Is a 30 ACT good enough?

I recently got my ACT scores back and I got a 30 composite. I'm a bit worried about whether it's a good score or not. What are your thoughts? Is it competitive for top schools?

A 30 composite score on the ACT is a solid score, which puts you in the 93rd percentile of test-takers nationally. However, when it comes to top schools, the average ACT scores for admitted students at these institutions are indeed often higher.

For example, schools in the Ivy League typically have average ACT scores around 33-35 for admitted students. Other competitive universities and liberal arts colleges may have average scores in the 32-34 range. It's important to keep in mind that these figures represent the middle 50% of accepted students, though, which means that 25% of students scored below the given range and were still accepted.

While your ACT score of 30 may not be in the top range for highly competitive schools, it's still a strong score. Many applicants are admitted to top schools with scores below the average because other factors in their application, such as essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and demonstrated interest, help create a compelling overall profile.

To get a sense of how competitive your overall profile is at your top choice schools, you can utilize CollegeVine's free chancing engine (https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator), which accounts for all quantifiable elements of your profile to give you personalized odds of acceptance at hundreds of colleges across the country.

With regards to your ACT score specifically, though, look at the colleges you're targeting and research their average accepted ACT scores to see if your score matches up. If you're aiming for top-tier schools, do consider retaking the ACT and focusing on improving your weaker sections. You can also use the chancing engine to see how much of a boost a higher score, like a 33, would give you.

In the meantime, continue to work on the other aspects of your application to make them the strongest they can be. A well-rounded application that showcases your strengths, interests, and talents will make you a more competitive candidate, even if your test score isn't quite as high as you'd like it to be.

Best of luck!