Chances with ACT Score of 22

Hey guys, I just got my ACT results and I scored a 22. I know it's not an Ivy league score, but what kind of schools typically accept students with my score range? Should I retake it or focus more on my essays and extracurriculars?

A score of 22 on the ACT falls into the 63rd percentile of test-takers nationally, which means you scored higher than 63% of test-takers. This should certainly be strong enough for many colleges and universities. However, it does depend on the selectivity of the schools you are aiming for.

As a rule of thumb, if your score is within the middle 50% range of scores at a university you're interested in – meaning 25% of admitted students scored below you and 25% scored above you, you have a good chance of being considered competitive, provided the rest of your application is strong. You can usually find a school's middle 50% data on their website.

If you're looking at competitive institutions – schools that accept fewer than 30% of applicants – it might be worth considering retaking the ACT. However, if your goal schools are less competitive, then a 22 could be perfectly fine, especially if you have other strengths to showcase, such as a strong GPA, standout extracurricular activities or a compelling personal essay.

Of course, your ACT score is only one piece of the college admissions puzzle and it's important to also have strong grades, a rigorous course load, and meaningful extracurricular involvement. To assess whether to retake the ACT or focus more on your essays and extracurriculars, you have to consider how much time you have left until your first college applications are due, and how much room for improvement there is in each area.

If you feel that you can improve your ACT score significantly with focused prep and practice tests, and still have time to work on your essays and reinforce your extracurricular involvement, then retaking the ACT could be a good option. But, if your time is very limited, and you feel that your essays or extracurriculars need significant work, then it may be a better use of your time to focus there.

If you want to know how your application as a whole stacks up at a particular school, I'd check out CollegeVine's free chancing engine, which accounts for all quantifiable elements of your application, including not just test scores but also GPA, course rigor, and extracurriculars to give you personalized odds of acceptance at over 1,600 colleges around the country: https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator

This tool will also give you suggestions for how you could improve your chances, whether by raising your ACT score slightly or some other step, like earning a leadership position in one of your extracurriculars.

Remember that your ACT score is just one part of your application. While it can open or close some doors, admissions committees will evaluate you holistically, considering your academics, your character and what you’ve done with your time outside the classroom. So, be honest with yourself about where your time and energy would be best spent as you prepare to submit your first apps.

Good luck with your decision!