How to increase ACT score from 31 to 36.

Torveaux
Thu, 27 Feb 2014 03:00:55 +0000

@billcsho. Sorry. I am not trying to be combative, but what you are saying is simply not true. While many of the admitted student have higher than a 31 (or equivalent SAT scores), the scores themselves above that point have little or nothing to do with admission. It is a complete waste of time for a student with scores in that range to spend time seeking a 36. The fact that the average is high is due to the fact that the most qualified students (GPA, class rank, ECs etc.) tend to have those scores, not that those scores are driving the decisions. In general, the Ivy schools are especially disdainful of the tests as they have some perceived bias. Think of it this way. If those same kids applied but no test scores were used in the decision making process, the results would likely not change much. The admitted students would be generally well-rounded high performing students with a widely varied background and interests. Your comments are simply failing to take into account that it is not the score that is driving the admission rate, but the admission rate that results in those particular scores. If all you have to show is a bit higher ACT score, you are not getting in any way. It is much more about ECs and such than it is about test scores.

@tommyd36. No issues at all with someone going for it, it just will not matter a bit. The ‘equal’ ECs, etc. are a myth. To each of these schools, they are trying to build a holistic class. Much more likely for an obscure hobby or ethnic background, childhood tragedy or similar circumstance to sway the opinion than a particular score above a certain point. They also like geographically diverse classes (to a point, not equality of geography, but they want exemplars from the whole country and all over the world). The people I know who went to or were admitted to Ivy league schools are very consistent in their assessment. It is much more about your background and interests than test scores. You need to be smart, but once you are in the 30s the law of diminishing returns takes effect and you are wasting your time.

II remember there being a study done about students who retake the tests and how they tend to perform much more poorly in the high end schools when they get in than their peers who did well the first time. It is rather like cramming for an IQ test. Boosting your score does not make you any smarter. You cannot retake every exam in college until you get the score you want. Think long and hard about whether you really have the chops to take on the best and brightest for curves and research opportunities. Some do, some don’t. Not judging here at all.

Good luck to you all on whatever you pursue.