<p>I took the ACT with writing last December and got a 33 with an 11 on the Writing. However, I was told that because I'd already taken Writing, I didn't need to again and I'd just send in two separate ACT scores, one with the writing and the other one. Well, on my second ACT I got a 36 composite. But now I'm reading this on the website:</p>
<p>"Applicants are welcome to use the score choice option for standardized test score submission. Princeton will consider the highest individual section results across all sittings of the SAT Reasoning and the highest composite score for the ACT with Writing, as well as the two highest SAT Subject Test scores. We encourage applicants to submit all official test scores as soon as they are available."</p>
<p>Does that mean they won't even consider my ACT that I got the 36 on?!</p>
<p>I emailed the office of undergrad admission but I feel sick to my stomach. Depending on their reply, I might retake the test. I’m in complete disbelief. If only I’d taken the damn writing section. Wow.</p>
<p>There is really no point to retake the test. You got a 33 on the ACT with Writing one, for chrissakes. Spend your time doing other things, like perfecting your college essay. Princeton just might superscore it in this case.</p>
<p>Okay man, chill. I got a 36. How would you feel if you did that and then read something telling you it won’t be accepted? Tell me where in the hell I said a 33 was not a good score or disparaged it in any way. You can’t, because I didn’t. I’m asking for a definitive answer to my question. I don’t need to be lectured. A 33 is good, yes, but it is NOT a 36.</p>
<p>Unless Princeton’s Admissions Office says otherwise, your 36 ACT without writing does not meet Princeton’s requirements (or the requirements of HYSM and the like), even though you took the writing section with the other test. </p>
<p>My best advice would be to CALL (not email) the Princeton Admissions Office (and all other Admissions Office’s at colleges you are interested in) to find out what they say about the issue, as I imagine the response might vary from college to college. </p>
<p>EDIT: One issue, I imagine, comes down to whether a college super-scores the ACT. Most college’s that super-score the SAT, take the highest individual sections and put them all together creating a new higher-score, but they DO NOT do same thing for the ACT.</p>
<p>I would feel disappointed, but would not think of retaking it. A 33 is not a 36 but then again only a 36 is a 36. If you’re seeing this kind of variability with your test-taking, you’re not guaranteed to get a 36 if you retake it anyway. Here’s what someone looking at your application is gonna say: Look, this kid got a 33 and a 36 on the ACT, then he retook it again. Do we want this sort of grade-grubber? </p>
<p>And yes, if you submit it, Princeton will look at it. I’d be surprised if they didn’t take it into account, even though they officially can’t “count” it. If you think you need to retake it, then you do need a lecture, young one.</p>
<p>There are some Ivy schools that will mix and match ACT no writing with ACT with writing. Princeton is not one of them. I’m in the same position as you. 35 on a non-writing test, 33 on a with writing ACT test. I’ll be forced to submit the 33. Sucks but true. I emailed Princeton and that’s the response they gave. Makes no sense, but then again neither does the fact that ACT with writing often replaces SAT ALONGSIDE Subject Tests. Like what… How does ACT science replace SAT Physics/Chem/Bio. Whatever</p>
<p>It’s awesome that you got a 36 and you should be proud of yourself. And it’s awful that because of Princeton’s policies it won’t be accepted. But, while I can understand why you would want to retake so that Princeton sees a perfect ACT score, consider the following:</p>
<p>1) As other posters have said you are not guaranteed to get a 36 again.
2) Your 33 is already within Princeton’s range and already makes you a qualified applicant.
3) Having that 36 with writing on your transcript probably isn’t going to make as much of a difference as you thought.</p>
<p>Your goal in retaking would be to get a perfect score again, which is incredibly hard to do. I would think that would add a lot of unnecessary stress to your senior fall. And, if you rush into a retake without preparing there is always a chance, however small, that you could score LOWER than your 33, which would be really bad.</p>
<p>As 93tiger16 said you should be focusing on your essays right now. 4.0 GPA, 2280 SAT; 3.9 GPA 35 ACT; 3.88 GPA 2310 SAT; 4.0 GPA 33 ACT; 3.85 GPA 32 ACT, 3.86 GPA 33 ACT; 3.9 GPA 2260 SAT; 4.0 GPA 2210 SAT…based on that, if you were a Princeton admissions officer, which student would you admit? You don’t know, right? You have to read the rest of their application. The essays are very important.</p>
<p>^I’m predicting an indignant response along the lines of “dude, I never said a 33 wasn’t good!” If OP wants to waste his/her time retaking, let him/her do it. At the expense of time better spent working on other application materials. OP obviously knows the adcoms better than we do.</p>
<p>For a white, unhooked male, I’m sorry, but I don’t think a 33 will get me into Princeton. You can spout off all you want about how it’s in the range (which I know), but I need all the help I can get. While I’ll concede that a 34 has no difference from a 35 or 36, a 33 does. That’s a plain matter of fact. I apologize that it’s upset so many people that I want to retake a 33, which hundreds of other students probably do.</p>
<p>I personally would never retake a standardized test unless I was below the school’s median. Those test scores are used to compare your performance in an objective way to the rest of the country. Once you cross a certain threshold retaking is pointless. I know you don’t want to hear that.</p>
<p>Perhaps there are hundreds of other students who insist on retaking their 33 to get a 36. I don’t want to meet them. Princeton wants passionate students who are going to CHANGE THE WORLD and MAKE A DIFFERENCE. They admit students who are strong academically but who CARE about something other than perfect scores and perfect grades! That’s the big picture concept that almost all CC people are missing.</p>
<p>@efeens44: If the immaturity that you display in your responses to others advice comes through on your Princeton essays, you will certainly be denied by the adcoms.</p>
<p>My god. Immaturity. Grade-grubbing. All of these are lofty assumptions people are making about my character. I understand everything people have said (and I appreciate the responses - I really do). But I think it’s unfair to cast me in such a negative light.</p>
<p>I understand that I may be coming off as grade-grubbing and whatnot. But none of you know the first thing about me. I got a 36 on the ACT and I can’t even send that in to my top choices (Princeton, Harvard, Dartmouth, and multiple other schools I’ll be applying to). Do you know how that makes me feel? I’m physically ill that such beauracracy will prevent me from being recognized by adcoms for what I perceive to be a noteworthy accomplishment. </p>
<p>What I’m trying to convey is that I KNOW a 33 is a good, no, great score. I’m damn proud of that score. But do I think that 33 will get me into Princeton? No. Maybe those of you out there who have responded do think it will (or it certainly won’t hurt my chances). But what I’m saying is that I KNOW for a FACT I can score better than a 33 (which I’ve already done). So what harm does it do if I retake? I can’t send in my 36 to these institutions anyways, so why does it matter if I retake? </p>
<p>Why am I being criticized? I’ll improve my 33 once again, with writing this time. A few of you need to get off your high horses and stop judging me because I want to retake a damn test. What’s wrong with wanting to send in the BEST I can do? A 33 is good, yes, but it doesn’t truly reflect my abilities.</p>
<p>EDIT:
And to 1sparkle, I care deeply about many things. Getting into Princeton is one of those things. And I’m gonna do damn near anything it takes to do it. I don’t give a damn about the 36. But since I know for a fact I can improve upon a 33, I’m going to do it.</p>