ACT Testing February: Is it worth it?

H

HK.11

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Hello, I was just wondering if is it worth taking the upcoming test. The ACT website states that the scores will come out by early March, however, it seems the deadline for ACT results for USAFA is mid-February.
 
It is probably not worth it for the academy this year. However, it might help with other applications or an academy re-application if that is needed and wanted.
 
Question: What’s your status?

If you’re still a candidate, take it… and the next. USNA superscores. My DS took the SAT 5x during the height of the Covid Pandemic with massive cancellations throughout the country.

If you have an appointment, don’t take it.
 
A USAFA Admissions Team Lead emailed me a confirmation a about 2 weeks ago and recommended that I retake either the SAT/ACT and the one in February is my only option. I told him this and he instructed me to take that one and not worry about the one in March as that would be too late. So if you're worried about your scores I believe they will get there in time.
 
What were your scores if you don't mind ?
 
This post reminds me of the unknowns and variables of candidate profiles and chances. Full disclosure our DS withdrew his USAFA application after his ALO interview when he received his USNA appointment January 15, 2020.

This cycle, as I have seen with others dates seem to be a big deal. Standardized test scores always seem to lead the ‘chance me’ threads.

DS took the SAT three times. Turn 2 gained some points. Turn 3 was identical. Moving on.

ACT was new animal. Took it twice. Super score worked well.

At the end of the day his SAT was a 1240. Not the highest. Not the lowest. Not stellar. Not earth shattering. Yet that number, while continually surpassed here on the forums was enough with his “whole candidate” profile to earn admission.

That’s my long winded point. It is once again the whole candidate.
 
I was just talking to DD who has a friend that is being recruited to USAFA and where the coach said her composite academic score(she couldn't remember the official name) was not high enough. Somehow there's an accounting of the standardized tests, GPA, classes taken, etc... to get to that final number.

DD had a 1300 SAT and 31 ACT and received an appointment last year. However, she had 4.0 GPA at competitive high schools and taking multiple AP stem heavy classes and was very high in her high school class ranking.

I will echo what was just said, it's the whole candidate package that will determine if you receive an appointment. Do the best you can with checking all those boxes for academics, leadership, athletics/CFA, Interviews, etc....
 
2025 hopeful said:
I was just talking to DD who has a friend that is being recruited to USAFA and where the coach said her composite academic score(she couldn't remember the official name) was not high enough. Somehow there's an accounting of the standardized tests, GPA, classes taken, etc... to get to that final number.
Click to expand...
To pigback on this a bit. On either a USAFA trip or prep school I was shown a break down of the percentages of what goes in the full person package. Now I could try to remember what those percentages are and make people more worried if they didn't have a high score with say test scores.

But I'm not going to do that. I remember composite academic score was a big part, there was a leadership section that was smaller. And I remember like one percentage. Here's the thing applicants. We don't know how that's calculated. Maybe you could have everything in every category but not have high enough test score and it keeps you out. That seems pretty common right? But no one knows who you did in other scores or what factors went into those percentages. If it's gpa how many "points/ percentage" is a 3.82 vs a 4.0.

Do they best you can in everything that's the way to succeed. Aim for the moon and if you fail you'll end among the stars.
 
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