Retake ACT for math for top school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP

DS is a Junior and got these scores:
Math - 36
Reading - 36
Verbal - 35
Science - 31

Overall, its a 35, but he wants to do CS and the STEM score is a 34. Retake, right? Or don't sweat it?

I wouldn’t sweat science like I would math. ACT Science is more of a reading test and not considered as important as math. So retake optional. But I might skip it if he’s applying to schools requiring all scores because the others are so high.

NP again.

DS did almost no prep. Do schools see if you send a super score? Is it better to show one score that’s very strong, but not perfect, or a super score?

OP here. Glad you asked this. I was wondering the same. Also wondering if they look closely at the subscores or more at the main score.

The only place I have seen that discounts the importance of the Science section score is DCUM. It’s extremely important for most elite schools.

MIT came out today saying the science section is least predictive for them. I inferred this from their average subscores but now it’s confirmed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP

DS is a Junior and got these scores:
Math - 36
Reading - 36
Verbal - 35
Science - 31

Overall, its a 35, but he wants to do CS and the STEM score is a 34. Retake, right? Or don't sweat it?

I wouldn’t sweat science like I would math. ACT Science is more of a reading test and not considered as important as math. So retake optional. But I might skip it if he’s applying to schools requiring all scores because the others are so high.

NP again.

DS did almost no prep. Do schools see if you send a super score? Is it better to show one score that’s very strong, but not perfect, or a super score?

OP here. Glad you asked this. I was wondering the same. Also wondering if they look closely at the subscores or more at the main score.

The only place I have seen that discounts the importance of the Science section score is DCUM. It’s extremely important for most elite schools.

MIT came out today saying the science section is least predictive for them. I inferred this from their average subscores but now it’s confirmed.

Did you hear the same podcast I did?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP

DS is a Junior and got these scores:
Math - 36
Reading - 36
Verbal - 35
Science - 31

Overall, its a 35, but he wants to do CS and the STEM score is a 34. Retake, right? Or don't sweat it?

I wouldn’t sweat science like I would math. ACT Science is more of a reading test and not considered as important as math. So retake optional. But I might skip it if he’s applying to schools requiring all scores because the others are so high.

NP again.

DS did almost no prep. Do schools see if you send a super score? Is it better to show one score that’s very strong, but not perfect, or a super score?

OP here. Glad you asked this. I was wondering the same. Also wondering if they look closely at the subscores or more at the main score.

The only place I have seen that discounts the importance of the Science section score is DCUM. It’s extremely important for most elite schools.

MIT came out today saying the science section is least predictive for them. I inferred this from their average subscores but now it’s confirmed.

Did you hear the same podcast I did?

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always wonder how well these kids know themselves. It seems like she is probably very talented in reading and language, perhaps more so than math. Is engineering aligned with her true interests and talents. I'm sure she can do it, but is it what she loves and would be best at?

I hear you. She is adhd and will always have issues with careless mistakes and not the best at listening/following directions in contrast to many other stem kids. But, she has the big ideas. She is creative and inspired. She sees what the problem wants to solve it. She's also in an engineering program and doing well. So, I think she could be a real asset in the field. I could also see her pivoting to something else. So, even though I think Olin with its 50/50 ratio of women to men would be cool, I'd love it if she went somewhere that would support her equally in this field and in another if she should change her mind.

I could be wrong, but I think it sounds as if your daughter might be happier at a school that DCUM-type badger parents DON'T obsess about, rather than at some top school where a lot of kids got in by prepping their way to perfect scores.

Example: The University of Rochester is completely unfashionable right now. It's aid is probably worse than Ivy League aid. But, because it's unfashionable, maybe it has a lower percentage of aggressive DCUM-type kids, and a lower percentage of kids who are so far off-the-charts that competing with them would be more demoralizing than inspiring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP

DS is a Junior and got these scores:
Math - 36
Reading - 36
Verbal - 35
Science - 31

Overall, its a 35, but he wants to do CS and the STEM score is a 34. Retake, right? Or don't sweat it?

I wouldn’t sweat science like I would math. ACT Science is more of a reading test and not considered as important as math. So retake optional. But I might skip it if he’s applying to schools requiring all scores because the others are so high.

NP again.

DS did almost no prep. Do schools see if you send a super score? Is it better to show one score that’s very strong, but not perfect, or a super score?

OP here. Glad you asked this. I was wondering the same. Also wondering if they look closely at the subscores or more at the main score.

The only place I have seen that discounts the importance of the Science section score is DCUM. It’s extremely important for most elite schools.

MIT came out today saying the science section is least predictive for them. I inferred this from their average subscores but now it’s confirmed.

I should add they also confirmed (as we assumed) that math score is most predictive.