Hi all, little bit nervous with my ACT scores here. Do you guys know exactly what colleges generally look for when it comes to ACT scores? Like, what is considered good in their eyes?
Colleges use ACT scores as one of several metrics to evaluate student applicants' academic readiness. There is no universal "good" ACT score because it depends on the selectivity of the institution you are interested in. That being said, some generalizations can be made to give you an idea of what can be considered favorable:
1. Score of 21-23: This score range is around the national average. Colleges that are less selective or have higher acceptance rates might find these scores suitable.
2. Score of 24-27: This score range is considered good for many colleges. It could be competitive for state universities and other institutions with moderate selectivity levels.
3. Score of 28-31: These scores are competitive at many top universities and elite public institutions.
4. Score of 32-36: These scores are considered excellent and are competitive at highly selective colleges, such as Ivy League institutions or top-tier liberal arts schools.
Remember, though, that standardized test scores are just one factor colleges use in admission decisions. Grades, course rigor, extracurricular activities, and essays also play major roles. Moreover, for the 2024-2025 application cycle, some schools—including Dartmouth, Harvard, Purdue, Yale, and UT Austin—have returned to a testing requirement. Others such as Columbia, Princeton, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins, NYU, and University of Chicago are still test-optional.
To see if your ACT score is competitive for the colleges you're considering, it is best to research those specific school's average acceptance ACT scores. Most colleges publicly announce the middle 50% ACT score range of their accepted students, which gives a good indicator of the scores they're looking for. If your score falls within or above that range, then you should be competitively positioned from a testing standpoint at that particular school.
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