Advice for Scoring 32 ACT?

Hey everybody, just got my ACT score and it's a 32. I'm a junior currently. Any thoughts on what this might mean for my college admissions? I'm a little nervous about it and I'm wondering if it's good enough for top colleges. Is there anyone here who scored similarly and was successful in their college applications?

A 32 on the ACT is a strong score. It's roughly equivalent to 1400 on the SAT and typically falls into the 98th percentile of all test takers. That's an accomplishment that can lend credibility to your application at many selective institutions.

You wondered whether it's good enough for top colleges - the answer depends on which "top colleges" you're looking at. While most colleges will consider a 32 to be a high score, the most selective colleges might expect applicants to have slightly higher scores, say, 33-36. Often, we see the middle 50% ACT scores for admitted students at Ivy League and equivalent schools fall in that range. However, remember that test scores are just one part of your application, and holistic admissions processes at selective schools value many other factors highly, such as your GPA, course rigor, extracurricular accomplishments, and essays.

If you're considering retesting, do keep in mind that the marginal benefit decreases the higher your score is. A 32 is already at the point where improvements do not significantly raise your admissions chances at all. Also, colleges don't see a huge difference between a 32, 33, or 34.

It's possible to have a successful college application with that score, especially if other parts of your application are strong. For instance, one could have significant achievements in top-tier extracurricular activities or have particularly compelling essays that show deep insight and growth. So ensure that other aspects of your application are also polished and reflect your unique strengths and experiences.

At the end of the day, it's crucial to keep in mind that the goal of college applications isn't to gain acceptance to the most prestigious school possible but to find a school that is a good fit for you, in terms of academics, culture, location, and more.