How does a 32 on the ACT measure for competitive colleges?

I recently scored a 32 on my ACT and I'm not sure how to feel about it. Is this a good score for competitive colleges? Are there certain schools where this score would fall into the middle 50% range?

A score of 32 on the ACT is quite strong and could definitely make you competitive for many selective colleges. To provide some context, a score of 32 corresponds to the 97th percentile of all test-takers, meaning that you outperformed 97% of students who took the test.

Remember that 'competitive' varies widely among colleges, and even among different programs within those colleges. So, while a 32 is a good score overall, it's also important to consider the specific schools you're interested in.

For instance, at a school like University of Texas at Austin, a 32 would well within the middle 50% Range (27 - 33). For Vanderbilt, however, the middle 50% range for ACT scores is 34 - 35, so a 32 would be slightly below that.

That being said, test scores are just one piece of your application. Colleges will also take into consideration your GPA, extracurricular activities, and essays, to name a few. So, while it's valuable to understand where your ACT score stands, don't forget to focus on the other areas of your application as well.

Finally, remember that some schools, including reputable institutions such as University of Chicago and New York University, are test-optional for the 2024-2025 application cycle, meaning they do not require ACT/SAT scores in their admission process.

In short, a 32 ACT score could be competitive for quite a few colleges, but specific 'competitiveness' will vary based on the schools and programs you are applying to.