Hi all, I just got my ACT scores and scored a 33. I'm aiming for Ivy League schools, but I'm not sure if this score is competitive enough. Should I retake the test, or focus on other parts of my application? Any advice would be appreciated!
Congratulations on your 33 ACT score! That's a great accomplishment. A 33 is on the lower end of the middle 50% range for Ivy League schools, but it's still within the range. It should be high enough to at least get your application read, provided that your GPA and course rigor are also similar to that of accepted Ivy League students.
Here's the way selective admissions works: your test scores (if you submit them), GPA, and course rigor are turned into a single value called the Academic Index. If your academics fall within a certain threshold, your application will be read. You can learn more about the Academic Index here: https://blog.collegevine.com/what-is-the-academic-index-how-is-it-calculated
Once you pass the academic threshold, admissions considers your extracurriculars, essays, etc. That's why it's important for those to be strong as well as they set your application apart.
All in all, if you feel confident that you could improve your score significantly with further preparation, you can consider retaking the test. However, if you think your time might be better spent enhancing other aspects of your application like your essays, it could be more beneficial to focus on those.
Ultimately, it's up to you to decide the best strategy for your situation. If you need more guidance, I recommend using CollegeVine's chancing engine, as it will tell you which aspects of your profile need improvement and which are strong: https://collegevine.com/admissions-calculator
Good luck!
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