@geogirl1, DD also has 34 in ACT but 28 in writing. I am one of those people who paid for a rescore of her writing section 
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However, it didn’t improve!!!
From everything I’ve read, ACT writing score is one of the least important piece of information compare to other aspects of your student’s application. So unless your student wants to retake ACT or you (go against your position) and send $50 to rescore, I would not worry too much about it. (at least that is what I have been told.)
Our school doesn’t rank. It is a magnet school for ib and tech with a substantial “regular” population as well. 95% of the IB kids do a sport or music or theatre for 3 or more years.
Fwiw…as stated previously (over & over)…the ACT writing scores are unworthy of fretting…just to throw a wrench into the mix we do know someone who got a writing 36!! Not our house…27…but also a 21 (twice!) with34©…c’est la vie…
@geogirl1, I posted recently that DS got a 30 in writing the first time he took the ACT in February and a 21 in June!! He’s still the same writer he was in Feb and he thought he did well in terms of structure and content so the only explanation for the HUGE drop has to be a change in their approach to grading. I haven’t decided yet whether to pay for a rescore. His composite was a 32 both times, with a 33 superscore. There were quite a few others who, like you, had a big discrepancy between composite and writing scores so it’s sure to be something schools notice. He got an A in AP English Comp and hopefully his AP score will reflect solid skills as well. My point is don’t let one score, which most schools say they don’t even require or consider, offset your enthusiasm for the excellent score of 34!!
Regarding music, D15’s orchestra had an “honors” group so there wasn’t as much of a hit on the weighted GPA. Each student auditioned at the beginning of the year for placement and honors. If selected for honors orch they had extra practices and performed a couple of pieces separately from the regular orchestra. It was also an opportunity for higher level players to get different chairs. For example, D was 1st chair in regular, but 2nd chair in honors. She loved that her friend and stand partner (and the V, btw) got a chance to be a 1st chair too.
Regardless, schools really do look at a student holistically and they LOVE musicians who might continue to play in college. They will recalc each applicants GPA without electives (like music & athletics) so it only matters for rank at the HS level. For those in the running for V/S staying in music can be a sacrifice, but in the long run it will be worthwhile for most students. Schools would rather have someone who pursued their passions!!
@rightcoaster schools will definitely notice and appreciate your son’s upward trend in grades.
My kids go to the same high school I did and they still select grad speakers the same way. Anyone with a set GPA can apply, then they audition in front of a faculty committee including the speech teacher and the best two are selected.
I have to say I could not be happier with our program. There is another IB program at another much higher ranked nationally public school nearby. But they rank and aggressively “weed out” while our school tries to make sure every student admitted to the program succeeds.
@geogirl1 would you rather have a 33C with a 28 Writing? It could easily happen. Or worse (NOT saying that is bad!). I’d keep the 34 and leave alone what’s behind door #1.
@geogirl1 @carachel2 there is much wonky with the ACT writing scores. There are threads around CC somewhere about it. ACT knows (and is planning changes already). Most importantly, the colleges know.
Seeing so many people took ACT and ACT only. I started worry that D17 only took SAT and it is the OLD SAT. :-S. She is looking at top schools, wondering if lack of ACT score will be an issue?
Our school counselor told us that many universities have decided not to consider the essay score of the standardized tests this year due to the ACT debacle (the new scoring rubric). For my DD and STEM schools, I couldn’t find a school that would even consider them.
You should check with the schools that you want to apply to.
DS’s marching band grades on participation, effort and attitude. Concert band grades on the same plus “improving” your playing. Participation for both includes a 10% grade reduction (From an A to a B) if you miss one concert, game, show without either prior approval or an approved medical reason. Both are an easy A if you show up on time & practice and put band top in priority to other EC’s.
DS H.S. puts 6 GPA’s on their transcript. Six… Basically they publish a weighted & unweighted version of an full GPA, academic GPA (doesn’t include pe, marching band, sports, health), and 10-12 (UC GPA). There are no honors for art, music, theater (except AP Art/Music). Although concert Band, orchestra, art classes are considered academic classes, marching band is not. (Marching band requires participation in concert band.) The only classes that get a +1 point are those approved by University of California. Although I don’t see why the top band, orchestra shouldn’t qualify as a “honors” as the level of music they play is consider ‘college’ level in difficulty. There is an optional 7th period that can only be used for art/music/pe classes. So while you do get a grade in a sport it doesn’t really count against you. There is defiantly room if your trying to maximize your GPA to choose which EC’s won’t bring down your GPA. They don’t rank but academic GPA is used for awards, put in Naviance and is assumed what non California schools care about.
@262mom I am replying very light-heartedly b/c you have obviously never been part of the mommy math wars! 
But, yes, math can be taught in very different ways, even calculus. For example, AoPS’s approach to teaching calculus is not the same approach used in your typical AP cal BC course.
@whataboutcollege DS only took the SAT as well. Your not supposed to need both. Lots of students take both because they want to see which test will show them off better.
I hope this is true of the new SAT as well. I have no idea what the scores are supposed to even mean and have no idea how to consider if a score is acceptable or not.
@whataboutcollege My dd only took the new SAT and only took it once. Her writing score stinks. Her section and total scores are not worth retaking. She is satisfied and done.
One should be careful when generalizing from one’s own experience to that of others across the country.
Or, in other words, not all AP courses are created equal.
I don’t feel that comment is generalizing anything. It sounded to me just a comment from someone who had good experience with taking a lot of APs.
Right or wrong, I categorize the ACT Writing section with admissions interviews. They count, but don’t carry disproportionate weight. I think some schools require them just to make sure you can actually write and speak cohesively. Yes, they get your essays, but anyone can write those, includng high paid consultants. ACT Writing and admissions interviews help schools take a step toward ensuring you are who your essay says you are. JMHO
Over on the UA forum there is a mom whose DS is on academic probation and needs to bring his GPA up or he will lose his presidential scholarship. This is exactly what worries me about the OOS merit scholarships. While it would be nice to think that DS17 will be fine there are no guarantees. Sure DS17 could come back instate if it he were to lose it but still…
@MichiganGeorgia This is where kids and parents really need to know themselves/ their kids. The question needs to be asked why? Was the student solidly prepared academically? Did they study? Did they know how to manage their time? Ask for help? Take appropriate courses? For every student like that, there are dean’s/president’s list students.
@MichiganGeorgia Agreed. I would be VERY reluctant to accept merit money that requires anything higher than a 3.0 GPA to maintain. Especially for engineering. I wrote about this in another thread. Texas Tech give $4,000/yr and requires 3.5 GPA to maintain, or $3,000/yr with a 3.0 GPA requirement - I’ll take the $3,000/yr thank you very much.
Take a look…
https://www.depts.ttu.edu/scholarships/incFreshman.php
EDIT: To add link