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CC Resources for The University of Alabama
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11-03-2009, 05:29 PM
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#1 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 87
| I'm very upset with UA's ACT score policy
So I'm from Illinois, I took an ACT test administered by the State (HS requirement) on a date that was NOT a national date and receieved a 32 composite. Apparently, this score is NOT valid with the University. I do not know where they specify this but I did not know until I talked with a lady on the phone today. Not only that, I thought all colleges took ACT scores regardless of whether they were national or state anyway.
But anways, this has ruined my plans. I will not be getting the presidential scholarship like I thought I was going to all along, and now it is too late to take any ACT tests that would be valid towards scholarship consideration.
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11-03-2009, 05:33 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,986
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Can you take the SAT as a standby student? UA does take the SAT for Nov.
Don't despair...maybe there's something else that can be done.
I'm still looking for this so-called national test req't. Who did you speak to? The person may be wrong.
Presidential Scholar
An out-of-state first-time freshman student who meets the December 1st scholarship priority deadline, has a 32-36 ACT or 1400-1600 SAT score and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will be selected as a Presidential Scholar and will receive the value of out-of-state tuition for four years.
more website info...
As an entering freshman (applying for the Fall semester following your senior year of high school), you will need to send a completed application for admission, official high school transcript (grades 9-11), official ACT or SAT scores, application fee, and the completed scholarship section of the application for admission by December 1 of your senior year in high school.
I think the person on the phone misunderstood your question/concern. http://scholarships.ua.edu/faq/
Please note that the national October ACT and national November SAT results are the last college entrance examination results accepted for students who wish to be considered for academic scholarships."
From this quote above...it looks like the "national" exam is only required for the Oct test - because that is the last test date UA will accept. Was your 32 ACT from an earlier month's test? If so, it should count.
I'll PM you....
Don't give up....this may still all work out...  I'll help you out as much as I can...
Last edited by mom2collegekids; 11-03-2009 at 05:51 PM.
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11-03-2009, 05:44 PM
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#3 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 149
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No - I don't know who told you that but in our experience THIS YEAR that is not the case at all. We live in Illinois, DS took the PSAE (April 2009) which includes the ACT, and took no other ACT. Based on his composite score of he received the Presidential Scholarship as well as the engineering scholarship.
We met with the Chicago Regional Recruiter (who handles Illinois as well as Indiana and some others), and she said they've had 87 kids from the region enroll (I think last year) so she will have experience with this. Her name is Bethany Forrest. I am PMing you her contact info. PLEASE post here so I make sure you get it. I promise whoever told you that was 100% wrong.
Hang in there - UA is within your reach!
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11-03-2009, 05:48 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,986
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I think the confusion is this...
I think UA accepts the ACT as long as its taken by the National test exam date in October (which I think this year was October 24). That means UA won't accept any state ACTs that are after that date. I don't think it means that UA won't take any state ACTs BEFORE that date.
It's too late for me to call the Scholarship office and talk to the head lady there (I know her first name is Carolyn). But, I will do so tomorrow.
Anyway...when did you take your test?
Have you submitted your apps. If not, do it now.
Who did you talk to? Was it just someone who answers the phone? Have you submitted all your paperwork? What made you contact UA today?
In any case, until we get this figured out, you should try to arrange to do a standby SAT test this Saturday if possible. Just to have a "back up" plan.
Last edited by mom2collegekids; 11-03-2009 at 05:56 PM.
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11-03-2009, 05:55 PM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,986
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AL34...thanks for helping too! You have good first hand info!!! | |
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11-03-2009, 05:58 PM
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#6 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 149
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I emailed youngboi the info - I know it's hard to not panic but there is seriously no reason for concern. Whoever was on the phone flat out gave some bad info or at least misunderstood the question. I can promise you that of the 87 who enrolled from the Chicago region last year the majority used their ACT scores from the first day of the PSAE. As far as for DS, the subject never came up, not once, and we were in an in-school college visit with other kids who have taken the same test.
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11-03-2009, 06:02 PM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,986
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AL
He told me this (I hope this is ok to post - not really private info)
He took the state ACT in April 2009. It's part of the Illinois PSAE that every HS has to take to graduate.
I really think that if this young man submits his apps (admission and scholarship) that his Presidential will be awarded.
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11-03-2009, 06:03 PM
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#8 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 87
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Yeah, this issue actually came up inside of another problem. The university was not putting my scores up on my admission status even though I submitted my scores with my transcripts (which they receieved.) The first lady today told me that it was taking some time but they finally found it and will add the scores to my profile. But second lady (I left her a message day before), called me and told me that my scores were not showing up because UA could not accept them. And then I went online to look at the specifications and I could not find anything. But the chat was online, so I went online and asked someone on there, and they said my scores could NOT be accepted.
Thanks for the help to everyone, I am now emailing the chicago conselour and seeing what she can do with this mess of a situation. This was the last thing on my mind when i was calling UA today, hopefully it's just misinformation.
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11-03-2009, 06:11 PM
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#9 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 149
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Wait! I may know where the confusion is... (or maybe not but it sounds logical).
Some high schools in Illinois put the ACT score on their official transcript (ours does not), but very few if any schools will accept that as proof of the score. You said you submitted scores with your transcripts. You definitely have to send an official score report from the ACT people, cannot use the one from your high school.
Would be great if that was the only confusion about this.
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11-03-2009, 06:21 PM
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#10 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 87
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Well, that is another problem in itself then. I know ultimately the college I am going to need my OFFICIAL scores from the agency and so I have no problem with that; however, my high school told me the scores they send in with the transcripts should be valid for admissions purposes.
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11-03-2009, 06:29 PM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,986
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^^^
No, they're not...you need to have your scores sent from ACT, and UA needs them NOW.
God I pray that this is the solution.
But, I will still look into this in the morning. I also know that there are other ways to get that full scholly out of UA.
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11-03-2009, 06:35 PM
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#12 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 149
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Seriously, I think your HS is wrong, again speaking as an Illinois school parent, we definitely had to send official ACTs to be considered for admission, not just at UA but for every school, even those with the free "fast-track" apps.
Spend the $9 each, go onto ACT and send one to every school you applied to, like immediately. Some get sent immediately, (electronically) other schools only get them in batches every two weeks so if you're really unlucky it can mess up your timing on getting things in.
Have you been accepted anywhere with those transcript-based scores?
I also found that ACT by phone is really cooperative and will tell you exactly when the scores were sent out, with a tracking ID number and all... good to know.
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11-03-2009, 06:38 PM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,986
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^^
Good to know about tracking numbers.... there's another mom on this forum that needs to know that.
UA does accept the electronically sent scores.
ACT by phone has always been super helpful!!!
And...AL34....a super big thanks for having the inside track on this one! I doubt I ever would have guessed that his official score had not been sent.
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11-03-2009, 06:49 PM
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#14 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 149
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with the mega-schools up here (4500+ kids) you have to do most of the research yourself!
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11-03-2009, 09:16 PM
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#15 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northeast
Posts: 81
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It takes a village... what a great group of CC parents!
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