Will my horrible ACT get me anywhere decent....?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Next year I plan to apply ED at Duke and also at George Washington University, Georgetown, Tufts, and American University. I am aware I NEED to raise my ACT, but please tell me what my chances are and what I need to improve. Thanks a billion! </p>

<p>-29 ACT composite. (I was on track to get a 31 and I was absolutely DEVASTATED when I saw a 29. I will definitely take it again and shoot for a 30 or 31.)
-4.2 weighted GPA (not sure the unweighted)
-3/100 in class
-Junior Year Schedule: Honors Chem, Econ, College Prep English, band/choir, CIS American History, pre calc, CIS Spanish 3
-Senior Year Schedule: Honors physics, AP calc, CIS literature, CIS writing, CIS public speaking, American Government, CIS Spanish 4, band/choir
<em>**CIS means college in the schools which means the classes are through the university of Minnesota
*</em>*When I graduate I will have completed every upper level class offered at my school except for 3
-2 year varsity track captain
-2 year varsity cross country captain
-Student council VP and 3 year member so far
-Class President in 10th grade
-Class VP junior year
-NHS (voted president for next year)
-Choir (superior rating in state contest multiple times)
-Band (one superior contest rating)
-Another special singing group
-I have done some special opportunities with the MN state capital
-VFW Girls State
- I organize a relay for life event and have personally had a team 4 years. I have personally raised over $10,000
-I actually had cancer when I was younger and I now live with only 1 working eye. The other is a prosthetic.
-I work 2 jobs</p>

<p>Please give me any and all feedback. I really feel confident I can get a 30 or 31 ACT score, and I hope that will help my chances.</p>

2

<p>29 isn’t that bad!!! You can definitely still get into those schools! Even with the 29b although duke with a 29 is gonna be tough. Definitely retake and shoot for a 31+</p>

<p>Don’t worry, you’re fine !!!</p>

<p>Chance me!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1643813-duke-ed-chances.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1643813-duke-ed-chances.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>write about your eye and 2 jobs in your essay. Thats what makes you stand out</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the feedback!</p>

5

<p>Imho a 30 is probably too low. Aim for at least a 32.</p>

6

<p>29 isn’t a horrible score at ALL! Just focus on wow-ing them with your essays, and study up for the next ACT. Chance me back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1645418-chance-me-northwestern-brown-brandeis-i-ll-chance-back.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1645418-chance-me-northwestern-brown-brandeis-i-ll-chance-back.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>29 isn’t half bad for most schools, and while it might be on the wrong side of the bell for these, it’s not too far down.</p>

<p>Also, could we have a private message conversation on the subject of prosthetic eyes? I’ve been half blind since birth.</p>

8

<p>29 is far from a “horrible” ACT score. It is not going to disqualify you from these schools. They are looking for highly qualified students that bring a different perspective. You have a good resume otherwise. As with any highly competitive school, the chances are low for everyone. You could retake the test, but a higher score is not likely to make all that much difference. The 29 will get you in the initial review.</p>

<p>The score ranges are just that, a range. While many students who apply to these schools think they need to get a higher score and re-take…that is not the reason they get admitted. All that does is drive up the ranges and make it look like you ‘need’ a 32+.</p>