Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you score well, it could distinguish you from all the kids that don’t take it/submit it.

Not if the college doesn't use
that section. Colleges didn't really care about that section even before it became optional.

Agree they never cared about it in the past.

My senior took it and all but one of her schools did not count her science score with her composite, even though it was submitted.

Private CC advised to take it

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, DS took it when he took ACT back in September. That was recommendation because some schools require it and some hadn’t decided at the time he signed up for test.

For example, from Boston University’s website:

BU will only accept ACT scores which include the Science subsection; the Writing subsection continues to remain optional.

BU is one of the only schools requiring the science section. I called 20 schools and they all said it was completely optional. Some schools said they don’t even look at it even if you submit.

Did you just talk to whoever picked up in the admissions office? I may have DS do that. Or maybe he should be reaching out to regional admissions officer?

You can do either, but your regional rep is busy reading apps right now so you may not hear right away. Yes, just called and spoke to whomever answered. A few times it was a student working in the office and if they sounded unsure I asked nicely if they could doublecheck with an admissions officer and then usually the AO would get on the phone. I called, not my DC, and didn’t give a name or anything. DC was super busy that week and it was a task I could help him accomplish. Some schools state their position on the science section right on their admissions page under the FAQs (UGA is one). Also, schools that require official sores will see the science score, but the 3 on DC’s list I called all said they didn’t even factor it in. One said they might glance at it if you are a STEM major. YMMV

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, DS took it when he took ACT back in September. That was recommendation because some schools require it and some hadn’t decided at the time he signed up for test.

For example, from Boston University’s website:

BU will only accept ACT scores which include the Science subsection; the Writing subsection continues to remain optional.

BU is one of the only schools requiring the science section. I called 20 schools and they all said it was completely optional. Some schools said they don’t even look at it even if you submit.

Did you just talk to whoever picked up in the admissions office? I may have DS do that. Or maybe he should be reaching out to regional admissions officer?

Anonymous wrote:I made my Dc take it for the practice test to see how they did and figure out from there.

If you are allowed to self-report scores, you do not have to report your science score to 99% of schools. You can just leave it blank. It isn’t even averaged into the composite, so why bother?

I made my Dc take it for the practice test to see how they did and figure out from there.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, DS took it when he took ACT back in September. That was recommendation because some schools require it and some hadn’t decided at the time he signed up for test.

For example, from Boston University’s website:

BU will only accept ACT scores which include the Science subsection; the Writing subsection continues to remain optional.

BU is one of the only schools requiring the science section. I called 20 schools and they all said it was completely optional. Some schools said they don’t even look at it even if you submit.

Yes, DS took it when he took ACT back in September. That was recommendation because some schools require it and some hadn’t decided at the time he signed up for test.

For example, from Boston University’s website:

BU will only accept ACT scores which include the Science subsection; the Writing subsection continues to remain optional.

Anonymous wrote:Our ACT prep place recommended taking the science section, even though it’s optional now, because no one knows if colleges will still want to see them. Are others hearing the same thing?

And what prep place was this? Be careful, some of them don't really know what's going on and are not updated on recent requirements and what not

Anonymous wrote:If you score well, it could distinguish you from all the kids that don’t take it/submit it.

Not if the college doesn't use that section. Colleges didn't really care about that section even before it became optional.

If you score well, it could distinguish you from all the kids that don’t take it/submit it.