ACT Writing?

JR526 · 05-07-2008, 07:19 PM

I have taken the ACT twice. The first time I got a 33 composite with an 8 in writing. I was semi-happy with a 33 but I think an 8 is pretty horrible for writing, which is strange because I'm actually a very good essay writer usually. Anyway, I retook it and got a 34 comp which was my goal, but still an 8 writing. ND, the top of my college list, is the only one of my prospective schools that do not require the writing. My question is, will ND look really negatively at my writing score? Should I take it again without writing so I can send in just my strong composite, or will an 8 not be too damaging? I would take it again with writing but I don't think I can improve from an 8 as I really thought my last essay was well done.

BPKO43 · 05-07-2008, 09:14 PM

well I'd have to give a mixed answer...

You most likely can do better on the writing...I'm convinced that those scores don't really measure your writing abilities worth ****e, because I have received an 8 and a 12 with no grand difference in the quality of the essays. It mostly comes down to catering to what they want to see.
But if ND says they don't care about the writing and you have a 34, you shouldn't worry(assuming you have strong grades, ec's, and the whole package). The cutoff for early admission is traditionally seen to be a 33, so you would likely even get in early.

JR526 · 05-07-2008, 09:30 PM

Thanks for the input. I'm really torn because I HATE standardized tests, but I know its worth taking it again for ND. I'm pretty confident overall for getting in. While I'm just on the 10% mark for my class, my school is very competitive and gets a lot into ND. There is a computer program that we can look at to see the stats of students who got into ND and other schools and where we line up. Nobody at my school got rejected with a 32 or higher, and most were around my average (98). A girl in my ap bio class got in with a 34/97 average after being deferred from early, so I think I'll just apply regular action to show good judgement/patience.

I digress. Anyway, anyone else have any input on the ACT issue?

momtofour · 05-07-2008, 09:53 PM

I do not believe that many of the schools put much weight on the ACT writing score. From what I understand, the schools are not quite certain how to interpret the data as it is a rather new test. I wouldn't worry about your score too much. You really shine in all other areas! Best of luck to you!

shellzie2006 · 05-08-2008, 10:47 PM

Pretty sure Notre Dame doesn't really use the writing score. I suppose it could still affect your admission a little bit since the adcom will still see it, but I think your 34 composite should make up for the writing score.

rachelt415 · 05-09-2008, 12:11 AM

i got a 30 on my ACT with writing and something like a 7 on my essay and got in early action.

I'm not saying those are grounds to slack off or somthing, but i wouldn't take your "low" writing score too seriously.

momtofour · 05-09-2008, 06:51 AM

JR526, I went to a meeting last night hosted by Alisa Fisher, senior director of admissions at ND. She said the reason they do not require the writing portion of the ACT is because they judge your writing ability solely by the essay you present. So get busy writing the essay of your life! ND is switching to the common app, but she said that all the reps know the writing prompts and will give them to you now if you request! Best of luck!

toshima · 05-09-2008, 10:23 AM

My son, class of 2012, also had good ACT's and an 8 on the essay. I called Notre Dame and asked if he had to take the ACT with writing. They said , no and that they do not look at the writing score anyhow. Just to make sure he retook the ACT without writing, got the the same composite, 33, and only submitted that sitting. However, there were plenty of his classmates that got rejected with ACT's over 32. I don't think there are any sure bets with ND.

JR526 · 05-09-2008, 04:40 PM

I agree, admissions is a mystery. I really only mentioned the 32+ thing at my school to illustrate how competitive my school is, and that getting a high average there in addition to a 32+ ACT looks like a likely.

Yeah, I did hear about the switch to common app. Will the requirements as far as the ACT remain the same? Or is there a possibility ND will require writing after the switch?

aurorad12345 · 06-03-2008, 07:30 PM

My D got an 8 on the ACT in writing (with 32 in English) and a 7 on the SAT in writing (and 670 overall in writing--guess she knew her grammar).
Then a month after those tests, she found out about the Unleash Your Imagination - FanFiction.Net website and wrote and wrote for pleasure for 4 months.
Her score went up a lot come PSAT time 4 months after the ACT--she got 75 on the writing part. I don't know how she did on that essay, though.

I can see why ND might ignore the essay score--same person, 4 months of writing practice, 80 point increase on the test. ND must realize that many high schools don't give the many intensive writing assignments needed to score higher on that essay, and so they rely on high scores on most of the other ACT parts to decide on admission.

notre dame AL · 06-03-2008, 08:56 PM

The essay, it appears, pulls more weight with the app as it now appears. Pay careful attention to how it is written.