McNeil High School senior Dylan McCoy earned a perfect score on the ACT college readiness assessment.

Dylan took the exam previously but was a single point away from achieving a perfect score. Armed with determination and with his sights set on studying electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dylan took the test again and realized his goal of a perfect score.

“I wasn’t planning on taking it again,” Dylan said. “But it frustrated me that I was just one point away. It made me want it more.”

Dylan has applied to the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, MIT and the University of Texas at Dallas. He has already been accepted to Texas A&M and has been awarded a full scholarship to UT Dallas. In addition to his interest in engineering, Dylan plays trumpet in the McNeil band, enjoys listening to music and spending time with his friends.

“What I appreciate about Dylan going back for that perfect score is his desire not to settle for being just good enough,” McNeil Assistant Principal Melody Maples said. “He did exactly what we ask our students to do every day; don’t just do good enough but do the best version of you.”