Average ACT Score

What is the Average ACT Score?
Since the ACT exam is such an important component of the college admissions process, a lot of students are curious about the average ACT score.


The nationwide average ACT score in 2010 is 21.  It can be broken down by category as follows:

English: 20.5

Math: 21

Reading: 21.3

Science: 20.9

Approximately 30 percent of students who take the ACT exam score between 19 and 23.

Approximately 55 percent of students who take the ACT exam score between 17 and 25.

Average ACT scores by state vary.  Below is a list of states that have the highest average ACT scores:

Delaware – 23.0

Maine – 23.2

Massachusetts – 24 

New York – 23.3

New Hampshire – 23.7

Washington – 23

What is a good ACT score? 

The minimum ACT score required for admittance differs by school.  Most schools will make their average ACT scores accessible to students via their website.  So, if you’re interested in a particular school, your first stop should be on their particular website.  If you’re having difficulty locating this information, I’d call the school’s admissions officer or talk with your school counselor.

If you score between 34 and 36, you are among the top 1% of students who take the exam.  Most Ivy League schools require ACT scores in the 90^th percentile, which is generally a score of 28.  Most public universities require at least an 18.

When Should I Take the ACT?

Most high school students take the exam during the spring of their junior year.  By this time, you will have most likely completed all the necessary coursework in your classes to do well on the exam.  Also, this will give you the opportunity to re-take the exam if you didn’t get the score that you wanted the first time around. 

College Work Study Programs

"I can't afford this...I need a job!" Essentially, this is what college work study programs are all about, providing students with a way to earn money to help pay for some of their college expenses. A college work study program or Federal Work Study (FWS) Program, as it is officially called, is a program specifically targeted towards undergraduate and graduate students who have financial need.

How do students become eligible for college work study programs? Like all other federal aid, you have to fill out the FAFSA form. Eligibility for this program is based on financial need. When you receive your financial aid award letters from the various schools that you've been accepted to, this program will be listed in there if you are eligible. It should be included with all of your other sources of financial aid (i.e. grants, loans, scholarships, etc.).

What are my chances of being able to participate in college work study programs? They are pretty good. More than 3,000 schools participate in college work study programs. These particular schools are provided with funding each year specifically to create campus jobs for eligible students. Schools will typically try to match students up with jobs related to their major or interests if possible.

How many hours can I expect to work? The average student does not work more than 20 hours a week during the school year. During summers, students are allowed to work 35 hours a week. However, the amount of hours you work cannot exceed your total federal work study awarded amount.

How will I get the money? You'll likely be paid on an hourly basis and receive a pay check every two weeks. You are required to get at least the current federal minimum wage rate, but you may get paid more depending on your job function.

How will I get paid? Like most part-time jobs, you will get paid hourly. Your hourly pay must at least meet the current federal minimum wage rate. Wages may be higher, depending on the type of work you do, current skill-set, etc. You'll likely get a paycheck every 2 weeks.

How can I get set-up to start working? Contact your school's financial aid office, as college work study programs vary at each college and university. However, your school's financial aid department should be able to point you in the right direction.

Requirements To Get Into College

Are you a high school student who's preparing for college? The college application process can be quite scary and stressful. Don't worry, you are not alone. There are so many things to think about and consider! Wondering what the requirements to get into college are? Don't panic. This article will walk you though, step by step, and tell you exactly how to get into college.

1.  Maintain A High GPA

I know what you're thinking...everyone knows that you have to get good grades to get accepted into college, right?  You're right, but let me tell you why.  You will be competing against some of the best and the brightest high school students from around the world.  Therefore, it's important that you stand out.  Maintaining a high GPA will help you do this.  This will let them know that you take your education very seriously and would add value to their campus community.

2.  Be A Leader

I know, I know...I said get a high GPA.  While your GPA is very important, it's only part of the battle.  The college admissions committee wants smart AND well-rounded students.  What does well-rounded mean?  It means that a student can balance their high school course work, while also getting involved in activities outside of the classroom.  Colleges love students who take on leadership roles in extracurricular activities.  Maybe you're team captain of the football team, president of the chess club, or a food coordinator at your local homeless shelter.  Whatever the case may be, the admissions committee wants to see that you can manage your time well.

3.  Perform well on ACT/SAT

I hate standardized test!  Does that sound like you?  Well, it definitely sounded like me back in high school.   The sad news is that your ACT and/or SAT scores (depending on the school) will play a significant role in the admissions committee's decision, so study up!  The ACT/SAT exam is just one of those necessary evils that we all most conquer if we want to go to college.  You should really take your time to study for this exam, whether you take a formal class that is offered online or at your school, or if you do some self-study exercises at home.  Whichever method works best for you is fine, just stick with it and you'll do well on the exam.

