Should I retake my ACTs?
I got my results back a week ago and got a 26. Not the best score, but the college I'm aiming for accepts 26-30. Should I take it again to get a better chance of getting in? Or should I just keep the ACT score? I currently have a 3.8 GPA, and a bunch of extracurriculars. I don't want to spend more money on a test if it really won't matter in the end.
Edit: If it helps, the college I'm aiming for is UW-Madison. )
April 5, 2016
10 Comments • Newest first
Take it again and consider taking your SATs as well.
A lot of students make the mistake of thinking that you have to settle for having either a great gpa or a great ACT/SAT score, but the reality is quite different. Test scores are hardly the most important part of a college application; as long as you score reasonably well you have nothing to worry about.
What colleges care about is what you turn in on your application as a whole. If, at the end of your senior year, you graduate with a 3.8 gpa but when you look at all four years of high school there's a huge fluctuation in grades, attendance, and the amount of co-curriculars you have... it doesn't send a good message. However, getting a 3.0 gpa but getting consistent grades and staying in the same co-curriculars for 2-4 years will give the impression that you're tenacious and have good focus. Colleges aren't looking for perfection in their new students--they want stable, consistent people who will be successful at their school.
top 18% is terrible considering that any highschooler can take the test. Top 18% of your graduating class are B kids.
Yea take it again
I say take it again. It doesn't hurt to do it again. You might do better, and you can send tht score in. You have a 3,8 GPA so thts good, but it will look even better with a higher ACT score
it doesn't matter i dont think u r ready for those sleepless nights. that is just my opinon.
by all means tak it again @ the stupid xenon, if you think those r the only grants available you might as well get a 30k student loan. cause its only about you and the money.
It isn't just about you. @sufferable: u r achild
@pikacheww: Assuming you got a 3.8 unweighted GPA with a handful of AP/IBs mixed in, that's fine for most colleges until you get to the ~top 30s.
However a 26 on the ACT is pretty low considering the nationwide average iirc is 21. You scoring better than 83% of all testers isn't stellar considering that there are 3 Million+ high schoolers per class year. Plus, with @zoglinemusic pointing out that a score of 26 puts you on the 25th percentile for the college of your interest, that means 75% of those admitted for that college will have a higher ACT score then you.
You really should take it again to improve your chances of getting in.
@pikacheww: 83% of all testers on the ACT is actually not that great to be completely honest with you. I got 98% percentile on my SATs but it doesn't mean anything compared to people who get 2400 and go to Harvard
@tiesandbowties: Really? It says that I'm in the top 83% of all testers on the ACTs. I thought it was good. As for the GPA vs. ACT/SAT score... I've heard that a lot of colleges will accept you if you get a super high ACT/SAT regardless of low GPA.
26 is sorta on the low side and i feel like Wisconsin is a pretty decent school atm but if you have a 3.8 unweighted GPA then I think you're okay. i remember college admissions would rather a high four year cumulative high school GPA than a high SAT/ACT score and low GPA.
I suggest taking it just one more time. A one point difference could actually net you a good bit of money. You'll probably get into the college but how much they are giving you and the money you get is what really matters.