Act percentiles: How important are they?

I'm a bit stressed about my ACT score, just trying to understand what it means. I scored decent but does the percentile matter more? What exactly do colleges look at? Is it the actual score or the percentile?

When it comes to ACT scores, colleges primarily consider the composite score. This score, which ranges from 1 to 36, reflects your overall performance on the ACT. Percentiles, on the other hand, are used to give context to the scores by indicating how they compare to the scores of other test-takers.

For instance, if your ACT score is in the 70th percentile, this means you scored better than 70% of the other test-takers. However, colleges primarily base their admissions decisions on your composite score and its compatibility with their institutional standards. They typically publish the 25th to 75th percentile range of ACT scores for their admitted students, which can give you an idea of where your score stands in relation to their expectations. This means that 50% of admitted students scored within this range.

Keep in mind that while your ACT score is important, it is just one of the factors considered in admissions. Your GPA, coursework, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations also play a significant role in your overall application package. So while it's beneficial to strive for a high percentile on the ACT, a score that falls within the middle 50% range for your desired colleges is generally considered competitive.