Necessity of ACT Essay

I heard some colleges don't care much for the ACT essay. Can anyone confirm if that's true? Or is the essay usually required?

While some schools may require or recommend the ACT essay, it's not required by most colleges and universities. Schools have varied policies, with some making it optional and others not considering it at all. For instance, while the University of Michigan was once among the schools requiring the ACT essay, it has since made it optional. On the flip side, highly competitive institutions like the Ivy Leagues typically do not require the ACT essay but they may still consider it, especially if it offers unique insights into your writing abilities or personality.

To make sure you're prepared, you should research the specific requirements of the colleges where you plan to apply. Remember that "optional" often means "you should do it unless there is a reason you can't." This is because when colleges compare applicants, they like to do it on as level a field as possible, so if one applicant took the essay and another didn't, it might be an edge towards the one who did.

However, if writing isn't your strongest suit or if you feel your application is strong without the essay score, it might not be worth the stress or time. Just remember, you cannot take the ACT writing section by itself – it must be taken at the same time as the rest of the ACT.

Lastly, bear in mind that colleges are primarily concerned with your composite ACT score, your GPA, course rigor, essays, recommendations, and your extracurriculars since these are often better indicators of your potential success as a student.