Weighing in on ACT scores

Just got my ACT results and I scored a 28. Given that ACT has the highest possible score of 36, is mine considered a solid score? Could this potentially help me stand out in the college admissions process?

Your ACT score of 28 is indeed quite good. This score is above average—specifically, it's in the 90th percentile of all ACT test takers, indicating that you performed better than 90% of students who took the exam. For many colleges and universities, it's considered a competitive score.

However, it's important to keep in mind that the weight your ACT score holds in the admissions process depends heavily on the selectivity of the universities to which you plan to apply. For highly selective institutions, while your score of 28 is strong, it may be below their average accepted score, so you might need to rely on other aspects of your application to bolster your chances of admission, like your course rigor, GPA, extracurriculars, essays, and letters of recommendation.

For less selective colleges, a score of 28 should position you quite favorably in their applicant pool. It may even make you eligible for certain merit-based scholarships. However, always make sure to check the average ACT scores for the universities you're interested in. By doing so, you'll be able to gauge how competitive your score is relative to other applicants.

Additionally, given the test-optional policies currently adopted by many colleges in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a high ACT score like yours could be particularly advantageous in demonstrating your academic capabilities. As always, it's advisable to double-check with each specific institution on their testing policies and requirements for the application cycle.

Overall, you should be proud of your score. Just remember that it's only one piece of your application! You should aim to highlight your strengths and passions in every area of your application in order to stand out from other applicants.