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Duke University
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UCLA
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Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

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Ideal ACT score for top colleges?

Hey everyone! I'm preparing for the ACT and I'm aiming for top-tier schools. I was wondering what ACT score range I should be aiming for to have a competitive chance of getting into these top colleges?

5 months ago

Hello! To be competitive for top-tier colleges, you should aim for an ACT score in the 33-36 range. Keep in mind that having a high score is necessary, but not sufficient for admission to elite schools - they also evaluate various other components such as your transcript, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendation letters.

To learn more about the role of test scores, and academic performance more broadly, at elite institutions, you can check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/what-is-the-academic-index-how-is-it-calculated

It's a good idea to research the middle 50% ACT scores of admitted students at the specific schools you're interested in. This information, which can usually be found either directly on their website or through third parties like CollegeVine, will give you a more concrete idea of the score range you should be targeting. Just make sure to also invest in other aspects of your application to create a cohesively compelling case for admission.

Best of luck with your ACT prep and college applications!

5 months ago

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