ACT Writing vs No Writing - Opinions?

I'm not gonna lie, writing isn't my strongest suit but I'm willing to take on the challenge if it helps me stand out more. Should I do the optional writing section of the ACT or just skip it if I'm uncertain about how well I'd perform?

In the realm of college admissions, the optional writing section of the ACT isn't usually the make-or-break factor in an application. However, there are certain circumstances in which doing the ACT writing section can be beneficial… or not.

Here are some reasons to consider taking the ACT with writing:

1. The colleges you're targeting require or highly recommend it. Some colleges outright require the writing section, though the number is decreasing. It's worth checking each college's requirements, if they recommend or require it, it's better to take it and not risk your application being incomplete.

2. You want to leave no stone unturned. If you think you can do reasonably well and want to showcase every aspect of your academic prowess - go for it!

On the flip side, reasons to skip it:

1. Most colleges don’t place much importance on it. As mentioned earlier, colleges generally don't assign much weight to the ACT essay as they may already be utilizing your personal essays and supplemental essays to assess your writing ability.

2. Prior bandwidth on other sections. The ACT is a long test, and by the time you get to the essay, you might be fatigued. Your energy may be better spent on the rest of the test if you're already feeling strained.

3. It’s extra prep time. If writing isn't your strong suit, preparing for the ACT essay would consume valuable time you might prefer to spend on other parts of the test.

In summary, it all boils down to your college list, your confidence in your writing skills, and your ability to balance the overall time and energy on this relatively minor part of the ACT. If you take it and don't do well, remember that colleges evaluate your application holistically. No single score is going to be a deciding factor, they consider everything - classes, grades, extracurriculars, essays - as one big package.