| | |  | 
05-06-2008, 04:33 PM
|
#1 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Threads: 20
Posts: 89
| How many people had bad essay scores but good composites and still got in?
I got a composite 31 (33/31/31/30) but then got a 6 on my essay. I just cannot believe it. That is 29th percentile. I am taking AP Language as well as AP Lit and will probably get 5s on both tests. Anyway, my point is that I don't think it is a good indicator of a student's writing skills.
So,
should I retake? I am moderately happy with my composite.
and also,
do colleges take the essays into account? | 
| | |
05-09-2008, 08:35 PM
|
#2 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chicago Gender: Female
Threads: 1
Posts: 90
| If you think you can potentially raise your composite score by taking it again, go ahead. But it's not worth retaking solely to improve upon your 6. The way I see it, if your ACT English and Reading scores are good (which they are) and you have high grades in your English classes, colleges are unlikely to take that 6 into deep consideration. I got a 5 in Writing the first time I took it (I'm a sloooow writer), yet I received a 35 and 31 in English and Reading, respectively. Doesn't make sense to me. | |
| | |
05-09-2008, 09:34 PM
|
#3 | | Member
Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Gender: Male
Threads: 13
Posts: 357
| i think i might retake that if i were you. surely you can improve. | |
| | |
05-10-2008, 01:37 PM
|
#4 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: California Gender: Female
Threads: 16
Posts: 91
| yea i'm kinda in the same boat as you: 33 composite but 8 on the reading. I'm retaking in june, since i was totally sick and jetlagged that day... | |
| | |
05-11-2008, 04:46 PM
|
#5 | | New Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Threads: 1
Posts: 29
| I was in the same boat, high composite, mediocre writing. I retook the test in April and my composite went up one, but my essay stayed the same. Really, the writing is just so subjective that I wouldn't worry about it too much. The more I look at it, the stupider it was that I retook. Don't stress too much. | |
| | |
05-12-2008, 11:26 PM
|
#6 | | New Member
Join Date: May 2008
Threads: 0
Posts: 8
| I had a 34 composite (34,33,33,36) and an 8 on the essay. I got into the specialized curriculum in physics at Illinois and the campus honors program, so yea, I got in. | |
| | |
05-28-2008, 10:43 PM
|
#7 | | New Member
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Gender: Male
Threads: 1
Posts: 29
| I got a 33 composite and a 6 on the essay. I didn't score higher because I focused on one position against something. The comments said I needed more details. Whatever. My language arts teachers know I am an outstanding writer. Colleges have their supplemental essays and the Common Application essay to judge your writing ability. I was accepted to Bowdoin, Middlebury, Colby, and Hamilton, so they obviously consider other writing samples. You have an exceptional composite score; unless you are hoping for admission to Harvard, I think you'll be fine.... | |
| | |
05-28-2008, 11:03 PM
|
#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Arizona ---> HANOVER, NH Gender: Male
Threads: 54
Posts: 1,458
| Uhhh. I'm not sure, but is a 9 low? I know a ton of people on CC manage to get 10+. | |
| | |
05-30-2008, 10:29 AM
|
#9 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Threads: 1
Posts: 33
| Yeah, I got a 36 (35 on reading, 36 on rest) but only an 8 on the essay. Obviously I didn't take it again, but case in point the essay isn't as important.
I got in ED to Carnegie Mellon, Computer Science. | |
| | |
05-30-2008, 11:34 AM
|
#10 | | Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Threads: 18
Posts: 433
| I had a 34 with a 7 on the essay, didn't retake, and got into Rice, Emory, and the William & Mary Scholars program | |
| | |
05-30-2008, 02:34 PM
|
#11 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yale '12
Threads: 6
Posts: 65
| yeah, i wouldn't worry too much about it if you have a good composite.
i got a 35 overall, but only an 8 on the essay. (ironically, a 5 on ap english lang too...they must grade weirdly on the ACT or something)
and i got into lots of top schools, so don't sweat it. | |
| | All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:55 AM. |
College Confidential is dedicated to providing the best free college admissions information available on the Web, through our many articles and this discussion forum.
