Hey there, I just got a score of 21 on my ACT. How does this measure up, in regard to college applications? Is it a good score that I should be proud of or does it fall short? Would appreciate any advice!
Your ACT score of 21 falls just above the national average, which is about 20.8. That's a solid achievement to be proud of, considering you're scoring better than approximately half of all test takers!
However, keep in mind that the "competitiveness" of your score really depends on the schools you're aiming for. For highly selective institutions and top-tier universities, they generally look for ACT scores in the higher range, often 30 and above. For less competitive state schools or smaller private universities, a score of 21 might be perfectly acceptable and even above their average ACT scores.
Also, remember that your ACT score is just one piece of your application. Schools also look at your GPA,course rigor, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and essays. All these factors come together to form a holistic picture of you as an applicant.
If you're aiming for higher ed schools and have time, you might want to consider re-taking the test and spending a bit more time studying to boost your score. However, if you're happy with the colleges that typically admit students with a 21 ACT and you feel your application is strong in other areas, the score you have could be perfectly fine. In either case, congrats on your achievement!
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