<p>Ok,well I will give some stats first…i am involved in extracurricular activities,i basically have straight a’s(3.86 gpa),but i got a composite score of 22 on the act. Thats not so bad for someone wanting to get into college, but i desire to become a mechanical engineer. </p>
<p>The real question is that i have been looking into Bradley University, in Peoria,IL. and i already talked to the admissions representative. She basically told me that the only thing holding me back was my act score, and that i should try to get at least a 25. I am currently working towards this goal, but i am worried about not being able to obtain this score. </p>
<p>If i wasn’t able to obtain a 25, is there anyone that going to a junior college and then transferring there would help? Would they still look at high school ACT/SAT? And also, would this have any disadvantages for me wanting to become an engineer by going to a junior for 2 years and then transferring.</p>
<p>Well if you currently have a 21.5 (which rounds to 22) and you need a 25 (24.5), then you need to average increasing 3 points on each section. If you currently have a 22.25, you need to average 2.25 points increase on each section. That’s a big difference, but either way is probably doable if you study enough. That being said, if you’ve already studied extensively, you may have started to plateau already. </p>
<p>Posting your subscores would help and find out if they superscore ACT’s (probably not).</p>
<p>Generally, once you’ve attended college enough (usually 4 semesters) your HS record, including your scores, are not even considered, so if you don’t make the cut - don’t give up - you can prove that your determination and work ethic make up for lack of standardized test performance.</p>
<p>If you do a Junior college then you may have to take an extra semester or two to complete your engineering degree since the university may not take CC-level technical courses (like Calculus and Physics) but that depends on the agreements the university has with the CC… and if it’s a private school, and Bradley sounds like it is, then less stuff has a chance of transferring.</p>
<p>Don’t worry, you just go to a school with ridiculous grade inflation that hasn’t prepared you for real life. However, that’s okay, because there are many ways to improve that score.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Take at least 6 (for you I would recommend 10) practce tests under real-time conditions, along with reading a prep book. A good combo may be the ACT red book and Princeton Review. After doing this, you will have the confidence to face the test on test day and will be able to know how the test “works”</p></li>
<li><p>Take an $800 prep class if you don’t have the self-motivation to do this.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Computer-based programs are not a good idea, generally because the format is so different, and for me, much harder. Good Luck!!!</p>
<p>i took a practice test today and i increased my scores dramatically in some areas. For example, my reading. I got a 20 last time i took the official ACT and i got a 25 this time on a practice test. I increased my math from a 23 to a 26 and english stayed at a 24. Science jumped up from a 21 to a 23. Composite for the first practice test was a 25 which is what i need. Hopefully i can do this well on the official ACT, if not better.</p>