Whitefish High School senior Molly Schmidt expected a high ACT score.

What she did not expect was a perfect score of 36.

“It was awesome,” Schmidt said. “I thought I did pretty good, but I didn’t think it would be perfect.”

The ACT is a national college admissions test covering English, math, science and reading with an optional writing component that Schmidt took. Tests are scored on a scale of one to 36. The composite score is an average of the four scores with writing not included.

Whitefish High School Principal Dave Carlson was impressed with Schmidt’s perfect score.

“I’ve seen it done probably four or five times in my career. I’ve been in education for 16 years,” Carlson said.

Out of 1.6 million test takers in the high school graduating class of 2011, only 704 earned composite scores of 36.

Schmidt said she glanced over sample questions the night before the test.

“I figured I’d try taking it once and see how I did and take it again if I had to and probably study for that one more if I needed to,” Schmidt said.

For Schmidt, it wasn’t a matter of days, weeks or months to prepare, it was a matter of years — her entire education — beginning with the first day of school.

“I think it was just really paying attention in school all my life and really giving everything I do my best effort,” she said. “I put a lot of work into homework and pretty much I do my best in everything and that’s helped to prepare me.”

The guidance of her parents, Carl and Annette Schmidt of Whitefish, and teachers also led her to success.

“My mom and dad were very involved in this process,” Schmidt said.

With her perfect score and a 4.0 grade-point average in hand, the 17-year-old applied to and was accepted at her college of choice, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston.

She will start school in September to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Brain and Cognitive Sciences. Her goal is to research treatments for diseases. After taking a course called Fundamentals of Biological Psychology at Flathead Valley Community College, she was hooked on this area of study.

“It was all about the brain and nervous system. What they do, how things go wrong and why. Every day I was coming home with fun facts for my family,” Schmidt said.

She took the class through the Running Start program run by the community college. Running Start allows high school juniors and seniors to earn college credits. Schmidt will have enough credits through Running Start to complete an Associate of Science degree in May before she graduates from high school in June.

Her other achievements include reaching semifinalist status in the National Merit Scholarship program. She will find out if she is a finalist in February. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.

She also works part time as an office assistant at DePratu Ford and VW.

Last year she traveled to France with her high school French class.

“It was cool to be immersed in the culture, visit the places we read about,” Schmidt said.

During the trip the class met up with pen pals in Bordeaux, Schmidt’s favorite part of the trip.

Schmidt also was a classical ballet dancer up to ninth grade. In her free time she enjoys playing with the family dogs Oliver, Moose and Daisy and playing video games.

While adults often see her studious side, she does have a sense of humor.

“I can find humor in anything pretty much,” Schmidt said. “I like to have fun and laugh.” 

Her advice to incoming high school freshmen:

 “Pretty much to do your best and realize everything you do in life counts.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com