<p>LadyHam–I encourage you (or your child) to check the websites of each college she is considering to make sure you have the correct answer concerning whether the writing section is required. People on CC are helpful, but sometimes they are wrong. Another way you can find out is by searching for “common data set” for each potential college, then looking in section C for admission requirements. This will be helpful as you check to see what other requirements each college has and the likelihood that your D will be admitted, because the common data sets reveal a lot of information about admissions.</p>
<p>I found that doing background research on potential colleges was one of the few ways that I could help my D (now a college freshman), who played a sport each season and was active in ECs while taking 10 AP courses. I made a chart for each potential college with admission requirements for each.</p>
<p>sonmere–
- I suggest that your son take the ACT with writing even if his current favorite doesn’t require it. This website is full of stories of students who changed their minds; the whole college search process is one of discovering what one really wants to do with one’s life and where one would fit in best. Just yesterday a friend told me of flying with her son to a faraway state for one last look at one college, and encouraging him to spend the night at another college so he could make a decision between the two–at which point he chose a third college! </p>
<p>2) Yes, he should try to retake the ACT to raise his math score, as it seems out of line with his other scores. While his original score is in a high percentile compared with other students, it would not be as good compared with engineering applicants. (My son just retook the ACT after a 32 composite with a 28 math score, and raised his score to a 35 composite with a 34 math score. Yes, it was worth reviewing math for a week and spending a Saturday morning taking the test.)</p>
<p>3) My children’s guidance counselor encourages students to try both, and then retake the one on which they did better if they aren’t satisfied. In your case, as your son has so much upward potential by concentrating on just the math portion of the ACT, I would recommend retaking the ACT first and seeing whether he is satisfied with it.</p>