ACT with or without writing: What's preferred?

Hi! I'm set to take the ACT soon and I'm unsure if I should opt for the writing section. I know it's optional, but do most colleges favor candidates who have taken the ACT with writing? Any advice would help me decide.

In general, whether or not a college prefers the ACT with writing depends on the specific college. However, many colleges have shifted their policies over the years and currently do not require the ACT writing section.

For example, Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Chicago have announced that they do not require the ACT writing section. Additionally, many other schools, such as the University of Southern California and the University of Michigan, have made the ACT writing section optional.

That said, some colleges appreciate the additional data point that the writing score supplies. If you're particularly good at writing, or if it's something you want to showcase as part of your skill set, it may be worth considering taking the writing portion as it could potentially strengthen your application.

One important thing to note is that while schools might not require the writing section, individual programs within those schools may still require it. Therefore, it's always a good idea to double-check the admission requirements of the specific programs you're interested in.

Given these varying requirements, it's best to look up the admission requirements of the specific colleges you're interested in. If any of them do require the writing section, then you should definitely take it. If it's optional or not mentioned at all, then the decision will mostly rely on your comfort and confidence in your writing abilities.