You asked, we answered. We assembled some of the most submitted student questions from our live summer virtual events and have answers to help you in your college admissions journey.
Part Two
ACT Test Scores
If you are considering taking the ACT as part of your college admissions journey,you may have some questions on how to use your scores to your advantage. Let’s dive in!
If the college is test optional, should I still submit my scores? Will it it make my application look better>
Deciding whether to submit your ACT score depends on how it compares to the average scores of admitted students at the schools you’re applying to. If your score is above the median range for a particular school, submitting it can strengthen your application.
Can you please explain the trend of ACT optional admissions process?
We sure can! In fact, we have an entire blog post that goes over what test optional really means if you’re interested. Test optional became increasingly more popular during 2020 and the years following. However, test optional doesn’t always mean what you think it does. Some test optional schools may still require test scores for certain academic programs, GPAs, or even for financial aid purposes. If you’re on the fence about taking the ACT, our advice is to test so you have scores ready for your applications or scholarships, then decide when/if you want to submit your scores.
We have lots more to share if you’re interested, including top questions you should ask colleges with test optional policies
What's the latest ACT test you can take before regular admissions?
Regular decision deadlines are typically in January or February. Check with the schools you are applying to for their specific deadlines. This means that you likely need to take the ACT test in the fall of your senior year or sooner to have a score in time. We recommend that students take the ACT for their first time during the spring of their junior year. If you haven’t taken a test yet, consider testing in September or October to make sure you have scores in time for any college deadlines you may need to meet.
Keep in mind that it may take 6-8 weeks to receive your scores. Get more information on test dates and scoring so you’re prepared.
Unfamiliar with the different admissions deadlines? We have more information about those as well!
What do I do if I still haven't gotten a score I would like, and I already took the test a couple of times?
It is important to keep in mind that a "good" ACT score can vary greatly from person to person depending on your goals and college preferences. If you haven’t achieved the score you were hoping for you have a few options.
- Change your study methods and try testing again. Dive deep into the areas that you may not understand using an ACT Test Information Release. You’ll receive a digital copy of the multiple-choice test questions, your answers, a copy of your answer document, the answer key, and the conversion table used in determining your ACT scores. Identify the areas or subjects that you need to improve and focus on those during your test prep. You can also try improving your score by finishing the exam completely every time, even if you need to start putting your best guess to keep moving. Take free practice tests at home to work on your time management and to help you identify your areas of improvement. You can also check out our website for more ACT testing advice.
- Go test optional. Depending on where your scores fall for the average of that institution, you might consider applying test optional.
- Submit your scores. People get accepted on both sides of the average! Admissions officers use your scores for more than just admissions decisions. They also use your score for course placement, academic advising, and institutional scholarships and loans.
Remember, you are more than your ACT score! In addition to your ACT score, colleges consider a lot of factors including your college essay, GPA, courses you took in high school, extracurricular activities, and more.
Extracurriculars
Part of the application will ask about the activities you’ve been involved in. If you want to boost your application, here are some tips to keep in mind.
Is it okay if my extracurriculars do not align with my intended major?
Great question! There may be a variety of reasons that your extracurriculars don’t align. Maybe you enjoy playing baseball, but you’d like to major in finance. Or maybe you’ve spent your free time working a part-time job that was unrelated to your goal of studying marketing. That’s okay! Extracurricular activities are beneficial for many reasons. They demonstrate commitment to a cause, they help admissions officers get to know you on a deeper level, and they help you build essential skills to be successful in your next adventure. Don’t discredit your extracurriculars if they are not aligned with your intended major.
However, it doesn’t hurt to find some extracurriculars that align if you have time in your busy schedule. You may hear these referred to as “supercurriculars.” Supercurriculars show colleges that you are serious about your desired major and help you build your resume. They are also a great way of seeing if you are truly passionate about following that career path. You might find that it isn't what you were expecting.
Supercurricular examples:
- If you are interested in earning a nursing degree, you might consider a high school program to prepare you for taking the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exam. You can typically become a CNA before you graduate, while earning some high school credit hours, and look for a job during the summer before college begins.
- Are you interested in becoming a journalist or writer? Start entering writing competitions while in high school.
- Is your plan to pursue a graphic design career? Look for businesses accepting interns that would allow you to gain hands-on experience. Take courses, watch YouTube videos, and shadow others to sharpen and grow your skills.
Are there specific activities that colleges value more highly?
Colleges are typically reviewing your extracurricular activities to assess what you'll be bringing to the institution including leadership qualities, your level of community involvement, and commitment to yourself and others. It’s best to participate in activities that allow you to progress over time and that you are passionate about. Some typical activities that tend to do this well are sports, internships, high school clubs, consistent volunteer opportunities, and work experience. There are of course hundreds of options out there, so follow your heart and pick a few that truly represent you to participate in!
Do you guys recommend passion projects going into senior year like starting a club, joining a position in a non-profit, or giving back to the community in some way, despite college advisors saying they would rather see longevity or continuity in your involvement in something. Should I just leave my application and volunteering as is, or do a last-minute passion project to boost my application?
Without knowing all the details, here’s our advice. If you have extra time, can continue your extracurriculars, and want to boost your application, you should consider a passion project or starting a club. It’s even better if your passion project ties into some of the extracurricular activities you’re already involved in, essentially taking things to the “next level.” But a passion project is just that: a project you’re passionate about! You should do it if you feel compelled to regardless of any requirements or judgement. Passion projects can look excellent on a college application and help the admissions officers get to know you and what you can bring to their institution even better.
Now it’s your turn! Learn more about applying to college with our free resources and advice.
