April 9th ACT Scores Available Monday

If you took the ACT on April 9th, scores are available on the ACT website beginning April 25th. If you took the ACT Plus Writing, you can expect the score on the writing section to appear about two weeks later. (Each essay gets evaluated by two trained readers, so essay scoring is a much more time-intensive process than the multiple choice section.)

Realize that low scores don't need to be the end of your college dreams. There are now over 800 test-optional colleges, and even at schools that require the SAT or ACT, the exam is just one part of the application. The admissions officers at selective colleges will also be looking for a winning essay, meaningful extracurricular activities, demonstration of your interest, and good letters of recommendation. Most important of all is a strong academic record.

Also, juniors still have plenty of time to beef up their test-taking skills and retake the exam in the fall of their senior year. Retaking the exam doesn't always result in a better score, but students with a disciplined study strategy will often see improvement (read more: When should I take the ACT?)

If you're wondering what your ACT numbers mean, read this overview of ACT scores. To see how your scores measure up to the middle 50% of matriculated students at different colleges, check out these comparison charts:

• ACT scores for the Ivy League
• ACT scores for top universities
• ACT scores for top liberal arts colleges
• ACT scores for top public universities
• ACT scores for top colleges in: California | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Indiana | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Missouri | New York | North Carolina | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Tennessee | Texas | Virginia | Washington
• ACT scores for Division I athletic conferences: ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, C-USA, MAC, MWC, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC
• More ACT Comparison Charts