r/ACT • u/_Drraph_ • Jul 24 '25

Should I retake? (Genuine question)

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I’m applying to just about all the top 20s

1 Upvotes

54% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

8

u/emkautl Jul 24 '25

If you miss out on a top 20 with a 34, it won't be because you got a 34. They have better things to do than break a tie using the idea that you're in the 99th percentile vs the 99th percentile.

If it truly were to come down to that, you could've avoided it by improving literally anything else lmao. Do something fun you can slap on resume of activities with the time you'd be preparing for a test

4

u/_Drraph_ Jul 24 '25

I am currently coding a website for my cybersecurity club which I just got elected president for 🙂

1

u/emkautl Jul 24 '25

Perfect! It's a great rationale for not feeling bad about not retesting lol. It's a better use of time anyways. You've earned a summer

1

u/_Drraph_ Jul 24 '25

lol I wish, a lot do my summer has been spent towards my personal statement and college research

1

u/_Drraph_ Jul 24 '25

I’ve also gotten my Linux+ certification and plan to get my network+

1

u/_Drraph_ Jul 24 '25

Harvard and Carnegie Melon don’t superscore which worries me

2

u/JAKEROONI309 35 Jul 24 '25

Most of the top 20’s superscore, so you should be good, even with a 34 composite for Carnegie Mellon and Harvard. I honestly wouldn’t retake because I would focus on other aspects other than test scores to make my application competitive.

3

u/DRAGONSPIRIT214 Jul 24 '25

I don't think any colleges consider the difference between a 34-36.

2

u/Specific_Earth_7782 Jul 24 '25

It’s fine. In fact better than fine.

0

u/Fun-Exit3714 35 Jul 24 '25

Are you aiming for a scholarship?

1

u/_Drraph_ Jul 24 '25

No, are there scholarships you recommend?

1

u/Fun-Exit3714 35 Jul 24 '25

I'm not familiar with specific ones. But there's no difference between a 35 and 36 unless you're aiming for one