The pursuit of perfection can be a frustrating endeavor.
But Mater Dei Catholic High School junior Owen Musenbrock achieved it Dec. 14 when he scored a 36 on the American College Testing exam, commonly referred to as the ACT.
The test included 215 questions in English (75), math (60), reading (40) and science (40). It is designed to provide colleges and universities an idea about the preparedness of a student to enter their institution.
Musenbrock, clearly, is ready for a higher level of academics. Out of 1.9 million students who take the test annually, only about 3,700 earn a perfect score.
“When the score came in, I was a little bit surprised, to be honest,” said Musenbrock, 16, of Germantown. “Thirty-six was always my goal; I just didn’t think I was going to get it on my first try. On all of my practice tests leading up (to Dec. 14), I was getting 34s and 36s. So this is pretty crazy.”
Musenbrock credited his parents, Mater Dei graduates Dan and Julie, and his “fantastic teachers at Mater Dei” for his success.
“I already knew pretty much all the material on the test, but what I needed to study was the test-taking strategy,” Musenbrock said. “I took a course at College Preparation Station, and that taught me the test-taking strategy. When you combine those two, that’s a recipe for success.”
The Musenbrocks, who attend St. Boniface Catholic Church in Germantown, celebrated Owen’s remarkable accomplishment by enjoying dinner at Popeye’s Chop House in St. Rose.
“It was great,” said Owen, who has two sisters, Chloe, an eighth-grader at Germantown Elementary School, and Jade, a fourth-grader at All Saints Academy in Breese.
Musenbrock, also a member of the Mater Dei golf and scholar bowl teams, said studying and learning the material are only two of the necessary ingredients required of students who want to shine on the ACT.
“The ACT is all about time management,” Musenbrock said. “You sometimes have to take a guess if it’s a harder question and move on to other things that you know how to do. You have to know what you’re good at and know what your weaknesses are.
“Also, I would say I’m very diligent with my schoolwork. I’m not afraid to put in some hours to do well on things like this.”
Dan Musenbrock, a physical therapist at St. Joseph Hospital in Highland, can attest to that.
“He’s always done well in school,” Musenbrock said of his son. “When he sets his mind to do something, he definitely will achieve it. Golf is another example. He would spend hours and hours golfing to get his numbers where they need to be, meaning his launch angle, his spin rate, the carry distance, all those different factors.
“He’s not necessarily a perfectionist. If you look at his room, that will tell you. (But) I definitely don’t have to tell him to study. He’s self-motivated.”
The most recent Mater Dei student to accomplish a perfect score on the ACT was Quintin Potthast in 2016, which underscores the difficulty of the feat.
“The entire Mater Dei community is very proud of Owen and his accomplishment in scoring a perfect 36 on the ACT,” Mater Dei Principal Dennis Litteken said. “Owen is a student that has always worked hard, is very responsible and very respectful to his fellow students and his teachers. His success does not come by an accident. It is a direct result of the work and commitment he has put forth in his schoolwork. Mater Dei is proud and humbled to be able to help prepare Owen and all (its) students for the next chapter in their life.”
Dan Musenbrock remembers a conversation he had with an English teacher in the O’Fallon School District long ago.
“As a physical therapist, I’ve treated a lot of patients for the last 20 years,” he said. “One, in particular, I remember; it’s probably been 15 years ago. She told me, ‘Promise me you’re going to read to your kids.’ She said, ‘I mean you, not your wife.’ She said second-grade reading level predicts ACT scores. I told her, ‘I promise I will do that,’ and I did that. I read to all my kids. I kept my promise to her and maybe that’s why it paid off. It’s hard to forget my conversation with her, and I give her credit.”
Owen considers math to be his best subject “if I had to pick one.” Even though his dad read to him regularly as a child, Owen said reading problems presented him with the most difficulty on the ACT.
“I consider the reading portion of the exam to be probably the most difficult because in reading, it’s 40 questions on four passages and you only get 35 minutes,” he said. “I was always kind of struggling with time on that one. You really have to read between the lines with those passages to find the answers.”
Musenbrock, who carries a 4.0 grade-point average — also perfect — hasn’t yet selected a college or a major. But he senses his life has been altered with his performance on the ACT.
“It’s blown up on social media. That’s for sure,” Musenbrock said, noting that Mater Dei posted the information on its Facebook page. “I have this interview (with The Messenger) and the (Carlyle) Union Banner is going to call me, too. It’s pretty crazy.
“Mater Dei’s not a huge school, but definitely, some kids I don’t talk to as often are coming up to me and talking to me about it. It’s mostly congratulations.”
A byproduct of Musenbrock’s perfect score has been a boost in confidence, considering the doors of opportunity that will open.
“I haven’t been thinking about (college) a whole lot,” Musenbrock said. “Since I got my score back, I’ve been thinking about school and a possible career afterward. I’m leaving my options open. It definitely gives me some confidence for college applications, and it certainly changes my outlook on applying for college. It’s going to be very helpful for that.”
Dan Musenbrock has always been a believer that confidence can win the day. In Owen’s case, that indeed was a key element.
“I’m extremely proud. I knew he was capable of this,” Dan said. “It was his goal, honestly, to achieve a perfect score. I routinely instill the belief that all things are possible with confidence and determination.
“I credit Mater Dei High School, the administration and the teachers for fostering an environment of growth and excellence. Owen has thrived at school. They provide many opportunities to do very well. It’s a combination of all the things.
“I wouldn’t have him go anywhere else. I trust the administrators and the teachers. Mater Dei High School is top-notch.”
