Which colleges still require the ACT essay in 2024?
Trying to finalize my college list, and I'm confused about whether I actually need to take the ACT with Writing. I heard most colleges don't ask for the essay anymore, but are there still schools that require it for this cycle?
If anyone has a list or can share their own research, that would be a huge help. I'm planning to apply to a few out-of-state public universities and some more selective privates, so I just want to be sure I don't skip something important. My ACT is already scheduled next month and I have to decide whether to add the essay section.
If anyone has a list or can share their own research, that would be a huge help. I'm planning to apply to a few out-of-state public universities and some more selective privates, so I just want to be sure I don't skip something important. My ACT is already scheduled next month and I have to decide whether to add the essay section.
1 week ago
•
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Camille L.
• 1 week ago
Advisor
Your confusion is not uncommon, since the ACT essay (Writing) requirement has changed a lot in recent years. As of the 2024 admissions cycle, almost no colleges in the US require the ACT essay—most have dropped it entirely. In fact, not a single school in the US required it for the most recent freshman class, and almost all have made clear they do not even recommend it.
The only exceptions are a handful of schools outside the US (for example, the University of Hong Kong or select programs at the University of Cambridge), but for US colleges, even the most selective privates (like Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia) and large public universities (such as any University of California school, Michigan, UNC-Chapel Hill, Texas, etc.) have either dropped the requirement or explicitly state they do not consider the ACT Writing section.
If you check current 2024-2025 admissions requirements directly on the admissions sites of schools you're targeting, you’ll see the ACT Writing/essay is 'optional' at most, and for the overwhelming majority, even submitting it will not make a difference. One example: the University of California system dropped both SAT Essay and ACT Writing requirements starting with the 2021 admissions cycle, and others soon followed.
Unless a specific program you’re interested in says otherwise (for example, some competitive international scholarships or niche programs), there is really no reason to add the essay section. By not adding it, you save yourself time and potentially stress on test day. Last tip: if you want to be absolutely certain, double-check the admissions requirements for each college’s official site, since policies can sometimes change suddenly. But for now, you’re safe to skip the ACT Writing for any major US college or university.
The only exceptions are a handful of schools outside the US (for example, the University of Hong Kong or select programs at the University of Cambridge), but for US colleges, even the most selective privates (like Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia) and large public universities (such as any University of California school, Michigan, UNC-Chapel Hill, Texas, etc.) have either dropped the requirement or explicitly state they do not consider the ACT Writing section.
If you check current 2024-2025 admissions requirements directly on the admissions sites of schools you're targeting, you’ll see the ACT Writing/essay is 'optional' at most, and for the overwhelming majority, even submitting it will not make a difference. One example: the University of California system dropped both SAT Essay and ACT Writing requirements starting with the 2021 admissions cycle, and others soon followed.
Unless a specific program you’re interested in says otherwise (for example, some competitive international scholarships or niche programs), there is really no reason to add the essay section. By not adding it, you save yourself time and potentially stress on test day. Last tip: if you want to be absolutely certain, double-check the admissions requirements for each college’s official site, since policies can sometimes change suddenly. But for now, you’re safe to skip the ACT Writing for any major US college or university.
Camille L.
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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