<p>I agree with above posters that work ethic and study skills are different than test scores, and I wouldn’t gauge your ability to handle Swarthmore using test scores alone. Being a good test taker and being a good student are wildly different things.</p>
<p>Like others have said, “low” test scores can be compensated for with EC’s, grades, and, especially for ED Swat, the common app and Why Swat? essays. I know people with scores lower than yours that have been accepted and people with near perfect scores that have been rejected.</p>
<p>Instead of spending too much time worrying about scores, I’d focus on stellar essays. Definitely use online test prep to learn the “tricks” involved in the ACT English section (like others, my English score improved a lot when I learned the types of questions and how to approach them based on wording), but don’t be overly discouraged by scores!</p>