Just got my ACT results back and scored a 34. Feeling pretty good about it, but I'm not sure how competitive this score is for top-tier colleges. Can anybody weigh in on whether this is a strong score for applying to highly-ranked schools?
Congrats on your ACT score of 34! That is an excellent score and certainly makes you competitive for many top-tier colleges. To put it into perspective, a 34 is in the 99th percentile, which means that you scored higher than 99% of all test-takers. Many Ivy League and other top-tier schools have middle 50% ACT score ranges of 33-36, so you're solidly in that range.
That said, admissions to top colleges is highly competitive, and a high ACT score alone does not guarantee admission. It's crucial to ensure that the rest of your application is strong and demonstrates your unique qualities and academic prowess. Focus on developing your "spike" (a highly-developed specialty that sets you apart from even other talented applicants), showcasing your extracurricular achievements, and crafting compelling essays that give insight into your personality and experiences.
Overall, your 34 on the ACT is an excellent score to have on your application, which will definitely make you competitive for top-tier schools. But remember, admissions are a holistic process, so be sure to also emphasize your other strengths, through elements like your GPA, course rigor, extracurricular involvement, essays, and letters of recommendation, when applying. Good luck!
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