What Colleges Can I Get Into With a 27 ACT Score?

So I just got my ACT score back and I got a 27. A little bummed, but I'm trying to stay positive. What colleges should I consider applying to with this score? I'd love any suggestions or advice!

A 27 on the ACT is a respectable score and places you in the top 15% of test takers! There are plenty of solid colleges where your score would be well within or even above the middle 50% of accepted students.

Here are a few schools that you could consider applying to with your 27 ACT score to get a sense of the range in selectivity:

1. University of Texas at Arlington: UT Arlington has an average ACT score between 22 and 28. The school offers a wide range of academic programs, and benefits from its location in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which provides students with many internship and career opportunities.

2. University of Iowa: With an average ACT range of 22-28, the University of Iowa is known for strong programs in fields such as Engineering, Business, and Creative Writing.

3. Loyola University Chicago: This private Jesuit university has an average ACT range of 25-30. Known for its Lake Shore Campus and urban location, Loyola Chicago offers strong programs in fields like Business, Communication, and Psychology.

4. Ohio State University: Buckeye pride runs strong at OSU, where the middle 50% range for the ACT is 28-32. OSU is a large, diverse school with a significant residential population and offers strong programs in areas like Engineering, Business, and the Arts.

5. Fairfield University: Located in Fairfield, Connecticut, this private Jesuit institution has an average ACT range of 24-29. With a focus on undergraduate education, Fairfield is known for its programs in Nursing and Business.

Remember, these are just a few examples to get you started, and there are many other schools with similar ACT ranges to explore. It might be helpful to create a list of colleges that match your academic and personal preferences and then check the typical ACT scores of admitted students to see if you'd fit in well with the colleges on your list. Don't be afraid to include some schools where your ACT is a little below the middle 50% range - your ideal college list should include a mix of reach, target, and safety schools.

Finally, keep in mind that while your ACT score is important, colleges also consider your GPA, extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, and more. So, even if your ACT score is towards the upper end of of a school's middle 50% range, don't neglect these other components. On the flip side, if you're on the lower end, don't give up hope - you can compensate for that with strengths in these other areas.

If you want to get a sense of how your overall profile stacks up at a school, check out CollegeVine's free chancing engine: https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator/. This tool accounts for all quantifiable elements of your application, including your ACT score, GPA, course rigor, extracurriculars, and so on to give you personalized odds of acceptance at hundreds of colleges across the country. The engine also gives you tips for how to boost your chances - remember, you can always retake the ACT, or bolster other components of your application by, for example, earning a leadership position in one of your extracurriculars.

Good luck with your college search!