<p>Is anyone else boggled as to why the ACT scores for UChicago are seemingly much lower than the SAT scores? </p>
<p>Assuming that the data from the college board's SAT/ACT score comparison is legitimate, Is this because smart people score low on the science section (which is totally random and pointless), and; therefore, their ACT average is brought down? Does UChicago ignore the science or english section, thereby letting lower total averages in? Is this because they don't combine subscores for the ACT and just take the highest overall average? Are UChicago students simply better at "aptitude tests" (SAT) than "achievement tests"(ACT)?</p>
<p>While there may be truth to each of the propositions..</p>
<p>My hypothesis: it's because they don't combine subscores from multiple sittings for the ACT like they do for the SAT.</p>
<p>btw, While they claim to not look heavily at test scores, students that enroll, on average, have extremely high test scores. Causation or Correlation? I don't know.</p>
<p>There is no point to point conversion of ACT to SAT, the tables are estimates. There are also different tables provided. Further, the tests measure different things to a certain extent. I believe an ACT score of 33 places one in the 99th percentile, as would a score of 36. There is little meaningful difference, and the admissions folks know that.</p>
<p>I too have read that U of C combines scores, but I do not recall where I read it so I have not posted it until now. The final resolution will have to await Libby. Also, some schools combine after the fact for reporting attending class profiles rather than for admit purposes.</p>
<p>I think there IS meaningful difference between a 33 and a 36. They are both 99%, but we are talking about the difference between one in a hundred (the 33) versus less than 1 in 10,000 (the 36). That, to me, is a meanginful difference. If the two scores were statistically the same, then a 33 scorer could theoretically go back and randomly score 36, and vice versa. That just doesn't happen.</p>
<p>There is no evidence that I know of that predicts an individual who achieves a 36 will do better in college than a person who achieves a 33. Accordingly, there is no difference.</p>
<p>I recently attended a Summer Information Day where I was told in no uncertain terms that the high school transcript is most important (no surprise there). Second were the essays. Then came recs and test scores in particular order. The counselors did not even mention EC's, awards, etc. That is not to say that these things are not important; they just don't seem to be as important at Chicago as at its peer institutions. The counselors also said that not only do they not care what you get on SAT writing, it won't even show up in your file when they review it. So to the OP, don't worry too much about your test scores- right a killer essay.</p>