ACT and Congressional Nominations

[BSCAR]

Just a couple quick questions. On the ACT I got a 31 composite with sub scores of 32, 32, 32, and 26 in Science, English, Reading, and Mathematics, respectively. On the writing portion I got a 24. I don't know what the issue with my writing was, but I'm certainly a better writer than a 24 would seem to indicate. I wrote well enough to obtain a 5 on the AP Language and Composition exam. I'm aware it isn't the most stellar ACT score ever; I know I can do better in every category, but after looking at the USMA prospectus I decided that my scores were adequate enough to the point where I couldn't financially justify taking it again to my family.

Lurking in one of the threads, someone said that their writing score was in the 86th percentile and a commenter replied that this put them at risk for being rejected. Is this true? If so, is it even worth my time to try and take it again, given that the admissions committee has already convened and I would not receive my scores until 6-9 weeks from now at the earliest?

My second question is whether or not who gives you the nomination is taken into consideration. For instance, if I were to get nomination offers from both my congressman and my senator would it behoove me to accept the one from my senator given that it is the more competitive slot?

 

[candor]

Can you apply for financial aid on the ACT? I got a 27 on the writing portion for ACT, and also got a 5 on the AP Lang test. Then, on the SAT, I got a perfect writing score. Would you consider trying the SAT essay?

 

[BSCAR]

Well the issue is that time is now of the essence. The SAT isn't really offered in my state; the places that do offer the SAT only offer them like 3 times a year. It was just a really off day for me when I took my ACT.

If necessary I can swing taking another test; It's just less than ideal--if it's not imperative I'm not going retake.

Moreover, the issue of whether or not scores would be received in time to make a difference still casts a pall over the idea of a retake.

 

[candor]

I would just say that if you truly can swing taking it again, take it again. However, make sure that you do feel prepared to do better, etc. If it happened to be that I didn't make it into USMA, I would probably wonder if the turn out would have been different had I taken and scored higher on the ACT.

If you can't retake, just keep in mind that your overall score seems to be really great, but the math sub section might bring you down a bit. Your writing honestly isn't bad at all though - considering you got a 5 on the AP exam, the ACT is just whack at grading those essays.
Regardless of what you decide, best of luck!

 

[NotCollege]

I got a 7/12 on the new essay and like you got a 5 on the AP exam. My composite is a 34 and my regional commander told me not to worry about it. My individual scores are 34,34,34,32. With the order being Math , Science , Reading, English. Now this is given that I am in a very uncompetitive region for WP but he said that he just needed a score. A 7/12 is equivalent to a 21 on the old ACT scoring. It is obviously not a good judge of my writing. I would retake if possible to try and raise your Math score as well as writing. You can also email your RC they are super helpful and honest about what you need to work on.

 

[Padre101]

Just a couple quick questions. On the ACT I got a 31 composite with sub scores of 32, 32, 32, and 26 in Science, English, Reading, and Mathematics, respectively. On the writing portion I got a 24. I don't know what the issue with my writing was, but I'm certainly a better writer than a 24 would seem to indicate. I wrote well enough to obtain a 5 on the AP Language and Composition exam. I'm aware it isn't the most stellar ACT score ever; I know I can do better in every category, but after looking at the USMA prospectus I decided that my scores were adequate enough to the point where I couldn't financially justify taking it again to my family.

Lurking in one of the threads, someone said that their writing score was in the 86th percentile and a commenter replied that this put them at risk for being rejected. Is this true? If so, is it even worth my time to try and take it again, given that the admissions committee has already convened and I would not receive my scores until 6-9 weeks from now at the earliest?

My second question is whether or not who gives you the nomination is taken into consideration. For instance, if I were to get nomination offers from both my congressman and my senator would it behoove me to accept the one from my senator given that it is the more competitive slot?

Did you try appealing/challenging the Writing Score??? You can request through the ACT website to have another grader review your essay.

You have to pay $50 or something like that. If they raise your score, you get your money back. It is worth a try.

My DS challenged his essays on two different tests, and his scores on both improved (not by much, but it was worth the effort).

To answer your second question, it doesn't matter where your nomination is from. A nomination is nomination. They don't put more weight on a Senatorial Nomination v. Congressional Nomination. If you get both nominations, accept both. That will give you more bites at the appointment apple.

 

[jl123]

Lurking in one of the threads, someone said that their writing score was in the 86th percentile and a commenter replied that this put them at risk for being rejected. Is this true? If so, is it even worth my time to try and take it again, given that the admissions committee has already convened and I would not receive my scores until 6-9 weeks from now at the earliest?

My second question is whether or not who gives you the nomination is taken into consideration. For instance, if I were to get nomination offers from both my congressman and my senator would it behoove me to accept the one from my senator given that it is the more competitive slot?

1. There is still plenty of time to retake standardized tests. Check with your RC for the latest date that can be taken and still be considered by admissions. Test scores have been re-calibrated by admissions since the changes to standardized tests. Cutoffs from previous years do not necessarily apply to this year. Also, depending on when you took the tests, you may benefit from a correction to the test. There were problems initially with writing scores on the new ACT - many scores coming in very low, which ACT finally admitted. Ridiculous differences between other sub-scores and writing - ie. 35, 34, 33, 34, and then 21 on writing.

