Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have lost our effing minds

Agree.

I mean…what other option is there?
Admissions process makes it feel like it’s literally not possible to simply be an excellent student and get admitted anywhere anymore.
Now you must have the perfect score or don’t bother! At least—that’s the message we’re getting from Admissions Officers!!
I don’t think we lost our minds. I think we are being pushed over the edge!

AOs aren't giving this message.

It isn't "test inflation"

It is kids not submitting scores because they've been misled into believing their great scores still aren't good enough. At this point 34-36 is the "acceptable" range.

That is NUTS.

Anonymous wrote:33/1480: accepted at Northwestern, BC, Michigan, Notre Dame. Chose Northwestern & did very well.

When you say "did very well," it sounds like this was pre 2021/2 (start of test inflation). It would help OP to know what year because 21 had higher averages than 20, 22 even higher, 23 you get the idea.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have lost our effing minds

Agree.

I mean…what other option is there?
Admissions process makes it feel like it’s literally not possible to simply be an excellent student and get admitted anywhere anymore.
Now you must have the perfect score or don’t bother! At least—that’s the message we’re getting from Admissions Officers!!
I don’t think we lost our minds. I think we are being pushed over the edge!

You’re leaving out the “top 20” part of OP’s question. There’s simply no reason to be so slavishly devoted to 20 schools rather than, say, the top 50 or 75.

Same boat w/my kid.
33 and submitted scores for many schools in 30-50 range already (EA) as well as one reach (ED). 33 gets you in to those lower ranked schools easily; and there isn’t a question on whether to submit.

Assume this question is focused on RD reach schools - top20 - w/33 ACT.
And, that it’s not an easy call there.
Fair question to ask.

Anonymous wrote:33/1480: accepted at Northwestern, BC, Michigan, Notre Dame. Chose Northwestern & did very well.

Wow great outcomes!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have lost our effing minds

Agree.

I mean…what other option is there?
Admissions process makes it feel like it’s literally not possible to simply be an excellent student and get admitted anywhere anymore.
Now you must have the perfect score or don’t bother! At least—that’s the message we’re getting from Admissions Officers!!
I don’t think we lost our minds. I think we are being pushed over the edge!

You’re leaving out the “top 20” part of OP’s question. There’s simply no reason to be so slavishly devoted to 20 schools rather than, say, the top 50 or 75.

33/1480: accepted at Northwestern, BC, Michigan, Notre Dame. Chose Northwestern & did very well.

33 is such a difficult score to deal with if you're shooting for a top thirty or so and are otherwise unhooked.

It's a great score regardless. And tons of opportunities will come from it.

I can only share our experience. Two kids. First was a senior when Covid hit. Had already applied so I don't think it made much of a difference that year. He went with a 1490, which I think is roughly the equivalent of a 33, maybe even a little less. He applied ED to a top 20. Got in. It certainly wasn't the test scores that got him in though. But he hit the baseline when test scores still mattered.

Second kid, three years later. Got a 33 on the ACT the first time. Math and English were 35 and 36. It was the science score that was keeping him down. And he's a STEM kid. It kind of pissed him off. So he retook. I think out of spite. Ultimately rolled with a 35 and also got into a top 20.

He's a freshman now.

People on this website will always say test scores don't matter. But for unhooked white or asian kids, they really do. 34/1500 and you're good to apply anywhere. 32/33 and the 1400s are a kind of purgatory. It's very annoying. It's one or two questions. None of this is fair. No one is going to be denied for a 32/1400. But it's not going to help

So, if there's still time, would retake. If there's not, I would roll with it. 33 is a great score. Send it.

Good luck. My kid didn’t get into a top 20 and I haven’t had a good nights sleep since. It’s so embarrassing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have lost our effing minds

Agree.

I mean…what other option is there?
Admissions process makes it feel like it’s literally not possible to simply be an excellent student and get admitted anywhere anymore.
Now you must have the perfect score or don’t bother! At least—that’s the message we’re getting from Admissions Officers!!
I don’t think we lost our minds. I think we are being pushed over the edge!

Vanderbilt
3.8 GPA

Anonymous wrote:Any success stories with submitting a 33 ACT to any of the top 20 schools?

Yes. 33 Act to Harvard last year.

Anonymous wrote:We have lost our effing minds

Agree.

We have lost our effing minds

Any success stories with submitting a 33 ACT to any of the top 20 schools?