ACT Question

WIT84

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Nov 9, 2012
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DD just received her October ACT results and although her composite score did not move from the June test, she picked up a couple of points in Math. She plans to take it one last time in December, and we would like to know if Admissions puts more weight on Math and English or are they looking for an overall high composite or superscore? Best efforts so far have yielded

English - 34
Reading - 29
Math - 28
Science - 27
Writing 31

Superscore average - 29.5. We assume it rounds to a 30. Thank you in advance.
 
They superscore, so composite doesn't appear on portals. I can't help with your question re: weighting math/reading. Best of luck to your daughter!
 
ACT

Math and Sci scores are more important than the reading and writing. WP is a defined as an Engineering school. Take a look at the class profiles and compare the "mean" scores to your DD. She needs to be above these scores and same goes with the SAT.

It is common for the test takers to plateau on their scores after three or four takes. If attending a SA is your DD true goal and you are serious about it, I would look into the testing prep courses offered by your high school or privately. Planning for the future "if" your DD is not selected, investigate a prep college and AOG scholarships. For example, Northwestern Prep school in California, are very good at this subject. NWP is just one example, there are year round preps like New Mexico Military.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Math and Sci scores are more important than the reading and writing. WP is a defined as an Engineering school.
defined by whom? Though I think I know what you mean, I find that overstated. The Academies confer a Bachelor of Science degree, and not a Bachelor of Arts degree, so I agree with your basic point that Math and Science scores are probably given more weight than the other sections. As is the case with almost any school in the US, a BS degree requires as a foundation a full year each of Calculus, Chemistry, and Calculus-based Physics... so that is why both Math and Science proficiency are important for incoming cadets.

Regarding the BS degree, this is from the Wiki on the Naval Academy:

"President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law an act of Congress (Public Law 73-21, 48 Stat. 73) on 25 May 1933 providing for the bachelor of science degree for Naval, Military, and Coast Guard Academies."

I didn't know where to find the % of degrees by major on the USMA website, so I found it on the USNWR site http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/west-point-2893

Five most popular majors for 2011 graduates
Engineering 21%
Social Sciences 18%
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 9%
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services 6%
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields 6%

Looks like 27% of cadets graduate with some form of Engineering degree. That of course means 73% do not!
 
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I think the Math portion is weighted more heavily. I doubt the Science section is. The ACT Science is just a reading test on science related material. Also, probably more importantly, the SAT does not have a science section.
 
Does Army ROTC Cadet Command superscore just as West Point does? My composite score has not increased since the last time I took the ACT but certain subscores have increased (Math and English).
 
Math and Sci scores are more important than the reading and writing.

I am not sure that you are correct.
If you look at the mean Science score it is the lowest score except for writing. Reading is the highest score.

If the math and science would be weighted more it would stand to reason that those scores would be higher than the other scores.

English 29
Math 29
Sci 28
Reading 30
Writing 27
 
From my DS's experience, I would have to believe that the Math score is weighted higher than the English. He received an LOA from USNA with only a 24 score in English, but a 34 in Math...
 
Different Aspect

Different aspect on stats, and you agree the highest percentage of cadets graduating with a engineering background. What is interesting to me, WP has been established to develop front line officers period. If someone is truly interested in WP this should be their core value. To enjoy a career as an Army officer. It saddens me to see so much spoken here of making the minimum requirement to get into WP, get there education and leave after 5 years. This is the under tone with many who want to be accepted into a SA. This is a hugh concern in Army leadership.

Hint: For those students wanting to stand out in the application process. Get either a formal or independent study program to speak any Eastern language. (Arabic, Farsi, ect)

Push Hard, Press Forward

Pardon me, got to get back to work
 
... we would like to know if Admissions puts more weight on Math and English or are they looking for an overall high composite or superscore?

Math and CR are the two scores that are scrutinized on the ACT.
 
Different aspect on stats, and you agree the highest percentage of cadets graduating with a engineering background. What is interesting to me, WP has been established to develop front line officers period. If someone is truly interested in WP this should be their core value. To enjoy a career as an Army officer. It saddens me to see so much spoken here of making the minimum requirement to get into WP, get there education and leave after 5 years. This is the under tone with many who want to be accepted into a SA. This is a hugh concern in Army leadership.

This is really not the attitude that I've heard with the Admissions folks.
All WP asks in return for the free education 5 years active, 3 years reserve. They would ask for more if they wanted more. There is no dishonor in leaving at the end of your commitment. There is value in educating leaders for the civilian world. WP honors their non career military grads as much as their career military grads.
I don't think anyone expects every 18 will know if they want career Army or not. Some go in expecting to be career Army and then change their minds and visa versa.
Of course, you should go to West Point for the right reason - to be an officer. But how long you're an officer is up to you and the Army, after you meet your commitment.
 
I agree whole hearted

Once an WP educated officer leaves the service, they are extremely valuable in the private sector. Most go on to be business leaders that continue to carry and promote the values they protected in the military. The business world recognizes their leadership capabilities and compete with other businesses to recruit them. Thus they offer them top dollar.

So we have really taken a left hand turn from the topic of ACT scores. And help guide the applicants who need advise. We all work hard giving them the best advise we can.

