What's a good ACT score for scholarships?

I'm planning to take the ACT soon, and I'm curious what score I should aim for to maximize my chances of getting scholarships. I know certain scholarships have specific score requirements, but what's generally considered a 'good' score for merit-based scholarships? Would love to hear any advice or experiences with scholarships based on ACT scores!

Your target ACT score for scholarships largely depends on the specific scholarships you're considering, as you mentioned, but typically, a competitive score would be somewhere in the top 25 percentile range. This currently denotes a composite score of approximately 28 or above, but again, specifics can vary by scholarship.

For example, some larger, more competitive scholarships may require a score of 30 or above. On the other hand, you could apply to smaller, local scholarships with a lower minimum ACT requirement, potentially between 24 and 28.

Remember, your ACT score is often but one factor in scholarship considerations. Many scholarships also take into account your GPA, leadership abilities, community service, and other extracurricular activities. You might be able to offset a lower ACT score with a high GPA, or vice versa.

Also, improving your score, even slightly, can have a huge impact. For instance, increasing your ACT score from 30 to 31 could make a significant difference in terms of eligibility for certain scholarships. So it's important to prepare thoroughly for the ACT, taking practice tests and refining your weaknesses.

Lastly, be sure to research scholarships that match your skillsets and interests—these may have less rigid academic requirements, and some may not consider standardized test scores at all!

In summary, shooting for the top quartile ACT score (28 and above) could make you more competitive for scholarships, but keep in mind the holistic nature of many scholarship applications. Good luck with your ACT and scholarship applications!