Competitive ACT Score for University of Washington?

Hey there! I'm really interested in the University of Washington and I want to know what ACT score I should be aiming for to have a good shot at getting in. Can anyone give me some guidance? Thanks in advance!

Hello! It's awesome that you're interested in the University of Washington (UW). To give you a general idea, let's look at the middle 50% ACT scores of admitted students. At UW, the middle 50% of students have an ACT score between around 29 and 34. This statistic means that 25% of admitted students have ACT scores below 29, another 25% have ACT scores above 34, and the remaining 50% fall within this range.

To be competitive, you should aim for an ACT score within or above this range. A score of 32 or higher would be considered strong, but keep in mind that your application's strength is not solely determined by test scores. UW also considers other components like your GPA, course rigor, extracurricular activities, and essays. A higher test score could help offset weaknesses in other areas of your application, but a lower score could also be balanced by strengths elsewhere.

If you want tips on how to strengthen your overall application to UW, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle their application essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-university-of-washington-essays/. The essays can often be just the thing that distinguishes one talented applicant from another.

Finally, it's worth noting that UW is officially test-optional, so you actually are not required to submit an ACT (or SAT) score. However, you're smart to still be thinking about target ACT scores, as there can still be instances where including a standardized test score with your application can be a good idea. For detailed guidance on how to navigate test-optional policies, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional

Ultimately, while having a competitive ACT score is important, it's essential to focus on developing a well-rounded application. Best of luck with your application to the University of Washington!