In my opinion, don't settle for "good enough score that met the minimum." There is some applicant out there who has never heard of SAF and is maxing out their test scores. Everyone agrees it is extremely competitive and will only get more competitive. If your DS/DD is serious, take every opportunity to better your score.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Hint: For those students wanting to stand out in the application process. Get either a formal or independent study program to speak any Eastern language. (Arabic, Farsi, ect)

Tug,
I disagree. Success in the three domains will help a candidate to "stand out": Academics (as demonstrated by outstanding performance on the ACT (>30) or SAT (>1400), high class rank and meeting the curriculum requirements of which foreign language is only 2 years), Leadership (as demonstrated by outstanding leadership potential shown through much greater than average success at opportunities such as student government, high school sports, Boys/Girls Scouts, Boys/Girls State, black belt in martial arts, EMT/Junior Firefighter, Pilot's License, etc) and physical fitness (demonstrated through greater than average performance on the CFA).

Math is rated higher in their algorithm. Demonstrating a desire to serve is a must for a successful nomination process. Unfortunately, though, a candidate with a high desire to serve who is fluent in Farsi and has a high of a 24 on the ACT Math section will most likely not be selected for admission if they received a nomination from a competitive district.
 
So we have really taken a left hand turn from the topic of ACT scores. And help guide the applicants who need advise. We all work hard giving them the best advise we can.

With all due respect, this thread went off-topic with post #9.

One of my responsibilities here is to keep information accurate. In fact, it is against forum rules to post inaccurate information.

Your post expressed concern about kids going to WP without the intent to be career military.
I felt that I needed to respond because I didn't want any candidate to think that it is wrong to consider WP if they weren't sure if they wanted career Army or not.
I didn't want any candidate to think that if they 'five and dive' that that is wrong or dishonorable.
 
With all due respect, this thread went off-topic with post #9.

One of my responsibilities here is to keep information accurate. In fact, it is against forum rules to post inaccurate information.

Your post expressed concern about kids going to WP without the intent to be career military.
I felt that I needed to respond because I didn't want any candidate to think that it is wrong to consider WP if they weren't sure if they wanted career Army or not.
I didn't want any candidate to think that if they 'five and dive' that that is wrong or dishonorable.

:thumb:

They just need a desire to serve. West Point and the Army will have to work on getting them to stay to 20. Serving your country for five years even after receiving a free education is still an honorable experience.
 
Math and CR are the two scores that are scrutinized on the ACT.

Math and Sci scores are more important than the reading and writing. WP is a defined as an Engineering school. Take a look at the class profiles and compare the "mean" scores to your DD. She needs to be above these scores and same goes with the SAT.

It is common for the test takers to plateau on their scores after three or four takes. If attending a SA is your DD true goal and you are serious about it, I would look into the testing prep courses offered by your high school or privately. Planning for the future "if" your DD is not selected, investigate a prep college and AOG scholarships. For example, Northwestern Prep school in California, are very good at this subject. NWP is just one example, there are year round preps like New Mexico Military.

Push Hard, Press Forward

Thank you for the response. I would agree with others who have responded previously, the science section is testing a students reasoning ability and the pure science content is minimal in most of the questions. Looks like she has a to improve 1 to 2 points in Math, Science and Reading to be above the mean. My understanding of the writing section is they require it as part of the application but are not using the score to assess a candidate. Again, thank you for the suggestion on prep classes, already there and we have seen improvement. I am not sure she would be eligible for an AOG opportunity, I suspect her scores are too high for USMAPS or AOG, but I will follow up with her FFR. Her fall back plan at this point is attend a Tier I civilian university and enroll in Army ROTC.

We did enjoy all of the comments regarding commitment. We have invested a significant amount of time over the last 3.5 years speaking with numerous USMA alumni in order to provide her with sufficient insight to make an informed decision. Does she want to attend WP and serve - Absolutely. Does she know at 18 yrs of age she wants a 20 plus year career- not sure. In her words " It depends how I like the Army and how the Army likes me". Who can argue with that?
 
Thank you for the response. I would agree with others who have responded previously, the science section is testing a students reasoning ability and the pure science content is minimal in most of the questions. Looks like she has a to improve 1 to 2 points in Math, Science and Reading to be above the mean. My understanding of the writing section is they require it as part of the application but are not using the score to assess a candidate. Again, thank you for the suggestion on prep classes, already there and we have seen improvement. I am not sure she would be eligible for an AOG opportunity, I suspect her scores are too high for USMAPS or AOG, but I will follow up with her FFR. Her fall back plan at this point is attend a Tier I civilian university and enroll in Army ROTC.

We did enjoy all of the comments regarding commitment. We have invested a significant amount of time over the last 3.5 years speaking with numerous USMA alumni in order to provide her with sufficient insight to make an informed decision. Does she want to attend WP and serve - Absolutely. Does she know at 18 yrs of age she wants a 20 plus year career- not sure. In her words " It depends how I like the Army and how the Army likes me". Who can argue with that?

Sounds like your daughter has her head screwed on right.

While its always a good idea to improve one's SAT/ACT scores, keep in mind that being below the mean is not a catastrophe. It is a mean, meaning some folks fall below it... in fact I would venture to say about half (although not necessarily half which would make it a median).
 
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