I got a 32 on the ACT. Will this score keep me out of schools like Duke, Northwestern, Berkeley, Brown, Penn, Cornell, and Dartmouth? I am an unhooked, white male from NC. I am also Valedictorian of a fairly small school 50-70 students per graduating class. Took an extremely rigorous course-load.
A 32 ACT score is low for those schools, bottom 25% of admitted students. You would need a near perfect GPA and/or some leadership in EC’s to have a chance.
It definitely will not keep you out of those schools, although it is on the lower end because of a naturally competitive pool. You will need to be stronger in recommendations, subject tests, courseload, G.P.A., essays, and interview to make up for it.
Not so, @TomSrOfBoston. According to Princeton Review a 32 ACT is within the middle 50% at each of those schools. http://www.princetonreview.com/schools/1023956/college/northwestern-university
31-34 Duke
31-34 Northwestern
28-33 Berkeley
30-34 Brown
31-34 Penn
30-34 Cornell
30-34 Dartmouth
In my opinion, a 32 won’t keep you out of the running at any of those schools.
Well, my advice still stands, but now you are not lacking in that department!
So I’m not over my head applying to those schools? I’m obviously applying to safeties and matches.
no, you’re not over your head. it’s not like it hurts you to apply to them anyway, unless you can’t afford the application fees.
A composite of 32 is at the 98th percentile nationally for the 2014 graduating class. A 33 is at the 99th percentile for that year. I know plenty of unhooked white males at each of those schools who scored at or below a composite 32.
A 32 is fine. People get into Cornell with 1900s on the SAT (I know a few people who have). Having a 31-32+ ACT should not be a high concern for the schools you are considering.