Strength of Candidate

[Thanepot52]

I have heard many different answers to this question, but in the case of a low 20s ACT score, can WP look past it if you have other intangibles? For example, I'm top of my class, a varsity runner, and a contributor to my community. I've heard some say that you always have a chance, but I've also heard people say that 22s in any section of the ACT is a turn-off.

 

[carterg21316]

They might look past it but its impossible for anyone on here to say for sure. They won't have to look past it if you sign up for online courses and get a 25+. You can also try the SAT to see if you're better at that format than the ACT.

I would guess they'd look at you being in the top of the class with a bad ACT and assume you go to an academically less competitive school.

 

[Thanepot52]

Is a less competitive school a hindering factor?

 

[USMA 1994]

While it may be hard to hear and not why people come here to forum, ACT scores below 22 are disqualifying and your chances of getting an offer is basically zero. You may have a chance to be considered for USMAPS but that also is a long shot. If the academy is something YOU really want, YOU need to put in the effort to raise your scores.

 

[Thanepot52]

While it may be hard to hear and not why people come here to forum, ACT scores below 22 are disqualifying and your chances of getting an offer is basically zero. You may have a chance to be considered for USMAPS but that also is a long shot. If the academy is something YOU really want, YOU need to put in the effort to raise your scores.

I am planning on retaking my ACT after I get back from basic training, but with a 23 right now, I feel like I could greatly increase my chances by achieving a 24 or 25.

 

[Allectus]

I am planning on retaking my ACT after I get back from basic training, but with a 23 right now, I feel like I could greatly increase my chances by achieving a 24 or 25.

Seriously, you might want to try the SAT. DS had similar scores in low to mid 20s on ACT while in top 10% of high school class after taking ACT multiple times. He took SAT and super scored a 1300 and received an appointment. For some reason people often do better on one over the other.

 

[professorm804]

I have heard many different answers to this question, but in the case of a low 20s ACT score, can WP look past it if you have other intangibles? For example, I'm top of my class, a varsity runner, and a contributor to my community. I've heard some say that you always have a chance, but I've also heard people say that 22s in any section of the ACT is a turn-off.

The application is 60% academic, which includes your standardized testing score. If USMA is really your plan then you need to prove that you can at least score a 27+.

 

[xufan]

I am planning on retaking my ACT after I get back from basic training, but with a 23 right now, I feel like I could greatly increase my chances by achieving a 24 or 25.

I would recommend taking an ACT Bootcamp course, my son increased his score by 4 pts.

 

[PRBWJB]

I would definitely work to increase your standardized test scores (SAT or ACT). I see these tests as an equalizer. Find a teacher that will give you one-on-one help, buy the big, fat prep books, find online resources. As I write this, my dd is sitting inside, on a beautiful May day (after a week of AP exams) working with her math nerd uncle in prep for the 6/5 SAT.

 

[VasilyZaytsev]

I have heard many different answers to this question, but in the case of a low 20s ACT score, can WP look past it if you have other intangibles? For example, I'm top of my class, a varsity runner, and a contributor to my community. I've heard some say that you always have a chance, but I've also heard people say that 22s in any section of the ACT is a turn-off.

KhanAcademy has a free online test prep for the SAT. Do it, and look up the SAT vocabulary too. Study those two things and take lots of practice exams - just one section at a time. Then, schedule two tests; and try to get the best single section score you can. Next test, focus on the other section. They super score, so you can really focus on one section for each exam date. Last year, less than 1,000 kids in America earned a perfect score at a single setting. Most high scores you hear about are from SuperScoring. Good Luck!

 

[jl123]

There are cases of appointees with very low reported test scores, but almost always those scores will be from tests taken before attending USMAPS. Additionally, such an appointee would very likely have been a recruited athlete, enlisted soldier, or minority candidate.

USMAPS would then have improved their academic ability to the point where they would have a reasonable chance of success at USMA, even though the low test score remains on the record.

 

[FrauTeufelshund]

There are a lot of threads on ACT/SATs. Unfortunately, being superb in other aspects of your applications will not counteract a mediocre test score. My son had a strong application except got a 1280 SAT (up from 1100) and a 26 (up from a 23) on the ACT and both I think were major factors in the TWEs from USMA and USNA. (He did get a 4 year AROTC scholarship.) He used Kahn Academy and improved his scores (he said SAT was easier for him...take both even if one is not as popular in your area.) Others on this forum have suggested the "Black Book", which apparently teaches more strategy on how to take the test than on the contents of it. A lot of the competition you are going to be up against have super high scores AND be outstanding in the other areas as well. It is depressing that they use a three hour test to weed people out. Yes, you hear that in some instances people did get appointments with lower scores but I don't think that is the norm.
I was thrilled when my kid said he brought his SAT up to 1280, but it was November when that score came back. There one last test date i December that he could have signed up for, but we were worried that the scores wouldn't be in by the Jan/Feb deadlines, and I was tired of paying $70 for yet another try, so I said "it's good enough". It wasn't. But we'll never really know if it was the reason, but I say take it as many times as you can and improve each time. Good luck to you!

EDIT: And pay the extra fee for the answer sheet that they will send you with your scores so you can see what you did wrong and learn from it. Study in between the attempts too.

 

[JCSDVM1]

DS took SAT in Sept, Oct, Nov, and Dec. and scored higher each time. He mostly just did Kahn Academy to prep.

 

[FuturePilot1220]

Is a less competitive school a hindering factor?

West Point will probably find out whether the school your attending is competitive or not. If it's not competitive then being at the top of your class may not help a whole lot (not sure tho this is just my thoughts). In the case that they don't then I would say to raise your ACT score as much as you can because the discrepancy between your ACT scores and Class rank could be a red flag that makes them look and see if your school is competitive or not (again these are just my thoughts so just take them with a grain of salt).

 

[MidCakePa]

The SAs favor candidates who take the most challenging classes their school has to offer — especially in STEM and English — and excel at them. They examine each transcript carefully, in the context of the school’s profile. They know which classes the school does and doesn’t offer, and the colleges grads tend to attend.

If you fit the above “bill,” you won’t be “punished” for attending a less competitive school. You can only take what your school offers. Beyond that, look at WP’s latest class profile. There you’ll see the middle 50% for SAT/ACT scores. You’ll also be able to compare yourself on other dimensions, e.g. varsity sports, leadership roles, etc.

The class is wide-ranging. Candidates have different strengths. Work hard to raise your test scores and other credentials. When all is said and done, know you’ve done your best and have no regrets.

 

[Roadking]

I am planning on retaking my ACT after I get back from basic training, but with a 23 right now, I feel like I could greatly increase my chances by achieving a 24 or 25.

You mention Basic Training, I’m assuming you have enlisted in the Army? The path to West Point for an active duty soldier could be less competitive than directly from high school or college. USMAPS I think would benefit you, although you don’t apply directly to the Prep I think admissions may consider this option for you. It’s not going to be easy to study for ACT when you are in the Army but I think it’s essential that you bring up those scores a bit. My DS will be entering WP this summer as a 3rd time applicant and his first ACT was a 21 composite. He wound up taking 2 SAT tests and 12 ACT tests over the 3 years applying and raised his score to 33. He is in a very competitive state here in NJ and he needed a high score so he worked really hard at his dream. As an applying soldier I don’t think you need scores over 30 but try to get as close as possible. Good luck to you!

 

[phil61526]

if you're a desirable demographic - Div 1 athlete , under represented minority or female - but even then unlikely