<p>Hello!
I am considering taking the ACT a fourth time to try and bump my score up to a 32 (stuck on 30 the past two tries) in order to qualify for a few scholarships. I've taken it once my sophomore year and twice my junior year (I'm senior this year). However, I've recently read about drawbacks for taking the ACT more than three times. </p>
<p>Can taking the ACT one more time hurt my admission chances? Has anyone here had any experience? I'd like to get some opinions on this. I'm applying to some Ivy's and other top-tier schools, and I don't want one more ACT score to negatively affect my application.</p>
<p>I would think that a sophomore year score doesn’t really count, so taking it one more time isn’t a big deal for you. Some schools might start looking at you funny if you go beyond that, especially if there’s a huge jump, but in general, you’re okay at three.</p>
<p>The only negative comment I’ve ever really heard, and it was pretty much in jest, was at Haverford, where they said if you went beyond three, it was okay, but you really needed to get a life.</p>
<p>Just be aware that some schools, like Barnard, require you to submit every score for every time you’ve taken the test. Other schools, you can submit just the best scores. If any school would look negatively on four tests, it would be schools that want to see all the tests. I’m not sure the others would even be aware of it if you didn’t submit them.</p>
<p>None, whatsoever. It is in the colleges’ own interest to use your highest score.</p>
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<p>Worth a shot, if you really believe that you can do better, and if you have been practicing. The difference between a 30 and 32 is HUGE in admissions and in $$.</p>
<p>We’ve heard that over 3 times seen as a negative. Like previous poster said, depends on the school. Some will want them all and 4 times on your record won’t be great. Others will allow you just to send the best.</p>
<p>Why did you take it Sophomore year? Was it the real ACT or the PLAN (the pre-test for ACT.) If it’s the PLAN then it doesn’t count for sure. I know that kids who take the SAT for talent searches in middle school don’t report those scores but an ACT in high school. You might have too. </p>
<p>Might be worth contacting the admissions office on how to handle a Sophomore exam score.</p>
<p>Your chances of going up two full points in a fourth sitting to qualify for the scholarships you’re seeking are almost zero. Taking the test a fourth time isn’t going to be a plus at this point. Regardless of the impact on admissions, your time would be better spent elsewhere.</p>
<p>Instead spend time writing essays that capture your voice and passion and preparing applications that are free of errors. More important, immerse yourself in the most rigorous courses you can handle not just because thats impressive for admissions, but because its preparation for success in college.</p>
<p>You may want to try a practice SAT to see if you will do significantly better on the SAT than the ACT. If so, it may be more worthwhile to get the higher SAT score than to keep retrying the ACT.</p>