I’m a Tulsa Kid: Sam Austin – Cascia Hall Senior

Less than 1/10th of 1 percent of students earn a perfect score of 36 on the ACT.  Cascia Hall Senior Sam Austin beat the odds. He was one of 781 students out of 1.66 million who took the test in 2012 who earned a composite score of 36. Sam took the ACT as a junior and earned a 32. In September of 2012, Sam retook the ACT, snaring a perfect score.

TK:  How did you prepare for the ACT?

Sam:  I didn’t do any preparation or take any formal prep classes. My dad bought me an ACT Prep book, but I don’t think I ever even opened it.

TK:  Which subject on the ACT: math, English, reading or science did you find to be the easiest and which was the most difficult for you?

Sam:  I think the easiest subject for me is a tie between math and English. Math has always been my favorite subject, but English just consists of grammar, which has always been quite easy for me.

TK:  What was your reaction when you found out about scoring a 36?

Sam:  When I saw the score, I didn’t believe it. A lot of my friends were awake, because scores came out at midnight that night, so I texted them and they didn’t believe me at first either. It took me a good 15 minutes or so to actually realize and believe that I had gotten a 36.

TK:  What was your parent’s reaction when you told them?

Sam:  It was about 12:30 a.m. when I decided I should tell them, so I had to wake them up. It took my mom a second to realize why I had woken her up, but once I told her, she was extremely excited. My dad’s reaction wasn’t as excited. He was more concerned as to why I was up that late. The next morning he came into my room and asked me if I told him I got a 36 last night, and when I said yes, that’s when he got excited.

TK:  Do you have any advice for fellow students who are preparing to take the ACT?

Sam:  I think the best way to prepare for the ACT is to take the ACT. You won’t be able to experience the setting and time crunch and stress of the ACT unless you have taken the actual test. You shouldn’t expect to get your best score the first time you take the test, but just get a feel for the test the first time. Also, don’t over-prepare. If you study for five hours the night before, your brain will be fried the next morning during the actual test.

TK:  What are your college plans and what do you plan to study in college?

Sam:  I am going to attend Oklahoma State University. My dad went there and my sister is a senior there right now. I want to major in some type of business while taking pre-dental classes because I want to go to dental school and study to become an oral surgeon.