Is a 32 ACT score good for college applications?

Hi fellow juniors! I took the ACT and scored a 32, but I'm not sure if that's good enough for the colleges I'm applying to. Is this score considered good, or should I try to retake the test for a better score? Appreciate any advice.

A 32 on the ACT is definitely a strong score, as it places you in the 95th percentile of test-takers nationally. With this score, you would be competitive for a wide range of colleges and universities. However, whether or not it's good enough for the specific schools you're applying to depends on their admissions standards and the academic strength of their typical admitted students.

To decide if you should retake the ACT, make a list of the colleges you're planning to apply to, and research the middle 50% ACT scores for those schools (these are the scores where 50% of accepted students fall, excluding the top 25% and bottom 25% of scorers). This will give you a better idea of how competitive your score is for each school. If your score falls into or above the middle 50% range for most of your target schools, you're in good shape.

That being said, if you're aiming for highly selective colleges, it's worth considering a retake to try to improve your score, as these schools typically have higher ACT score ranges. Yet, remember that admissions at top schools also take into account other factors beyond test scores, such as your grades, extracurriculars, and essays.

Keep in mind that retaking the ACT can provide an opportunity to improve your score, but be sure to weigh the potential benefits against the time and effort you'll need to invest in studying for another test. It might be more valuable to focus on other aspects of your college applications, such as strengthening your essays or becoming more involved in extracurriculars. Ultimately, the decision to retake the ACT will depend on your individual goals and the requirements of the specific schools you wish to attend. Good luck!