<p>I’m not sure why everyone on this forum thinks test scores are such a big deal. At every ivy/ivy-caliber college fair I’ve been to, the representatives have stated that standardized test scores are taken with a grain of salt - all they show is how hard you work. @ the OP, your AP’s seem to show how hard you can work. Scores don’t show the person behind the paper; essays do. Essays are the only part of the application that lets AO’s see who YOU are. An ACT score difference of 2-3 points is at best marginal. With regards to higher-ranked schools, people with perfect scores are rejected either because their essays weren’t up to par or simply because they were unlucky (those schools receive applications from qualified students than they can accept).
TL;DR lackluster essays are much harder to overcome than lackluster scores. </p>
<p>Also, many people blow off applications to lower-ranked schools, even if they are public universities. I know several people who have done so. Not sure if this is the case with your friends @BassGuitar.</p>