33 on the ACT: is it a good score?

Just got my ACT scores and I ended up with a 33. I'm really relieved, but I'm also wondering, is it a good enough score for top-tier schools?

A 33 on the ACT is definitely a solid score. It places you in the 98th percentile, meaning you've scored higher than 98% of students who took the test. This is certainly an impressive achievement by any standard.

For context, a 33 ACT score is above the 75th percentile of admitted students at many highly reputable colleges. Take, for instance, University of Michigan, where the middle 50% ACT score range for admitted students is 31-34, or University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where it's 27-33. A 33 puts you at the top of – or even exceeding – the range for these institutions, which increases your chances of being deemed academically qualified.

However, for highly prestigious institutions like Ivy League schools, a 33 ACT score sits just inside, or slightly below, their typical 25th-75th percentile range. For example, Harvard University's middle 50% range is usually 33-35, while for schools like Dartmouth and Brown, it's 32-35. While a 33 is within these ranges, it's towards the lower end.

That being said, remember that standardized test scores are one component of your application picture. Admissions officers at top-tier schools also value things like your GPA, curriculum rigor, extracurricular activities, demonstrated leadership ability, and your personal essays. Having a 'spike,' or a highly-developed specialty, can make you stand out and be more compelling than just your test score might suggest.

In essence, a 33 is a good score and it opens doors to many great institutions, but at the most competitive schools, other parts of your application will also play a significant role in your acceptance. Aim to make those aspects as strong as possible to complement your test score.