Interpreting an ACT score of 22

Hey everyone, I just got my ACT scores and I'm a bit confused. I scored a 22, but honestly, I don't know how good or bad that is. Could someone shed some light on what a 22 ACT score signifies? What kind of colleges should I be considering with this score? Thanks in advance!

Hello there! An ACT score of 22 places you in approximately the 63rd percentile of all test takers. This means you've scored higher than 63% of the people who take the ACT and implies that you're scoring slightly above the national average, which is usually around a 20.5.

Now, as for colleges, a 22 ACT score would be competitive for many state and regional schools, and some private institutions too. Schools such as Penn State Harrisburg, University of Maine, and Florida Atlantic University all have average ACT scores within a couple points of 22.

Even though your ACT score is crucial, remember it isn't the entirety of your application. Your GPA, high school curriculum, extracurricular involvement, personal essays, and recommendation letters can and often do make significant impacts on admissions decisions.

It's also worth mentioning that you don't need to limit yourself to colleges where your ACT score is the exact average. You can still apply to institutions where your score is a bit lower than the average - these would be your "reach" schools.

Finally, just remember that the choice of college should align primarily with your academic and career goals rather than exclusively matching with your ACT score. So, do deep research on the universities that cater to your interests and goals, while making sure that your ACT score is within the conservative range of their admitted students. Good luck!