Will colleges consider my ESL/immigrant background when reviewing a low ACT English score
I’m currently a high school senior applying to colleges, and I’m wondering how admissions officers would evaluate my ACT scores given my background.
I immigrated to the U.S. near the end of my freshman year of high school (I missed 2 quarters of freshman year because of that). At the time, I had limited English proficiency and was placed in ESL classes. By the end of my sophomore year, I had exited the ESL program completely and transitioned into more rigorous coursework, including IB classes.
I recently took the ACT and received:
Composite: 30
Math: 34
Reading: 34
English: 23
As you can see, there’s a pretty significant gap between my English score and my other sections.
I’m planning to major in business, finance, accounting, or economics, with the goal of eventually working in corporate banking. Some of the universities I’m interested in include UVA and Georgetown.
My question is: Do admissions officers actually take circumstances like mine into consideration when evaluating standardized test scores?
Since I’ve only been studying in an English-speaking educational system for about three and a half years, would they view my 23 English score differently, especially considering my 34 Reading score? Or would the low English score still significantly hurt my application regardless of my background?
I’m also wondering whether explaining my situation in the Additional Information section would be helpful, or whether that might come across as making excuses.
For context, I have around a 3.7 weighted GPA, a strong upward academic trend, and have taken increasingly rigorous courses since leaving ESL.
I’d especially appreciate advice from admissions counselors, former admissions officers, or students who have been in similar situations.
Thanks!
You’d be amazed at how many score similarly. My son had a 32 on that section for Super Score but several in the low/mid 20s.
Only the schools can answer but your gpa and test are unlikely for either. And UVA has secondary admission so if you assuredly want to study a business discipline, that might not be a wise choice.
There’s lots of great b schools out there. I’ll root for you and you never know how they’ll see your background. Different schools evaluate things differently. So UVA may see things differently than GTown ETC.
I’d ask if your counselor and LOR writers might include your immigrant stays and perhaps you can weave into an essay - not the score but your struggle and improvement in coming to a difficult situation.
All you can is apply and see and ensure you have safeties.
Your unweighted GPA is what will matter. What is it? Did you receive any “C” or “D” semester or final grades? Georgetown & UVA will place more weight on the junior & senior coursework & grades during application evaluation, as do most schools.
Focusing on just Georgetown & UVA common data sets:
As you can plainly see, the ACT English 18-23 range percentages are uncomfortably tiny. Not zero percent, however!
I would strongly recommend giving the ACT another try. If you can score a minimum 26 on the English & >34 in Reading & Math, you could end up with a 32 composite, which is better. But even a 24 or 25 on the English will place you in the higher percentage range. I don’t think you qualify for TOEFL since you exited the ESL program & are now taking intensive IB classes.
By the way, schools like Georgetown & UVA offer ESL & FFL expository writing classes. They might require you to take a subject or two as extra in addition to degree requirements.
Yes, you should explain how you’ve been studying in the English-speaking educational system for three years. Are you attempting to qualify for an IB Programme Diploma after high school graduation?
