<p>This whole notion of underrepresentated and hooked candidates being able to “get away” with using ACT scores pretty much reeks of east coast elitism. Not to mention, it’s wrong.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Most elite schools require SAT II’s in addition to SAT I (if that’s the route you go). However, a lot of schools require SAT II’s ONLY if you take SAT I, but not if you take the ACT. What that says to me is the ACTs are actually more comprehensive. Georgetown requires three SAT II’s regardless of which route you go. Same with Johns Hopkins.</p></li>
<li><p>A lot of schools have their own conversion numbers between ACT and SAT, but in asking the question directly this year, MOST schools look at ACTs independently without a conversion. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Son did not do as well on SAT I’s as he did on SAT II’s or the ACT. However,it was the case that when you submitted SAT’s you submitted all of them. Not sure how score choice will work as so many schools will opt out. </p>
<p>It is true that you cannot superscore ACT – your composite is your composite. </p>
<p>Son did not submit SATs to those schools who would take either the SAT/SAT II or the ACT alone. And there were a number of them in the “elite” crowd (Colgate, Middlebury, Tufts). Even though he did well on most of his SAT II’s, he didn’t submit at all because then it would show his SAT I’s (which were not in the same league as his 34 composite on the ACT).</p>
<p>In asking our GC if just sending in his ACTs would ultimately hurt him, she said to take schools at their word that they’ll accept either one EQUALLY. Son got into a lot of schools, but for this conversation, it is worth noting that he got into every school where he submitted only his ACTs. Colgate, Middlebury, Hamilton, Trinity and Tufts. He was waitlisted at Amherst.</p>
<p>But the bottom line on any of it is that standardized testing is just ONE measure of a student’s academic record. I honestly think it was the 11 accelerated and AP classes on his record and his involvement in the community on a number of different levels that got him more yesses than no’s when it came to college admissions.</p>