Maria Filsinger - ACT 36 in Just 7 Steps

1,666,017

students worldwide took the ACT in 2012

of those received a perfect score of 36

of those 781 students has authored a full-length ACT prep book

Maria Filsinger

didnt get a 36 the first time she took the ACT. Acing the test, however, was a goal she was determined to achieve, as she had her heart set on attending Stanford University and wanted to do everything in her power to create the strongest application possible. After researching the test and using the test-taking strategies described in this book, Maria took the ACT in March of her junior year and scored what fewer than .05% of high school students in America did that year: a perfect 36.

Marias 36 helped take her academic success to the next level: she became a 2012 United States Presidential Scholar, won a National Merit Scholarship, and was accepted by Stanford University. With thousands of dollars in additional academic scholarships and generous financial aid, Maria was able to achieve her longtime dream of attending Stanford, where she is currently pursuing a degree in Bioengineering. Eventually, she hopes to get M.D. and Ph.D. degrees and become a research scientist at a top university.

Maria wrote ACT 36 in Just 7 Steps to help students from all parts of the country and all backgrounds achieve their ACT and college goals. She hopes that by attaining higher ACT scores, these students can gain access to greater college and career opportunities.

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I warmly thank everyone who has helped me along the epic journey of writing this bookespecially Shaan, for sending me that fateful e-mail; my two loving parents, for being the most amazing and self-sacrificing parents in the world; my brother, Gabriel, for always being there for me at any hour of the day or night; and all of my friends, for never wavering in their encouragement of this sometimes-crazy endeavor.

I also extend my gratitude to all of the teachers who have inspired and encouraged me from the first days of kindergarten through my last days of high school. I consider the quality of my education one of the greatest and most valuable gifts in my life, one that was given selflessly by the incredible educators that Ive had the pleasure to learn from. Thank you for sharing with me a love of learning that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

I could not have done it without all of your help.

Dear ACT Exam Taker,

Hi! Welcome to ACT 36 in just 7 Steps, the only full-length ACT preparation manual written by a student who achieved a perfect 36 on the ACT. This book presents a practical, focused approach to preparing for the ACT and will help you be successful on exam day, just like I was!

Who am I? Im a student who achieved a score of 36 on the ACT when I took it during my junior year, was admitted to Stanford University, won thousands of dollars in scholarships, and was awarded academic honors such as National Merit Finalist and Scholarship Winner, AP National Scholar, IB Diploma Student, and 2012 Presidential Scholar.

But who am I really? In real life, Im no different from you. Im a teenager who loves to hang out with my friends, procrastinate, spend time on Facebook, and pursue my favorite sporthorseback riding. I attended a public school in Minnesota, grew up on a farm with horses and chickens in the backyard, and never knew much about the ACT until well into high school.

However, succeeding academically has always been extremely important to me, and with my eyes set on attending a top university, I knew that doing well on the ACT was a necessity, not an option. For that reason, I set myself up for success by using the same strategies that Ill relay to you in the coming pages. Just like me, you can use these tips and tricks to drastically improve your ACT score.