Do colleges take the ACT as seriously as the SAT?

Absolutely. Only a little while ago, only Midwestern colleges used the ACT for admissions, and the more “established” schools only accepted the SAT. Now, colleges realize that both tests are equally challenging (though in different ways) and accept the ACT as a fully legitimate entrance exam. In fact, in some cases, the most competitive schools have lower average ACT scores than SAT scores, and so prefer high ACT scores over equally high SAT scores (see questions in the SAT vs. ACT section for how to compare your scores). At the end of the day, if you perform well on the ACT, you’re in great shape for getting into the colleges of your choice.

For more information, view my guide: SAT vs. ACT