On the ACT I got a 29 in reading. Would selective schools frown upon this a lot, as I want to apply as a poli sci major?Answered
I got an overall 34 composite on that administration, with 36s in both math and science and a 35 in English. I'm not sure why my reading score was so low. I'm just worried that if I apply to selective colleges, like Yale and Northwestern, that the 29 in reading would be a major red flag to them. Or do these schools even care heavily about individual section scores? What is your advice on this?
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2 answers
You need to take that 29 over again if you are planning on submitting that to Ivys or Elite colleges. Reading is actually a key score because you are going to do a ton of reading in college, especially if you apply to college with a core curriculum like Columbia or UChicago or Harvard. The rest of your scores are excellent so why take the chance?
When I took the ACT, I had a 29 on the science part so I worked hard to get that to a 35 and submitted at 35 across all 4 sections.
Good luck.
Schools do care about individual scores. Since you are applying as a poli sci major, colleges will want to see your reading score be on par with your English score. I recommend taking the ACT as many times as you can until you boost your reading score. Try taking the SAT if that is easier for you. Hope this helps!
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