<p>I am a sophomore. I took the ACT w/ Writing this year and got a 29 composite (31 English, 30 Math, 25 Reading (this surprised me), 30 Writing, 29 Science. I also took the SAT and did very poorly on it. I will be spending next year, my junior year, in Italy on Rotary Youth Exchange, and am hoping to apply SCEA to Yale in the fall of 2011. I know I can take the test at the US embassy in Rome, but I do not want to inconvenience my host family. Are these scores bad enough where I should retake for sure in Ocotober, or can I risk staying with this score? This is on the Yale forum because I want opinions from Yale students/prospects, not just random CCers. Thanks.</p>
<p>30-34 is the composite ACT 25-75th percentile range for admitted applicants to Yale. Generally, an unhooked applicant should aim toward a score near or above the 75th percentile. I suggest retaking if you really want to apply to Yale.</p>
<p>Okay … well I think my hooks are:
-Officially Hispanic (mom’s Mexican, dad’s half Cuban, I was born in Mexico and have dual citizenship, yet if you see me I look as gringo as any so…)
-Grandfather went to Yale Public Health and used to do interviews for Yale Admissions, Aunt did her PhD at Yale Forestry or something like that and I believe she did a few lectures for a class there.
-By the time I am back from Italy, I will be fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian, as well as proficient in French.
-The esperience of a high school year abroad.</p>
<p>Are these enough hooks to retake or not?</p>
<p>Study this summer and retake. Your score is not terrible, but you should aim for a bit higher if you can (even 1 or 2 points would be great!).</p>
<p>FYI, your grandfather and aunt probably won’t help as much as you’d think (only parents help).</p>
<p>You absolutely need to retake. Are a lot of the people replying here that familiar with the ACT? A 29 is not a great score–thinking of where I know that places people, that’s like the average score at the University of Minnesota’s College of Sciences. Even an athlete would have trouble getting in with that score.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to like break you down or anything but you probably need to study hard and absolutely need to retake it for a serious shot at Yale.</p>
<p>While being Hispanic is a hook, if you are not underprivilidged, your scores are going to need to be pretty much that of any other competitive Y candidate.</p>
<p>okay - I think I will retake … what about the foreign eschange, is that necessarily a “hook” or how is that viewed? What qualifies as “underprivilidged”?</p>
<p>Well, what exactly did you get on the SAT? If it’s not as bad as you think it is, there’s no need to fret.</p>
<p>Many kids go on foreign exchanges, it is definitely not a hook. The types of factors that would indicate that you are under privileged are things like: come from a low income family, have overcome obstacles, first gen to college, attend an underserved HS.</p>
<p>Being Hispanic is a hook, but be aware that that in no way guarantees acceptance to a selective college, see my POV here:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/931488-ivy-league-admissions-nhrps.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/931488-ivy-league-admissions-nhrps.html</a></p>
<p>Very much agree with the advice above. Retake the ACT. Often the scores improve with increased practice and familiarity with the test. My son (also a 2nd generation Hispanic) took it in June of his junior year and then again in Sept and Oct of senior year. He saw his Composite increase from 32 to 33 to 35, with no extra preparation or study for any of the three administrations. They were certainly all very good scores, but the difference was meaningful. He’s not sorry that he put in the extra effort… he’ll be at Yale in the fall and is feeling very fortunate.</p>
<p>What about maintaining all A’s in an Italian school?</p>
<p>Yes. Get all As but also improve the test score. All As won’t make up for the ACT.</p>
<p>It’s tough enough – you want to eliminate the weaknesses in your profile (low range test scores for Yale admits).</p>
<p>How do they view multiple takings of tests? How many reatakes are too many?</p>
<p>[Yale</a> Daily News - No choice on scores](<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/university-news/2009/01/16/no-choice-on-scores/]Yale”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/university-news/2009/01/16/no-choice-on-scores/)</p>