Best College Essay

College entrance essays are critical to the overall college admissions process.   Most colleges will require an essay as part of their application.  I know that this can sometimes be an intimidating process for high school students.  In this post, I’ll be giving you some pointers on how to write the best college essay of all time!

Point #1 – The essay is your chance to display your personality to the admissions committee, so it should be personalized.  This is your time to tell the admissions committee something else great about you that either they didn’t ask in the other parts of the application or something that you think just deserves a little bit more attention.  Don't be afraid to "toot your own horn".

Point #2 – There is no “correct” answer, so stop trying to make the essay questions so complicated.  The point of college entrance essays are to get you to think about your life experiences thus far.  The admissions officers want to learn more about you as an individual and how you’ve developed into the person you are today.

Point #3 – They’re paying attention to your writing style.  The college admissions committee is using your essay as a demonstration of your writing ability.  It's essentially a writing sample.  Being able to write a solid essay is critical to your success in college.  Be sure to check your grammar and punctuation.  In fact, you should proofread your essay several times before you submit it and have others read it too!

Follow these pointers and you too can have the best college essay!

Colleges That Change Lives

Don’t rush the college application process.  Why?  Because you'll never be able to put colleges that changes lives on your list if you don’t take the time to thoroughly do some investigation.    What does “colleges that change lives” really mean?  Well, it means that you apply to colleges that you know you’ll be happy at. 

How do you know this?  Great question – because that’s what we’re going to talk about in this blog.

Talk to your parents.  Mom and dad know you best.  Once you come up with a list of potential colleges, run it by them.  Sit down with them to go over the school’s website and brochures.  Take their thoughts into consideration.  It can be easy to get overwhelmed with this process, so it’s good to get an outside perspective.

Do your research.  Not only does this include researching the website, but also talking with your friends, school counselors, and teachers.  Do they have any additional information to share with you about the colleges on your list?  Maybe your best friend’s brother goes to one of the colleges on your list, or your math teacher graduated from one of the colleges on your list.  You never know until you ask.  The more information you gather, the better.

Go see for yourself.  Campus visits are the best way for you to tell if this college is truly the best fit for you.  You will get to see the campus, students, dorms, and classroom buildings in person.  Just like when a bride knows when she’s found the perfect wedding dress, you’ll know when you’ve found the perfect school for you based on how you feel during these campus visits.

Good Luck!  If you follow these steps and share them with all your friends, I’m certain you’ll all be applying to colleges that change lives. 

College Admissions Essay

The college admissions essay can be one of the toughest pieces of the college admissions application. Most information that you find on the web will give you advice on how to write your college admissions essay, however in this post, we’re going to talk about what you should avoid doing in your college admissions essay.


1. Don’t Lie. I know this may seem like a no-brainer, but it can be easy to get too focused on just telling the admissions committee what you think they want to hear. Given that they read hundreds of applications each year, it’s unlikely that they haven’t heard some version of the story that you made up. Besides, can you really predict what the admissions committee is thinking? Probably not. Honesty is the best policy here.

2. Don’t Be Someone Else. Just be yourself. The college admissions essay is supposed to be a reflection of your personality and a way for the admissions committee to get to know you better. If your friends or family would characterize you as light-hearted, then your essay should reflect this. Conversely, if your friends would characterize you as being very serious, then your essay should reflect this. Simple right?

3. Don’t Let Someone Else Do It. Write the essay yourself. Again, the college admissions essay is a chance for the admissions committee to get to know YOU, not someone else’s perception of you. Don’t push off the assignment on your parents, older siblings, or friends. Even though they may be willing to do it for, it is likely that the admissions officer will know when the essay is not written by you. An essay written by a true high school student, as opposed to an older, more experienced adult, will probably sound a lot different from each other.

4. Don’t Give ‘Em Too Much. If they tell you not to exceed 2 pages, then don’t exceed 2 pages. If they tell you don’t write more than 500 words, then don’t write more than 500 words. Got it? Good. You want to make sure that you follow their directions. You don’t want their first impression of you to be that you can’t follow directions, do you?

5. Don’t Use Crazy Fonts. A standard, professional font – such as Arial or Times New Roman, will be sufficient. You want to make sure that your college admissions essay looks neat and professional. Having a crazy font will distract the reader from your core message. You want to make sure that the admissions committee can focus on the content of the essay without distractions.

If you avoid these 5 things in your college admissions essay, then you will be stepping foot on campus in no time!