I am applying to colleges this fall, and wanted to apply to a lot of reach schools. I have only taken the ACT so far, and got a 34 both times. I got a 34 then 35 on English, 34 on math both times, a 35 then 33 on reading, and a 31 on science and then 32 on science. While these are good scores, I want to go for a lot of selective schools (i.e. JHU, WashU, MIT, Berkeley, Northwestern). For that reason, I’m considering taking the October and/or November ACT tests to boost my scores. I was wondering if anyone had tips for how to boost my score to a 36 it in two months, or at least get the Math score to a 36, and maybe up the science a little. I am also studying for SAT Subject Test in Biology simultaneously.
IMO, there is no point. 34 is a fantastic score. Trying to raise it will not give you a needed boost, because you are alrewady at an extremely high level. At the schools you are considering, assuming your grades are very strong, it will be other factors such as essay, interviews, ECs, letters of rec, etc…that will swing things in your favor. Your time is far better spent working on essays or studying for SAT 2s if they are required.
I suggest you read this:
http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/whats_the_big_deal_about_402
Its not just MIT, while that may be the case for MIT, Hopkins and other schools may not necessarily view it the same way.
The first time I took the ACT, I got a 34 (E-36, M-36, R-32, S-33). I thought I should take a second time because I knew I could get a 35 as I had done it in practice and my science score was lower than usual. My second test I got a 34 again (E-34, M-30, R-34, S-36). Then, I thought maybe I should take it a third time, which is when I diagnosed myself as insane. I could keep on taking this same test, attempting to get one point higher, when I could also just accept the great score (and even better superscore) and move on from this phase in the college application process. I recommend you do not attempt another ACT because your scores are consistent and you would most likely get around the same subscores again. If you were like me, with your scores all over the place, where it’s basically luck of the draw which subscores will be higher and which will be lower, I would say it’s your choice to decide if you want to take another chance, but that is not the case. Also, you have applications to worry about, not testing.
I don’t think you need to enter into an endless cycle of testing with a 34. I am sure you have better, more interesting things to do than take the ACT.
ryanordy88 For schools that superscore, you have a perfect 36