Hey, I just took the ACT and I want to find out what is considered a great score. I know 36 is the max, but what general score ranges are considered competitive for top colleges and universities?
Hey! A great ACT score is typically one that falls within or above the 75th percentile for admitted students at your target schools. Generally speaking, a score of 30 or above is considered competitive for many schools, and a score of 33 or above is quite strong for even the most selective schools.
To provide a clearer picture, here's a quick breakdown of ACT scores and their relative competitiveness:
- 34-36: Excellent – within or above the range for top-tier colleges and universities
- 30-33: Competitive – strong for many top schools and solid for most selective institutions
- 24-29: Average – competitive for many colleges but may be on the lower side for top schools
Keep in mind that admissions are holistic, so while a high ACT score can certainly help, it's just one aspect of your application. Make sure to focus on other important factors like your GPA, extracurricular activities, and essays as well. If you have a specific list of schools you're targeting, check their admitted student profiles or their Common Data Sets to see the 25th and 75th percentiles for ACT scores to get a better idea of what they're looking for. Best of luck!
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