Should D27 submit ACT scores? (32 single sitting; 34 superscore)

Colleges & Universities Wesleyan University
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Hi! D27’s single-sitting highest ACT score is 32. Her superscore is a 34, and her individual scores are

36 Reading
32 Math
33 English
35 Science

I realize that Wesleyan does recalculate a superscore, but they will still see her 32 single-sitting composite, which falls well below their target.

On their site, they advise this:
If your scores fall below the 25th percentile of those Wesleyan typically admits (see class profile), your scores are unlikely to make you a more competitive applicant to Wesleyan. [emphasis mine]

We recently visited Wesleyan, and the AO emphasized this as well, saying that an applicant’s scores are viewed in the context of other applicants, and that the ones who choose to submit scores have quite high ones.

The current class profile on their website says this:

Admit 75th percentile: 35
Admit Median: 35
Admit 25th percentile: 34

Not sure if these are superscores or single-sitting composites? But in this framing, my child’s superscore puts her in the 25th percentile of admits—not under, but if her superscore is at the bottom end of the range, does that really make her a “more competitive applicant”?

If I go to the 25–26 CDS, it gives metrics for enrolled students:

ACT Composite 33
Math 31
English 35
Science 33
Reading 35

My child’s scores fall above the 50th percentile for each one of these subscores.

Not sure if this matters for context, but D27’s school doesn’t rank. By the time she graduates, she’ll have completed 11 APs and 1 DE. Her AP scores are all 4s and 5s (including 5s on AP Bio, AP Human, AP Calc AB, and AP Lang). She has a 3.95 UW / 4.35 W GPA. She’s got impact/leadership in her extracurriculars, and I think her recommendations and essay are solid.

Thoughts on whether you’d submit her ACT scores here or not? Thank you! :slight_smile:

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What is her intended major?

I was also looking at the CDS and only 15% of enrolled students submitted ACT scores (just 125 students).

If she is not going for a STEM major I would submit. I will be interested to see what other CC people say.

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If they superscore, they should be reporting superscores in their CDS/class profiles/metrics.

But that doesn’t mean they will put any weight on the highest composite.

To answer your question of whether to submit or not, I would encourage your D to reach out to her Wesleyan AO and ask for guidance. She can ask if the scores reported for the class profile are superscored (that is a reasonable and appropriate ask.) Then have her tell the AO her scores and ask for guidance on submitting or not.

If your D isn’t comfortable doing that (she should be!) I lean towards submitting because these are all high section scores. Has she also asked her HS counselor for advice?

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I would never advise a student to not submit maximum or close-to-maximum ACT section scores of 34-36. All of the corresponding percentiles are >= 96. If stanines were assigned, D27 would have straight 9s. (Stanine of 9 is assigned to 96-99 percentile range.)

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She’s undecided on a major. Likely a double major in something like studio art along with something social justice-y (government, social studies, gender studies).

Thank you for your input! :slight_smile:

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This is good advice! Thank you! I’ll see if D is willing to reach out. She hasn’t asked her HS counselor for advice because she says (and I agree) that she already knows her counselor will encourage her to submit. In the context of her high school, her ACT scores are very high. On the school profile, the average ACT is 23.

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I hadn’t really thought of it this way. Thank you for sharing your perspective!

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Yes, submit. Both of my kids got into highly selective schools (<15% acceptance rates) with 34 superscores after two sittings (for my D, one of those schools was Wesleyan). Obviously, the scores didn’t get them in, but they clearly didn’t keep my kids out. If the schools say they accept superscores (which most do), they mean it. 34 is in the 99th percentile.

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I say submit for sure then, Wesleyan does look at scores in context (not all schools do sadly.)

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The answer is yes, you should submit. Removing science, which they apparently do, you are 33.6 or 34.

Admissions specifically states: Yes, Wesleyan will use the best evidence-based reading, writing, and math scores across any testing dates, and will use the best of each section of the ACT to recalculate a new composite score.

So they are not using a single sitting. If they were, they’d say so. btw - you are worried they’ll see the 32. Most every student likely is “super scoring” - so many/most will have single tests below.

You can call if you want to validate - but I think the answer you will get is to submit. It’s very clear.

Also, assuming no one is duplicating, 59% submit scores. I point this out because while true 15% submit ACT, there are the two tests (44% submit the SAT)- so most are whereas 15% makes it sound like few are.

You can always ask your AO for comfort but I don’t think you need to.

I don’t know if you’ll get into Wesleyan, but I do know, that if you don’t, it won’t be because you submitted a 33.66 or 34, which is above the midpoint.

Good luck.

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Thank you for commenting. This makes me feel more confident about it. Appreciate it!

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