What ACT score is needed for our son?

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
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<p>Our son is a junior in High School right now. He is planning on becoming a doctor. He took the ACT test as a sophmore and got a score of 24. He plans on taking this over and over again until he gets a good score. Can anybody tell me what a good score would be considering all the information below. Thank you for your assistance.</p>

<p>He is currently #1 (tied with two other individuals) inclass ranking out of a class of 341 students. </p>

<p>His current GPA is 4.5. (AP weighted). He is taking the maximum amount of AP classes.</p>

<p>He was inducted into the National Honor Society.</p>

<p>He won a state trip to DC last year for the Americanism contest. He was the top sophmore male winner for our state. </p>

<p>He is close to becoming an Eagle Scout.</p>

<p>He is on student government at his high school.</p>

<p>He works part time doing IT support for a manufacturing company.</p>

<p>He is a member of the Academia team.</p>

<p>He is an officer in his foreign language club.</p>

<p>He is a member of student government.</p>

<p>He has volunteered for some non-profit agencies in our community including a Hospice facility and a program working with individuals with disabilities. </p>

<p>He is on the tennis team and plays intermurrial dodgeball.</p>

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<p>Sounds like an outstanding kid you have there...I'd say it depends on the colleges - if he wants to get into John Hopkins per say...he'd have to shoot high (33-34+). That would be equivalent to a 1500+ and definitely competitive. I don't think he should take it officially so many times, but if you dont mind spending the $ and he doesn't mind doing it...he should go for it, but he shouldn't expect significant improvements everytime. If he takes it once again...prepares hard and takes it over..it'll go up.</p>

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<p>Remember that some of the Ivys actually prefer the SAT to the ACT because it is a "reasoning" test, so shoot for a 2250+ on the SAT (32+ ACT) and all 750+ on SAT IIs.</p>

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<p>He sounds like a great kid, and that might get him somewhere, but he needs AT LEAST a 30 if he wants to get into the good schools. I'm a senior right now and I'm going through the process....the numbers get you considered, and then they look at his profile.</p>

<p>Things which are significantly good about profile: GPA/Rank (there's a downfall to this though), DC thing, EAgle scout, IT</p>

<p>Not that great: Academia, Foreign language offficer (unless pres), volunteered (unless major volunteering, like a coordinator or something), NHStennis team (unless he's #1 in county, state etc)</p>

<p>I don't mean to put you down, his profile is good, I'm just telling you honestly what colleges will like, and what will only be considered commonplace.</p>

<p>The downfall to GPA is that he MUST get a high SAT/ACT or else your school looks easy. SAT/ACT more than anything is meant to determine how competitive your school is. I.E. schools where a guy is ranked in top 20 percent getting over 2300 SAT makes school REALLY copmetitive, guy ranked #1 not even getting a 2000 SAT (or 30/31 ACT) doesn't make the school sound very competitive.</p>

<p>He needs to get his score up: If he wants good school (like Univ of Calif), he needs a 28-30; a good private school maybe lower ivy(Duke, maybe Hopkins, Dartmouth) 30-32; highest ivy: 33-36 (Harvard, Yale) and 700+ on SAT II</p>

<p>Once again, there's a lot more to know, so keep asking questions or pm me.</p>

<p>To answer your question bluntly: 30-33 for good college.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

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<p>my score increased 8 pts from freshman year...and i go to a semi-competitive HS (the best available, though...). With a bit of prep, he can probably increase atleast 8 pts...hopefully, he'll be fully prepped by june...from my experience, the highest scores come out in june...</p>

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<p>The chances aren't looking good, not to be offensive. The high school looks easy.</p>

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<p>he has a lot of time to prep, get him to study for it and significantly raise that score.</p>

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<p>Thanks you guys. I figured out that he can take it 7 more times so I am hoping he can improve at least a few points each time.</p>

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<p>7 times? what a waste of money...Just tell him to take it once and do the best he can</p>

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<p>sanguine. He took it in his sophmore year last year and only got a score of 24. He never studied at all prior to the test and we are hoping that this time (next Saturday) he can get a better score since he has been studying and he is now a Junior in high school. And, it sounds like its well worth the cost if having a low ACT score would hold him back from a good program. I will pay whatever for him to continually try to do better. </p>

<p>It really ticks me off that my son has worked very, very hard his entire school career and has great grades and all that and just to think that one test could affect him from going to a good school when he has been a great student all along. He has even only missed one day ever in his school career and that was in 1st grade when he threw up in class and made him go home.</p>

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<p>Blondie: What worked well for our son--hiring a one-on-one tutor rather than enrolling in an ACT group prep class or doing self-study. Most of those prep classes are expensive and don't focus on an individual student's particular needs. Self-study provides no feedback/instruction. The private tutoring actually cost less overall and was tailored to what my son needed to work on. In addition to taking practice tests and working on testing stategies, the tutor reviewed past material from 1st year H.S. like geometry, bio. since it had been awhile and he needed a refresher. We also ordered a copy of his first test booklet/answer sheet so the tutor could zero in on any problem areas. It made a big difference from the 1st test going in with minimal prep to the 2nd after the tutoring. He jumped 5 composite points, with increases in all the subscores, and aced the writing test. He took both tests 2nd semester junior year so only a couple of months of tutoring was required between tests. Good luck!</p>

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<p>I was able to raise my score four points (29 to 33) in less than a year. If he dedicates himself to preparation, I believe his score could increase dramatically. At the same time, as he progresses through school, his breadth of knowledge will also increase. I recommend that once he finishes trigonometry and an advanced writing English course that he should take it again. I hope he gets into the school he wants.</p>