2. You do not accept or decline a nomination. Each nomination is recorded in your record and USMA decides how appointments are allocated. You will never know whether you are filling a MOC's vacancy or which nominating source if you have multiple nominations.

 

[nyMO17]

Just a couple quick questions. On the ACT I got a 31 composite with sub scores of 32, 32, 32, and 26 in Science, English, Reading, and Mathematics, respectively. On the writing portion I got a 24. I don't know what the issue with my writing was, but I'm certainly a better writer than a 24 would seem to indicate. I wrote well enough to obtain a 5 on the AP Language and Composition exam. I'm aware it isn't the most stellar ACT score ever; I know I can do better in every category, but after looking at the USMA prospectus I decided that my scores were adequate enough to the point where I couldn't financially justify taking it again to my family.

Lurking in one of the threads, someone said that their writing score was in the 86th percentile and a commenter replied that this put them at risk for being rejected. Is this true? If so, is it even worth my time to try and take it again, given that the admissions committee has already convened and I would not receive my scores until 6-9 weeks from now at the earliest?

My second question is whether or not who gives you the nomination is taken into consideration. For instance, if I were to get nomination offers from both my congressman and my senator would it behoove me to accept the one from my senator given that it is the more competitive slot?

I have very similar ACT scores as you with a 35,34,33,and 26 in English, Reading, science, and math respectively, and a 24 in Writing. I decided not to retake my test and USMA seemed okay with it as they gave me an LOA. Obviously retake it if you find necessary but I wouldn't stress too much as a 31 composite is still pretty high.

 

[jl123]

Obviously retake it if you find necessary but I wouldn't stress too much as a 31 composite is still pretty high.

Fight for every point of WCS possible. Competitiveness for a service academy depends on many more factors than for a civilian college. A 31 composite may put one applicant over the top and result in an LOA or winning the district and for another applicant it may result in no appointment.

If you end up competing for one of the 150 appointments from the NWL based on merit, one ACT point may be the deciding factor.

 

[brovol]

Just a couple quick questions. On the ACT I got a 31 composite with sub scores of 32, 32, 32, and 26 in Science, English, Reading, and Mathematics, respectively. On the writing portion I got a 24. I don't know what the issue with my writing was, but I'm certainly a better writer than a 24 would seem to indicate. I wrote well enough to obtain a 5 on the AP Language and Composition exam. I'm aware it isn't the most stellar ACT score ever; I know I can do better in every category, but after looking at the USMA prospectus I decided that my scores were adequate enough to the point where I couldn't financially justify taking it again to my family.

Lurking in one of the threads, someone said that their writing score was in the 86th percentile and a commenter replied that this put them at risk for being rejected. Is this true? If so, is it even worth my time to try and take it again, given that the admissions committee has already convened and I would not receive my scores until 6-9 weeks from now at the earliest?

My second question is whether or not who gives you the nomination is taken into consideration. For instance, if I were to get nomination offers from both my congressman and my senator would it behoove me to accept the one from my senator given that it is the more competitive slot?

As to the writing score, I never got the impression that the writing score was a big deal, certainly not compared to the rest of the ACT. Math and English are the two big sub-scores. Your math is not as good as the other scores, so I would work on that for sure. Speak to your Regional Commander about this, and ask him/her to assess you against others in your district.

With respect to the nomination source: first, understand that West Point admissions will decide which nomination they will use for you if you get multiple nominations. My son received three MOC nominations, and each was listed on his portal. WP never advised which nomination it used, and we still don't know (My son is a WP Plebe). But if you did have to pick a single nomination to use, obviously you would want to choose the one with the least competitive group on nominees, so you have the best chance of being the one selected, and win the appointment. Generally that with be the congressional representative as opposed to the senators. You don't get "style points" for this. You either beat out the other nominees for the single appointment, or you don't. If I am in a fight against nine other people, I want it to be against the smallest, weakest, and softest nine people anyone could find.

 

[jebdad]

As to the writing score, I never got the impression that the writing score was a big deal, certainly not compared to the rest of the ACT. .

I thought the same thing until the RC indicated to my DS that he should consider taking the ACT again due to the 8 writing score. This was with a 34 in English at the time. While I agree its not as important as the main sections, it indicates that they are indeed looking at it and its more than just a pass/fail, check that box type of thing.

 

[brovol]

I thought the same thing until the RC indicated to my DS that he should consider taking the ACT again due to the 8 writing score. This was with a 34 in English at the time. While I agree its not as important as the main sections, it indicates that they are indeed looking at it and its more than just a pass/fail, check that box type of thing.

The RC certainly knows, so follow the advise. Honestly, my son's writing score was pretty decent, but was below his other numbers by a lot. He got a 34 in Math, which the RC said was most important, and a 31 in English (S-34, R-30). His RC effectively said dont even think about the writing score; its required but not very important.