Third Attempt: ( I THOUGHT I GOT AT LEAST A 31)
Composite: 29
English: 28
Math: 28
Reading: 32
Science: 27
IT SUCKS! My superscore is a 31.25 from the two previous tests! I did no major studying for all three but I was confident I would get at least a superscore of 32 What should I do? Should I take the December one and hard core study (while I take hard classes and do common app stuff) or should I just forget it??
I don’t think you should take it again. Statistically, after the third ACT it’s unlikely that your score is going to increase. The fact that you have gotten very similar scores three times in a row probably means it’s time to stop. The only exception would be if you really committed to studying and were consistently scoring higher on practice tests, then it may help to take it again.
According to their common data set (http://web.jhu.edu/registrar/reports/Reports_2013_2014/CDS_2013-2014_10-9-214_guidebooks.pdf) a 31 is right around the 25th percentile mark. Without knowing anything about you aside from your ACT score, I would say that makes Johns Hopkins a reach for you. By applying ED I do think that you have an advantage compared to if you were to apply RD.
I think it’s unlikely that your ACT is going to get much better, so you should just focus on strengthening the other parts of your application at this point. Good luck!
@CDOESenior2k16 Thank You for your detailed input! It really helps a girl like me out! I already sent in my Ed app but was counting on my third ACT to give me a .25 needed to round my superscore to a 32
Is it pointless applying to Ivies and other great schools if I only have a 31?
Keep in mind that very few schools superscore the ACT. JHU does but I don’t think that any of the Ivies do. So you would actually be applying to the Ivies with an ACT of 30.
Honestly, that 30 is going to handicap you at selective schools. Most selective schools have a holistic application process, which means that they consider you as a whole person (aka they won’t just throw your application out after seeing your 30). But even with this in mind, I would guess that a 30 is below the 25th percentile for most selective schools.
I don’t think this means it’s pointless, but it means it’s very unlikely that you’ll get into super selective schools. You applied ED to JHU, which will hopefully help you a little. Beyond that if there’s 1-2 more reaches you want to apply to that’s fine, but I wouldn’t recommend getting too attached. In addition to having, say, Yale on your list and LOVING Yale, make sure you have a few matches that you love, and a few safeties that you love.
I don’t know what goes on in the admissions meetings at Yale and similar caliber schools, so I wouldn’t say it’s impossible for you to be accepted. BUT it’s very unlikely. So it’s fine to apply, but don’t get your hopes up because at the end of the day these schools are reaches for people with perfect ACT scores. My biggest piece of advice would be to find matches and safeties that you would be happy to attend!! Good luck and feel free to let me know if you have any other questions
I am actually gonna delete the third ACT from my record and go Intense study mode for the December ACT! I know my standing isn’t as competitive right now but I know I can bring it up with a little more effort. I only studied a maximum of one week for the ACTs I took and didn’t even study the second time. I know I can bring it up!
I wouldn’t do it. Your scores seem fairly consistent and around the same each time and unless you do some SERIOUS studying and learn whatever it was you didn’t before, it won’t help you, it’ll just burn you out. A 30 is a decent score, don’t be disappointed in that.
Absolutely do not take the ACT for a fourth time. Taking either the ACT or the SAT more than twice is overkill and makes you appear test-obsessed, which is not a good thing, especially with top-tier schools. If you haven’t taken the SAT yet, study for it or take a prep course and take the SAT in December instead of a fourth ACT.
Also, look for other schools that you have a better chance of getting into. Unless you have achieved something on a national level, are an URM, etc., your scores make you unlikely to be admitted to an Ivy League-level school. But there are plenty of other great schools you could be just as happy at (or even happier).
What should I do? Should I take the December one and hard core study (while I take hard classes and do common app stuff) or should I just forget it??