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<p>GoBlue....thanks for the tip about the tutor. We just talked to our son about the tutoring after we saw your suggestion and he is okay with the idea and we are definitely going to check into finding him a tutor. The only thing is...it will be too late for the test coming up this Saturday, but since he is just a Junior and can still take it again a few more times. Great idea on the test booklet/answer sheet also. </p>

<p>Hiller.....his only subject he was low on and is a weakness for him is the reading area. He does great in Science and Math and did fine on those on the ACT. He has always known his weakness was reading and he is specifically taking AP reading just so he can advance his reading skills for the ACT test. He is taking the maximum AP classes he can for his junior year and he also believes that the more he learns in this classes the better he will do the next time around (Saturday). </p>

<p>I really appreciate everyone's help on this board. You have all been great. I am a very proud mom and he has been such a terrific student and kid that I want him to succeed in whatever path he chooses and want to do everything I can to find ways to help him do that.</p>

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<p>blondie352003 , I didn't mean to come off sounding as a wiseass, I was simply stating that taking the exam 7 times seems to be a bit excessive and might send up a red flag with some colleges. If by 7 times you meant 7 opportunities, I retracted my prior statement...</p>

<p>I am in a very similar circumstance to your son (I'm in boy scouts, valedictorian, NHS, and aspire to become a doctor as well :)) I also seem to have a problem taking standardized tests. The first time I took the SAT I scored a measely 1220 and had to work hard up to a 1320 math+CR. I thought the ACT would work out better, but I only managed a 29 composite (no prep. for the ACT). I'm retaking this saturday and praying for a 32+ so I can have even a slight chance at Duke, but most of it is a crapshoot. Remember that standardized tests are only one way in which colleges will evaluate your son.</p>

<p>There are far more important things to worry about anyway.</p>

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<p>His ACT score would only be one aspect of his application.</p>

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<p>sanquine...I wasn't offended or anything. I just know from what other people say.....and especially after coming to this board...that the ACT is extremely important. So, I want him to get as good of a score as possible and I totally wish you luck also in taking it this Saturday. </p>

<p>Ivy, I feel like the ACT right now would be the weakest link for him at this moment in time. It seems like he has everything else going for him but that unless I am missing something that I could encourage him to do. Can you think of anything else they will look for on his application? He has always concentrated on academics rather than athletics. So, athletic activities might be his weakness also. But thanks to all for their responses.</p>

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<p>blondie, I too am a senior and struggling with standardized tests. If your son is looking at some of the better schools in the US, he should try to shoot for a 29 or higher. A few Ivys have an average of a 29 (the lower tier ones), and a 29 will get you a valid lottery ticket to some of the top LACs Swat, Amherst, etc. </p>

<p>Also keep in mind if your son chooses to look at a LAC his standardized tests will be weighted much less than at places such as HYP, Duke, etc. Smaller schools give more attention to the person then do larger schools. Over the next year encourage your son - or let him do it on his own - to focus his extracurricular activities on one or two fields. It seems as though he has an interest in political science - get involved outside of school. </p>

<p>Schools also have lower ACT averages then SAT averages, but they judge your personal ACT on its own average. Take advantage of this loophole =p</p>

<p>In sum, just remember that more and more schools are giving less and less importance to standardized tests. Quite a few schools now don't require them at all. Smaller schools will look at your entire package and give more weight to extracurricular activies, essays and interviews. A 29 will not put you out of the running at top tier schools (it won't help however) but it will be very tough to get in with a 28 or lower if you're not "hooked".</p>

<p>I'd be happy to try and answer any more of your questions - just let me know.</p>

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<p>I'm sort of in the same position (Valedictorian, Full IB (4.0uw), good EC's, etc). I scored a 175 on the PSAT as a junior. It was a major wake up call. I knew I should be, and could be, scoring much higher. With lots of hardwork, studying, and practice tests, I brought my SAT up to a 2160 after an initial 1970. </p>

<p>The ACT is geared way more to my strengths...What I know and have learned. The first time, with very little prep, I scored a 29. With a bit more prep, I scored a 31 (damn science and reading time constraints). </p>

<p>I think in the end, your son has to rise to the challenge, whatever way needed, and score at least a 29 or 2000 to make him competitive for upper tier schools. With great grades and being intelligent, I've come to learn that a "decent" score on the SAT or ACT is possible if you want it bad enough. In the end, it probably won't make or break your chances (or me...), so it's important to write great essays and looks for schools that are matches. Shoot for a score of 29 and 2,000 and around 700 on the SAT II's so that your son can let his other achievements stand out.</p>

<p>Also, if your son wants to be a doctor, he should be interning at a hospital or something. This is important to show passion and would be a great experience.</p>

<p>Last note: Blondie...you're correct about the experience. With time, your son's scores should naturally improve.</p>

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<p>When he takes it at the end of his junior year, I guarantee his score goes up at least 4 points by itself. Sophomore year is kind of early to take it. (I took it once and got a 32, which I was pleased with but isn't great...with a year of preparation, he could easily get a 34+...good luck!)</p>

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<p>Just to correct something -- the ACT has score choice, unlike the SAT. The only scores that are sent for the former are those you choose to send. Colleges have no way of knowing how many times you take the ACT unless you pay to send each set. Since you pay per test date, there is no reason you can't just send the best day's scores.</p>