How to Interpret a 21 ACT Score?

Just got my ACT scores back, and I got a 21. Naturally, I've got mixed feelings about it. How good (or bad) is a 21 on the ACT? Where should I be aiming my college applications with this score?

A 21 on the ACT actually places you in around the 57th percentile of all test-takers, meaning you scored higher than about 57% of the roughly 1.67 million students who take the ACT each year. It's a decent score, but depending upon the selectivity of the colleges you're interested in, it might be beneficial to retake the ACT and aim for a higher score.

Because the average ACT score is about a 20.6, your score of 21 is slightly above average, but keep in mind that scores for college admissions can vary significantly depending on the type of school. For example, some less selective state schools or smaller private colleges may have average admitted ACT scores around a 21, while more selective schools may have averages in the high 20s or low to mid 30s.

Keep in mind that college admissions do not rely solely on your ACT scores though. Elements such as GPA, challenging courses, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation also play vital roles in the admissions process. Admissions officers are looking for well-rounded applicants, so a lower ACT score can sometimes be offset by strength in these other areas. For example, a student with a 21 ACT score but an amazing record of leadership in extracurricular activities might still be an attractive candidate to a college.

To answer the question about where to aim your college applications, it would be smart to look up the average ACT scores of admitted students at colleges you are considering. Many schools share this information on their admissions websites. If you find schools where a 21 ACT score is around the average, those would be considered "target" schools where you'd have a decent chance of admittance. Schools where your score is above the average would be your "safety" schools, while schools where the average ACT score of admitted students is significantly higher than 21 would be considered "reach" schools for you.

Remember that preparing for the ACT is something you can continue to do. If you feel that you can improve your score on a retake, it might be worth pursuing, especially if your potential colleges list a higher number than 21 as their average ACT score. There are many resources available to help you study and boost your score, even by a few points, and those points could definitely make a difference in certain admissions scenarios. Ultimately, though, remember that your ACT score is only one part of your overall application.