How will low ACT score effect admissions?

[Anonymous]

All I know is that my kid's 35 ACT with meh grades did nothing at anywhere competitive at all. Grades are far more important. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

25 isn't "really low" at all. I'd say it's a solid score, commensurate with SAT score, and the good grades should trump all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If our act comes back low, we are going to try SAT. I think there are differences in the math section, so I'd have her do a practice sat to compare. And, I'd reassure her that there is a college for everyone, including test optional, to help reduce the stress.

This is your child's score, not your score or our score.

[Anonymous]

Test scores are mattering less these days. GPA and rigor of curriculum are the main considerations. There are also a growing number of "Test Optional" schools. I don't have the link, but I have seen a web site that lists them all. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about the opposite?
ACT is 35, but overall GPA is really low (junior year in a new school 3.97 GPA, which boosted the overall GPA to 3.14.
It was too late when we finally realized that grades were being slashed at our former charter.

You should aggressively engage your current school in the college process on behalf of your child. These types of anomalous situations can be handled. I have seen bad years explained in the context of a family death or divorce, leaving the student undamaged in the process.

I transferred mid junior year. Grades converted horribly. My mom went up to school and got them to only count my grades at that school. I was very successful with admissions. Also, there is a place to write a essay about extenuating circumstances. Help your kid write that essay.

We showed school that report card at former charter does not make sense (very good grades all year long except for two exams which supposedly count for almost 67% of the final grade. We asked to have a look at the exams to find out the reason for huge discrepancies , but were denied. Charter board said nothing could be done because the school is for profit ...

Current School is saying it is "unethical" not to submit all grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If our act comes back low, we are going to try SAT. I think there are differences in the math section, so I'd have her do a practice sat to compare. And, I'd reassure her that there is a college for everyone, including test optional, to help reduce the stress.

f

Please land the helicopter....are you taking the test? Or is your kid? Your pronouns are very telling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD hasn't done well on her testing. She has a 3.9 GPA and has taken plenty of AP and honors classes, so schoolwork is good.
She got a 1180 on her SAT and a 25 on her ACT. DD just went to retake the ACT last weekend and her calculator malfunctioned so she couldn't use it in the math portion. My guess is that her score will go down. Plenty of stress in our household right now.
She wants to go to a large school and probably major in marketing. Looking at several of the schools it looks like she is above average acceptance on GPA but a few points below the ACT avg.
Would you advise her to take the next ACT in October? Or just go with what she has. Any advice on schools to consider?

Had the same situation with my child. Very strong GPA, great extracurriculars, good references and strong essays. Got into some great schools. Go for schools that take a holistic approach to admissions. Not everyone is a great test taker and the score my child received on the ACT was not indicative of ability or potential. The school chosen was a perfect fit and all is well. You might also want to look at test optional schools which are increasing each year.

I have a kid like this (very strong GPA, AP and honors classes, great extracurriculars, great writer, etc.). However, she is a terrible test taker when it comes to PSAT and SAT tests. The largest problem is in the area of math. She went from private to public school, beginning in 9th grade. She took Algebra in 9th, Geometry in 10th, and is now taking Algebra 2 as a junior. She has a math tutor, and gets A's in math with a lot of effort. Much of the math on the SAT is Algebra 2 and pre-calc, which she hasn't learned (or is in the process of learning). Her math scores on the PSAT and practice SATs are low. Her verbal scores are much stronger. She currently has an "A" in AP Lang, and writes very well, strong comprehension, analysis, vocab., etc. The math is killing her though. What advice do you have for a kid like this? How do we find schools that take a more holistic approach to admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD hasn't done well on her testing. She has a 3.9 GPA and has taken plenty of AP and honors classes, so schoolwork is good.
She got a 1180 on her SAT and a 25 on her ACT. DD just went to retake the ACT last weekend and her calculator malfunctioned so she couldn't use it in the math portion. My guess is that her score will go down. Plenty of stress in our household right now.
She wants to go to a large school and probably major in marketing. Looking at several of the schools it looks like she is above average acceptance on GPA but a few points below the ACT avg.
Would you advise her to take the next ACT in October? Or just go with what she has. Any advice on schools to consider?

