Using Your ACT Score

 The ACT score is a very important tool in the college search process.   The goal is to get accepted to a college where you can be happy and successful.  The ACT score can help you find the pool of colleges where you can succeed.

 Grades and classes taken are the most important pieces of a college application.  However, they are always somewhat subjective.  How can admissions officers know if classes with the same name and subject matter are actually equivalent?  Teachers are not the same and expectations for grades differ from class to class and school to school.  The ACT score helps compare students who have similar academic records.

 Most colleges show statistics about the ACT scores of their current students.  If an applicant's ACT score is in the range of scores of current students, it is likely the applicant can be successful at that school.  Remember, applicants are compared to other applicants.  Applying to colleges where your score is in the middle or top of the range makes your acceptance more likely.

 There is no "ideal" or "minimum" ACT score.  The important criteria is how competitive that score is in the pool of applicants at each school.  If you apply to colleges with a GPA and ACT profile similar to yours, it is likely you will be accepted to most of these schools.

Jan Caron, ACT tutor

847-948-8991

mjmhs@aol.com     Jancaronact.com