Hello, I’ve been gaining a lot of interest in Tulane recently and have decided I will apply there this fall. I was able to find the middle 50% range for their ACT scores on their website; however I couldn’t find any information as to whether or not they superscore. I’m assuming they need the writing section because their SAT scores were higher than 1600. So does Tulane superscore? I really hope they do because the best ACT I took was without writing since it was a free one my high school required junior to take. Thank you!
When my D applied last fall, she asked this question of a Tulane admissions person. The reply was no, they will consider highest score only (I think they said something like only the higher composite will be entered into our system and so we won’t ever see the lower score or how it’s broken down). Superscoring would have made her app stronger and may have moved her into a higher merit category, but they were pretty generous nonetheless.
Wash U superscores the ACT, as do a number of other schools. There are consolidated lists but better to check at each school.
And of course Tulane may have changed that policy so an e-mail to them is probably your best bet.
Thank you @LuckyCharms913 My ACT scores are a little varied so this has been a really tricky situation.
Sept. Oct. March (School provided) SuperScored
C 31 29 32 33
E 34 32 34 34
M 28 28 31 31
R 34 29 32 34
S 26 29 31 31
W 8 10 ---- 10
So, I’m really frustrated because my best ACT score didn’t have the writing section! :((
It’s driving me crazy right now! I really was hoping I wouldn’t have to take the ACT again, but I may have to if I can only send in one score. My first score of 31 isn’t necessarily bad, but I don’t feel too great about sending in a 28 on math and 26 on science… Ugh, this is killing me
Check this with Tulane but I think that ACT plus writing is recommended, not required. That being said, retaking isn’t a bad idea as some other schools you may be interested in might require the writing component and look at highest single sitting only.
Also, retaking may be worth considerable $$. This year Tulane’s higher merit awards were $27,000, $30,000 and $33,000 (per year, renewable). If a higher single ACT score nets you $3,000 more per year, that’s a pretty good payoff.
As much as I’d hate to take it again, you’re right, it’s probably worth it. I should probably study all summer for the September test and really try to hit it home then. I was so sure I was done with the ACT that I loaned all of my ACT books to friends lol
I would think that you could submit multiple scores-- even if they don’t superscore. I would check directly with your admissions rep- he/she will guide you.
Unless something has changed, no they do not officially superscore the ACT. But yes, they are very generous and I think they will look at your ACT scores and see your abilities. You can ask the adcomm if they will look at the scores from your best administration and then separately at the writing from another administration. Thats a reasonable question, as taking it 5 times is a bit much, and may not help you. They are very interested in volunteer service and demonstrated interest. One of my s’s is a Tulane grad and had a fabulous merit scholarship . Go for it!
Thanks @DebmomNY and @jym626 As long as they will look at multiple tests I’ll be fine. I don’t necessarily need them to recalculate everything into a new score. I’m going to email my admissions representative and I’ll let you all know what she says. 
So I heard back from my admissions representative. She said they don’t superscore the ACT. Students may send as many score reports as they like but Tulane will only evaluate the highest composite score (I don’t really understand this or why we can send multiple reports if they’re only going to look at one of them, so I’ll clarify this with her). Also, Tulane doesn’t require the writing portion on the ACT. This surprised me since the SAT scores on their website used the writing.
Since they don’t require the writing portion, I’m second guessing whether or not I need to take the ACT for the fourth time. My best score, a 32, didn’t have the writing section on it, so I can use it now
I think the decision to try one more time is only a function of how much you need merit scholarship aid to attend Tulane. From your other posts it sounds like you need to max out aid to make attending a private school comfortable financially. I saw your GPA from another thread (3.93 UW. 4.453 W, 8 AP’s) so that is very strong. I have to say I am rather shocked that doesn’t put you in the top 10% of your class, but hopefully after the new calculations this summer you will move into that group. So I would think that you are likely to get the Presidential Scholarship from Tulane, which I think will be $33,000 this year. If not that, then the next level down from that which is $30,000 per year.
However, if you were able to get your ACT up to a single sitting 33 (or obviously even better if higher), you would be in the running for one of Tulane’s 125 full tuition scholarships. With a 32 it would still be worth applying and you would have an outside shot, but it would probably be a very long shot. Even with a 33+ it is very competitive, but you would certainly be in the mix, I think. So in other words getting a higher ACT could be worth about $68,000 more to you over 4 years (about $200,000 total value), or even more than that because the full tuition + fees scholarships adjust with tuition/fee increases, while the other scholarships are fixed at $33,000 or $30,000 etc. So as much of a PITA as taking it a 5th time is, the potential return on your investment in time studying and taking the test is potentially very high.
It is also very important that you apply to Tulane EA, and that you show strong interest by at least attending any local events they have in your area. If you are not particularly close to one, there are other ways to show interest, but i am going to assume for now you are close to Nashville or Memphis.
If you have any questions about any of that, post it here and one of us can clarify/expand.
Thanks @fallenchemist As far as class rank, my school used a graduated GPA scale (A+, A, A-, etc). I took 2 APs and 4 honor classes my sophomore year and barely scraped by with lots of A- grades and a couple B+ grades. However a lot of kids took less demanding schedules are were able to get As and lots of A+ grades, so my rank dropped substantially. However my school switched over to the standard GPA scale (A=4.0), so my rank has improved. And the GPAs I provided are on this “regular” GPA scale. I don’t even remember what my GPA is on the old scale my school used.
And I’m probably going to take the ACT in September. I should probably register now so there’s no backing out haha.
And if you do fabulously on the ACT you dont have to report the previous scores.
If I remember correctly they asked how many times you had taken each test-- although now that they are changing to the common app, I don’t know if that will still be the case.