Updating ACT results

brovol

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DS got his scores for Oct ACT exam, and they help his superscore a lot, including a 34 on science, and a jump from 30 to 32 composite. Problem is that he did the writing section and my understanding is that it will be weeks for the writing and thus the "official scores" to be sent to schools. He would like the new scores to be updated on his service academy portals asap. Should he screen shot his scores and forward to each Academy, or leave it alone until he gets the official scores from ACT?

Also, would it be wise to send MOC's a note with an update on his scores? He interviewed with our congressman two weeks ago, and is waiting for interviews with senators.

And on subject of updates. He was recently named all district first team in soccer, and expected to be names all conference as well. Should that be forwarded to the academies?
 
What do you/your DS hope to gain in the coming weeks with the updated scores? If he was at qualifying scores previously (and from the start point of above average, he should have been), then there is no real affect that will change until the official scores get there.

If the MOC will take the new scores, then send them; however, much like a school has an application deadline, the MOC may not want them because that doesn't make things equal. I would make sure that I updated my resume before walking in to the senator interviews as well.

With extracurricular and athletic updates, I would bunch them and send at once either at the end of the semester or early next semester. Remember that the academy will want them verified by a third party (certificate or coach/counselor). It's easier on admissions to touch a file once for updates than to receive multiple small updates weekly. What you deem as important may not be worth their time. First-team all district doesn't really mean much to West Point. Conference maybe, if you have it in multiple sports. State - most definitely. By bunching them, you reduce the workload on your counselor and admissions and allow them to zero in on the ones that make the most impact on your file. It could be that additional varsity letter or team captain position that you received later than your CAR submission or an award based on performance or a first semester project.
 
As far as the scores on the service academy portal, I tried doing the screenshot thing when they told me they needed my updated ACT scores on the portal to get my LOA so they made me wait (it was a long two weeks) but they don't officially recognize the scores until they are updated and sent through the ACT/SAT board. With the MOC, each one differs. Sometimes they don't allow updates on things like scores but mine let me send them screenshots of my new scores so I would email and ask first to make sure. Worst case scenario when you do an interview you can bring a little portfolio/ resume with all your updates.
With the soccer topic, email the RC and see what he says. They might or might not let you add that to it but I agree with 845 about waiting and getting one final list of updates.
 
What do you/your DS hope to gain in the coming weeks with the updated scores? If he was at qualifying scores previously (and from the start point of above average, he should have been), then there is no real affect that will change until the official scores get there.

If the MOC will take the new scores, then send them; however, much like a school has an application deadline, the MOC may not want them because that doesn't make things equal. I would make sure that I updated my resume before walking in to the senator interviews as well.

With extracurricular and athletic updates, I would bunch them and send at once either at the end of the semester or early next semester. Remember that the academy will want them verified by a third party (certificate or coach/counselor). It's easier on admissions to touch a file once for updates than to receive multiple small updates weekly. What you deem as important may not be worth their time. First-team all district doesn't really mean much to West Point. Conference maybe, if you have it in multiple sports. State - most definitely. By bunching them, you reduce the workload on your counselor and admissions and allow them to zero in on the ones that make the most impact on your file. It could be that additional varsity letter or team captain position that you received later than your CAR submission or an award based on performance or a first semester project.
To the extent that the academies continuously evaluate candidates, and ACT scores are relevant to that process, it would seem a significant increase in those scores would be important, and thus getting those scores to those who evaluate as soon as possible would be prudent. Likewise, because the academies solicit athletic accolades, keeping them promptly updated on such accomplishments is something I would appreciate if I was evaluating these things.

In our neck of the woods all district is a bigger deal than all conference. The district includes several conferences. It's a big deal for my son, and thought the academies might think so too. Perhaps not.

I'll suggest that he take note of the advice given here. Probably best to hold off and supliment everything at once. The school counselor has been great about verifying things so far.

Thanks for the insight.
 
The RC will not/cannot base qualification/LOEs/LOAs on unofficial scores. The only evaluation that the RC can do with unofficial scores is potentially request your medical if it hasn't been done and give you recommendations on what to improve.

In general, if you want to evaluate your file on what to do at this point and your scores are already at/above average, you really only have two choices this late in the school career - retest and try to get closer to perfect scores or stop testing.
Chances are, your class rank is pretty much set. Continue to make good grades.
The leadership you will get from extracurricular activities and sports is already set in motion (such as the recognition your DS is waiting on) unless you have a winter or spring sport that you can get the coach to commit to you as the team captain (often times they won't until first practice or game). Most of the high leadership positions that can have an impact on your WCS were set early in the school year. Finish Eagle/Gold Award if that is an option. Most likely, you'll only have minor updates and it is best to roll them up at once so you don't forget what you have or haven't told the RC.
The CFA is such a small portion, it is unlikely to have much impact without significant improvement in all categories. If it is that close, your RC will tell you.

Once you are to this point, test score improvement and nominations are really the focus.
 
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