p>
<p>did you study? Does your school emphasize multiple choice and standardized testing?
If the answer to either question is “no”, then you know what to do:
register for the ACT ASAP and buy yourself a prep book as well as the “red book” of real ACT tests, and practice. 
If your predicted IB score is a 40, there’s no way that 24 reflects what you know and what you’re able to do, you should be getting a 32+!
What year are you in (I’m assuming junior)?
Your 40 IB would open many, many doors worldwide. The ACT shouldn’t be a big deal. :)</p>
<p>^Agreed.
If you don’t want ACT, take SAT
Buy Bluebook and don’t use recent Princeton review because it sucks.
and practice as if it were real tests.
List some of you stat here btw</p>
<p>Try CC’s college SuperMatch; it’s really helpful!</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>I’m actually a senior…this is my second time taking the test - I improved from 22 to 24 
</p>
<p>Math: 27
Writing: 25
Reading: 21
Science: 21</p>
<p>I’m predicted 40 points without bonus and I take Chem Bio and Econ at HL, Literature, Swahili and Math at SL. </p>
<p>I’m not sure how to calculate my GPA, but i’m assuming it’s like 3.8? </p>
<p>I’m thinking of re-taking the ACT in December…do you think that’s too late for regular decision?</p>
<p>What are my chances for:</p>
<p>Boston University
University of Michigan Ann-Arbor
NYU (Although, you can choose to just send your IB score on their own - thank God!)
And the dream was John Hopkins…but alas…</p>
<p>What do schools care more about grades or standardized tests?</p>
<p>and you’re right about princeton review because i used that to prep for this test and my scores did not improve…</p>
<p>Schools have HOLISTIC REVIEW
That means all of the componenets will be considered, but
its true that GPA is more than standardized test scores.</p>
<p>Red book and Barrons 36 is great book for ACT.</p>
<p>Also, A=4 B=3 C=2 D=1 F=0 …is the most common system.
Ask your counselor which classes are weighted.</p>
<p>Will you need financial aid? Because you’ll pretty much have to be full pay for these schools - UMichigan does not have financial aid, NYU is notoriously stingy, and Boston U is a crapshoot for FA.
Look into Florida schools, they have sweet deals for people with good IB scores. New College, UF, and Harriett Wilkes Honors College (for science in particular) should be of interest.
Since you do so poorly on the ACT compared to your results, try the SAT. Some students do better with one or with the other. registration deadline is Nov 8 for Dec 7 test. You’d have Math, English, and Writing so math would count as 1/3 of the score, not 1/5, that should help. You can buy a prep book but overall, just buy the “blue book” with lots of “real SAT’s” (mock tests by the College Board). Theformat is different from the ACT but the basic material is the same.
I actually don’t think Princeton Review is bad at all, but it’s the basics. You can’t stop there - you need to spend a few hours of focused review, taking tests and targeting the questions you got wrong.
Are those 4 universities the only ones you intend to apply to? What’s your EFC or how much does your family intend to pay?
You need to look into schools that favor IB scores over other elements of the application. Anything above a 35 is awesome so if you had 38-40 you would have many opportunities.</p>
<p>I’m not looking for any financial aid; i’m willing and able to fund for myself. If I take the SAT, i’d need to take the subject tests as well, and i’m running out of time…Maybe I should try the ACT one more time…Although regular decision deadline is January 1st I can still take the ACT december 14th and send the scores through the ACT site itself, right? I’m not sure I can get the Red Barrons book from where I live…Are there any online prep classes that are particularly helpful?</p>
<p>I honestly wanted to apply to:</p>
<p>Columbia
John Hopkins
Boston University
NYU
University of Michigan (btw, is this a good school?)
The thing is my grades at school are phenomenal and i’m super bummed that stupid standardized test scores will stop me from applying to great schools…</p>
<p>Most top schools will take note of the low test scores, and all schools you listed are considered top schools. And to answer your question, yes University of Michigan is a great school. An option to consider (of course you must really like the school) would be a test optional school, such as Bowdoin or Wake Forest.</p>
<p>do universities care how many times you take the ACT? is 4 too much?</p>
<p>universities do care, and 4 yes is considered too much, but 24 is much too low for all of the universities you want to apply to so there’s no downside to retaking. There will be plenty of superb candidates who will have 27+… A better solution remains the SAT. See if in your country it’s possible to take SAT subjects as a stand by, in November. Take Math2, Chemistry, Biology subjects - compared to HL, it should be a piece of cake. You don’t even need to review (just make sure you know the syllabus for the class and review the basics since you may not have studied them since 8th or 9th grade). Some colleges that are “test flexible” accept these instead of the SAT or the ACT. Then take the SAT in December.
You can also apply to top-notch test optional schools like Wake Forest, Bowdoin, HOly Cross, they would look make a decision based on your IB scores only, – and at these colleges, the fact you’re full-pay would help you, too.
The fact you’re full pay would also help at BU, NYU, and UMich.
But you need to diversify your list. A 24 wouldn’t even be sufficient for a State flagship, never mind a top notch, highly selective school.</p>
<p>^YES
But because of score choice, these days. unless schools like Yale requires all the scores taken, they probably won’t know</p>
<p>yes. So your best bet is to try and take SAT2s as a standby in November, the SAT AND the ACT in December, and keep your fingers crossed.
That 24 v. predicted 40 IB is very puzzling.
Do you answer all questions, even those you’re not sure about ? (some cultures, I know, make it very “bad” to guess, but for the ACT you must.)
If Cracking the ACT is available in your country, the Red book of real ACTs should be.
Websites: khan academy to review basic math (your problem probably is that you’ve forgotten all the 6th-8th grade stuff so you flounder on the really easy problems), number2 for free preparation with a tracking system to help you focus on your errors…</p>
<p>Make sure you have match schools and safety. You are running out of time. For UMich, the mid 50 ACT is 29-33. Aim at 31+ as oos for a better chance.</p>
<p>im gonna go with your advice and try the SAT for november…the reasoning though and then see.</p>
<p>im using barrons and online prep me from naviance</p>
<p>im gonna go with your advice and do SAT nov 2 reasoning though and subject tests december</p>
<p>you’d likely do much better on the SAT2 tests in math2, bio, and chem though, and sending these scores would mitigate your low ACT score. I think that if you take the SAT in November you should take the SAT2s in December. However SAT2 subjects offered differ depending on date so make sure your best subjects are offered on the date you intend to apply. Dec scores will still be accepted for Regular Decision schools.</p>
<p>If you don’t do amazing, you’re likely gonna have to cut out all the schools from your list.</p>
<p>no pressure…</p>