Had the same situation with my child. Very strong GPA, great extracurriculars, good references and strong essays. Got into some great schools. Go for schools that take a holistic approach to admissions. Not everyone is a great test taker and the score my child received on the ACT was not indicative of ability or potential. The school chosen was a perfect fit and all is well. You might also want to look at test optional schools which are increasing each year.

I have a kid like this (very strong GPA, AP and honors classes, great extracurriculars, great writer, etc.). However, she is a terrible test taker when it comes to PSAT and SAT tests. The largest problem is in the area of math. She went from private to public school, beginning in 9th grade. She took Algebra in 9th, Geometry in 10th, and is now taking Algebra 2 as a junior. She has a math tutor, and gets A's in math with a lot of effort. Much of the math on the SAT is Algebra 2 and pre-calc, which she hasn't learned (or is in the process of learning). Her math scores on the PSAT and practice SATs are low. Her verbal scores are much stronger. She currently has an "A" in AP Lang, and writes very well, strong comprehension, analysis, vocab., etc. The math is killing her though. What advice do you have for a kid like this? How do we find schools that take a more holistic approach to admissions?

Have you considered the test optional schools?

[Anonymous]

11.02 poster - I feel like I could have written your post. DD is a strong student on the same Math track as your daughter so the SAT/ACT Math sections are hard because she has not completed Algebra 2. Now add in a change of schools between 9th and 10th grades and she also lost some geometry instruction . At this time, she can barely score in the low 500s in the Math. ACT is about a 26.

[Anonymous]

To the OP: Of course your child should retake the ACT at the next administration. If the malfunctioning calculator messed things up for her last time, why wouldn't she try again with a working one?? And, as others said, after some more practice tests....

[Anonymous]

fairtest.org lists over 800 schools where tests are optional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:25 isn't "really low" at all. I'd say it's a solid score, commensurate with SAT score, and the good grades should trump all.

This. I didn't test well either and got almost the same scores many years ago when no one studied or took prep courses for the tests. I still went to a good school and did well there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:25 isn't "really low" at all. I'd say it's a solid score, commensurate with SAT score, and the good grades should trump all.

This. I didn't test well either and got almost the same scores many years ago when no one studied or took prep courses for the tests. I still went to a good school and did well there.

My understanding is the scales are different. Your percentiles now would be much lower with the same scores.

[Anonymous]

Test scores are NOT one score like 1180 or 25. The 1180 could be a 780 and a 400 or it could be a 590 and a 590.

There are MANY schools that are LOOKING for kids with 780E/400M just like engineering schools would consider a 400E 780Math kid if the rest of their application was good enough.


"I have a kid like this (very strong GPA, AP and honors classes, great extracurriculars, great writer, etc.). However, she is a terrible test taker when it comes to PSAT and SAT tests. The largest problem is in the area of math. She went from private to public school, beginning in 9th grade. She took Algebra in 9th, Geometry in 10th, and is now taking Algebra 2 as a junior. She has a math tutor, and gets A's in math with a lot of effort. Much of the math on the SAT is Algebra 2 and pre-calc, which she hasn't learned (or is in the process of learning). Her math scores on the PSAT and practice SATs are low. Her verbal scores are much stronger. She currently has an "A" in AP Lang, and writes very well, strong comprehension, analysis, vocab., etc. The math is killing her though. What advice do you have for a kid like this? How do we find schools that take a more holistic approach to admissions?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:25 isn't "really low" at all. I'd say it's a solid score, commensurate with SAT score, and the good grades should trump all.

This. I didn't test well either and got almost the same scores many years ago when no one studied or took prep courses for the tests. I still went to a good school and did well there.

it depends where OP's kid wants to go. there are nearly 4000 colleges in US and you can get accepted to many of them with a 25. but op's kiddo will have a hard time getting into top 100 (even 200) school with that score. keep in mind even umd's low 25%tile is 29.