Will taking the ACT affect your chances in a good university?

Question

I am hoping to take both the SAT and the ACT, but I was hoping that I will submit the test that I score better on. However, I heard that your chances to get into a good university will be lower (I want to apply to all 8 Ivies, MIT, NYU, and MAYBE BU) if you submit the ACT only. Is this true? This is making me kind of worried!
Thanks

I know applying to all Ivy Leagues sounds a little indecisive and sounds like "going for the BEST instead of your personal liking". I just want to apply to all of them "just in case"- I'm a very cautious person and hopefully won't choose my college blindly, but thanks for your advice: IT HELPED ME A LOT =D.

Answer 1

I'm at an Ivy League school now--applied to three in all. Technically, your chances shouldn't be lower if you submit the ACT only, however, there is a great preference for the SAT and so therefore, unless you do horrifically, I would always submit it. If you submit both your SAT and your ACT, it doesn't hurt you; the college will of course consider your highest score. I took both the SAT and ACT and submitted both scores--my SAT composite was higher than my ACT composite; however, I did better mathematically on the ACT. It's good to have both. I would also caution you not to submit the ACT alone even if it is your higher score just because many colleges do exemptions based upon solely upon SAT scores.

Here's some more advice--most Ivies require 2 SAT IIs--therefore, take 3 in subjects you are fairly comfortable in. If your college requires 3, take 4. It's good to have some leeway, as your college will only consider top scores.

As for applying to all of the Ivies, they each have such a distinctive character that I think blindly applying to all of them is unwise. What do you want in a college? I chose Dartmouth ultimately over Harvard and Brown, and it's quite different than both schools. And certainly different from Columbia, for example, or UPenn. You're not going to get the same experience at every Ivy League school--and saying "I'm in the Ivy League" is pretty hollow if you're not happy with your choice.

Consider really what you'd like to do, and who you are, and apply to colleges based upon that, and not based wholly upon reputation. There are plenty of good colleges out there that are not Ivy or big names.

Good luck with your college apps!

A book that could possibly help with apps would be A for Admission. It will help you polish your application and set you apart from the rest of the applicant pool.

Also, for any of the colleges you're thinking of, I would say some kind of interview (alumni or on-campus is a MUST).

Also, if you haven't taken either the SAT or ACT yet, I would seriously consider having a bevy of "safety schools" to choose from--you never know if you'll do as good as you expect to.
(Though I'm sure you'll do fine!) Good luck again. And remember, it's your future. Your happiness comes first.


Yes, your education is what you make of it.

Another suggestion--if you haven't taken an AP exam in a language yet, I definitely would--a 4 or a 5 on one of these really saves you, especially since many colleges have demanding foriegn language requirements. I placed out of 3 terms of German and drills with just one test--definitely worth it.

Also, if you have taken any APs already, it might help to look into AP policies at various colleges. (Whether you'll get credit or exemption or neither.) For example, a 5 on my German exam gave me an exemption, while a 5 on my American History exam gave me a credit, and a 5 on my American Government exam meant nothing. But different colleges have different policies, and it might help you in your ultimate determination.

Also, if you have financial concerns, Brown is not need-blind, and will actually give preference to students they think can foot the entire bill. Conversely, I think the rest of the Ivies are need-blind. This is not to say that you won't get good financial aid if you apply there--Brown has very decent financial aid. However, they also give more preference to alumni, I think, than any of the other Ivies, though if you're a racial minority, or are international or not from the Northeastern United States, that helps you more at Brown than anywhere else.

Also, I went to a presentation for Yale. They discard many of their applications without looking at them. But it's funny how they do their essays--they reject most everybody who writes about student government because that bores them to death.

Answer 2

For the schools you're applying to I would definitely submit SAT scores. I think that the ACT is more of a midwest exam (more schools in the midwest will accept just ACT scores). Many students applying to the schools you listed will only be taking the SAT. In that case, only taking the ACT hurts you since they can't compare you the other students.
Another note: Usually people list the schools they want their scores sent to right on the exam itself. If you don't list the schools you'll have to pay for each transcript you want sent out later and since you're applying to quite a few schools, that might get expensive. If you take an exam more than once, schools will look at your highest score.

Answer 3

I got into Ohio State University with a 17 ACT score (LOW score). I also got into Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with the same score. Ivy leagues, MIT, NYU, BU will be slightly different but every University is looking for whether or not you can pay the bill, and if they doubt your scores they will have you take a placement test. Just study and get the best score you can get. GOOD LUCK on both tests.

Answer 4

Most colleges will use the highest scores submitted. ACT and SAT measure different things - ACT measures what you know, SAT measures how you think. So by submitting both scores I think you're showing colleges more sides to your academic potential.

However, if you scored significantly lower on one test or the other, you might consider sending only your best test score. Good luck!

I might suggest that since you've listed extremely competitive colleges, all students should always have a good "backup" plan, in the event they are not admitted to highly selective choices. Best wishes.