How much does the ACT matter for college admissions?

Hey, I'm feeling a bit stressed about the ACT. How much does the ACT score matter for college admissions? Is there a specific threshold that I should aim for, or is it the overall application that matters more?

First, take a deep breath! It's natural to feel stressed about college admissions, but try not to let the stress overwhelm you. To answer your question, the ACT score does carry weight in college admissions, but its importance varies between schools. Some colleges place more emphasis on standardized test scores than others. However, most colleges have transitioned to a more holistic approach, by considering the applicant's entire profile, including grades, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation, in addition to test scores.

That being said, the ACT score still plays a role in the application process. Having a high ACT score certainly has a positive impact on your chances, and at more selective colleges, a high score may even be an unofficial prerequisite to have your application taken seriously.

It's important to research the schools you're interested in and gather information on their admitted student profiles, specifically the middle 50% ACT scores. This information, which you can typically find on their website, will give you an idea of the typical range of scores for successful applicants. Aiming for a score within this range, or higher, will put you in a more competitive position.

However, don't forget that some colleges have now adopted test-optional policies, which mean submitting standardized test scores is not mandatory. These policies give you flexibility in deciding whether or not to submit ACT scores with your application, but there can still be advantages to submitting them, even if doing so isn't required. 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

In the grand scheme of things, it's important to have a well-rounded application that showcases your strengths, unique qualities, and dedication to your chosen field of study. While a good ACT score is certainly an asset, don't neglect the other important areas of your application. Strive for balance, and try not to let any one aspect of your application define your entire college admissions experience.

Finally, if you're wondering how your overall profile stacks up at a particular school, I'd recommend using CollegeVine's free chancing engine, which accounts for all quantifiable elements of your profile, such as grades, course rigor, extracurriculars, and test scores, to provide you with personalized odds of acceptance at hundreds of colleges around the country: https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator/. You can experiment with inputting various hypothetical ACT scores into the engine, to get a more concrete sense of what you personally should aim for.

Good luck!