How does this act score look for Penn, Dartmouth, and Duke?

Juvenis · 06-12-2012, 11:09 PM

It's a 32 ACT. I know I should take the test again and see if I can raise it, but would a 32 still keep me in the running? Or should I think of a 32 more like a medieval soldier who steps in a battlefield with only a sword and no armor, shield, or horse - in other words, a bare minimum?

PAGRok · 06-12-2012, 11:11 PM

It's under the average for these schools, should retake.

Seahawks506 · 06-12-2012, 11:20 PM

Try taking the SAT if you can as well.

Juvenis · 06-12-2012, 11:21 PM

^ I did. I do much better on the ACT

@PAGRok: My ACT for Duke's Trinity is in the higher end of the middle 50% (29-33). According to collegedata, the middle 50% range for both Penn and Dartmouth is 30-34.

lacrossemom · 06-12-2012, 11:43 PM

32 is in mid-range. Just make sure you have other areas (grades/EC/etc.).

Good luck!

cortana431 · 06-13-2012, 12:36 AM

Your chances would be better if you retook and scored a 34+.

Note: even though school publishes a 'median range' you really want to be above the 75th percentile, especially if you are unhooked.

Zonlicht · 06-13-2012, 12:48 AM

@Juvenis

If you are unhooked applicant, you want your SAT/ACT to be at or above the 75th percentile mark. Median is not good enough.

Additionally, the median can't be estimated by taking the simple arithmetic mean of the 25 and 75th percentiles.

PAGRok · 06-13-2012, 02:56 AM

Please use true evidence when you attempt to refute those who are trying to aid you. In all truthfulness, a 32 is probably fine but it won't help your application. These three schools are so difficult to get into anyway that your chances are tiny no matter what ACT score you have.

Duke Class of 2015, Arts and Science: ACT Middle 50% - 31-34
http://admissions.duke.edu/jump/appl...15profile.html
UPenn Class of 2015: ACT Middle 50% - 31-34
http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/profile/
Dartmouth Class of 2015: ACT Median - 33
http://www.dartmouth.edu/admissions/...est-stats.html

Zonlicht · 06-13-2012, 05:49 AM

lol at Duke Engineering ACT score. It keeps on getting higher. I imagine engineering scores are higher across the board at all schools.

bluebayou · 06-13-2012, 11:09 AM

the point of of of this data is a 32 is below average for all of those schools. And if you are unhooked, you never want to be 'below average' on anything for a highly selective school.

cortana431 · 06-13-2012, 11:34 AM

Pagrock-

Not completely accurate. I think it's safe to say your chances are higher as your score increases, up to a perfect score. If you look at brown and darthouth's admissions data, applicants with perfect scores have the highest rate of acceptance and it drops considerably as score decreases. Yeah, those applicants may be stronger but not all of them are and by the numbers your chances are higher with a perfect score.

texaspg · 06-13-2012, 12:04 PM

One other point to consider - The scores published are usually the entering class and not admitted class. The admitted class usually has a higher range but the range drops when people with higher scores and more choices don't always show up.

For example - Rice admitted student profile is given below

Middle 50% of SAT and ACT Scores for Accepted Students

SAT (Critical Reading + Math) 1430-1540
ACT 32-35

What ends up happening is that more of the people in the lower scores show up even though it looks like they admitted more than 25% of the people with a score of 35 or more. When the final pool comes in, the range drops by a couple of points.

patriotsfan1 · 06-13-2012, 01:59 PM

I got a 33 and got into Duke, you're definitely competitive.

PAGRok · 06-13-2012, 03:50 PM

I find it hard to believe a school will actually care that much if a student has a 36 not a 35, or a 35 not a 34. All the scores from 32+ should be viewed as nearly equal. Of course having a higher score is beneficial, but I don't think it will change a students chances that much. They will be admitted if they have a 36, a 35, a 34, a 33, or a 32 if the school wants them.

PAGRok · 06-13-2012, 04:04 PM

A 32 student and a 36 student will likely be very similar, with no noticeable difference in intelligence, motivation, etc. The difference may simply be a 36 students was automatically more test gifted, took a study course ($), studied more on there own, or took the test multiple times ($). A 32 composite score is in the 98 percentile, a 33-36 is in the 99 percentile. It may be schools admit students with perfect scores to get more students who have money or to simply have higher averages and so bragging rights, but not because these students are truly more academically gifted.