dotori

Is 31 too low? Its my composite... do colleges ever look at individual scores? Because common app asks you to list the highest scores from each section.

Collegeboard usually reports math and english subsections so ill put them down:
English: 35
Math: 35

Should i retake ACTs in college? I know 31 is in the 50th percentile, but everyone knows that that really doesnt mean anything (especially if you're asian, i heard the standards go up...)

TYBGswag

They don't really care that much about high school stats if you're applying as a transfer so you'll be fine. No point in retaking it.

dotori

so how important are ACTs for freshmen transfers really? Do you think Penn would accept a freshmen transfer with a 31 or do you think ACTs are not as important as letter of recs, essays and GPA?

TYBGswag

I got accepted as a transfer with a 2140 SAT, which is equivalent to roughly a 31 ACT from what I understand, so yes they would accept somebody with that kind of score. But yes, rec letters and college GPA are more important (need to have a 3.7 or better), and your essays are prooably the most important thing.

dotori

so to transfer, would 31 be acceptable or should I take it again? What do you think that the average range should be in order to be accepted to Penn?

I also understand the 50tile of ACT scores (between 25 and 75th ranges), and with a score of 31, I know that I fit under that criteria. However, being an Asian student, most people have told me that this doesn't really matter and it's better to aim for the top 25% (meaning above a 33-34) in order to have a decent shot at the university (especially since many of these students tell me that adcoms will have higher expectations due to my ethnicity).

what do you all think?

TYBGswag

I think it would look really weird to whoever reads your aplliation if they saw you retook the ACT while in college

courts

@Dotori- don't put down your ethnicity if you really think it makes a difference and make sure you have a killer GPA as well as a kick-butt essay