Hello! I’m a second-semester junior, and I’ve already taken the ACT two times. In December 2017, I got a horrible score of 28 (although this was with very little preparation). I took it again in February and got a 31. I want to take it again in either June or July, but my parents and my private ACT tutor don’t think it’s worth it. I want to go to an Ivy, so I think I should have AT LEAST a 32. My parents and ACT tutor know this, and yet they still don’t think another point or two will make a difference.
My reasoning is if I improved by 3 points in two months, (hopefully) I’ll improve by 2-3 points in another three or four months, and then have a cumulative of 33 or 34 (or better – who knows?). My tutor argues that a mere point or two will not give me any advantage, and that we should be done with the ACT and focus on SAT subject tests and AP tests. What do you think?
Here’s my 2 cents Too many high school students spend so much time trying to get into certain schools that they miss the whole point of why they go to school in the first place. The most critical part of college has nothing to do with the school at all. What are your career interests and goals? 99.5% of the workforce run the economy without ever going to an ivy league school. The other 0.5% work in the same economy making the same relative salary.
I think you did great on your ACT! If I were you, I would spend time doing some “dreaming.” Research and soul-search your interests and find out what really makes you passionate, and see if there’s a good major that fits. Every school is really good at a few majors and relatively standard at most others. Michigan is far superior to Harvard and Princeton in engineering because of money and technological resources. UNLV has the top hospitality management program in the country because of their location.
It depends. Some kids don’t peak until summer/fall senior yr, according to Compass Prep. Perhaps focus on the subject tests and APs for now and then resume practice over the summer, aiming for July or Sept ACT. If you improve, great, and if you don’t, at least you’ll know you hit your maximum score. If your practice test scores don’t show more improvement, then there wouldn’t be a need to sit for the official test again.
Meanwhile you can still work on your match and safety list using the 31 under the assumption that it won’t go higher.
With some prep S went from 29 to 32 sophomore to mid junior year. Decided to take again at beginning of senior year with no additional prep and scored 35. He didn’t really feel any pressure because he was satisfied with a 32 but he was certainly happy with his results.
Too many high school students spend so much time trying to get into certain schools that they miss the whole point of why they go to school in the first place. The most critical part of college has nothing to do with the school at all. What are your career interests and goals? 99.5% of the workforce run the economy without ever going to an ivy league school. The other 0.5% work in the same economy making the same relative salary.