I have a GPA of about 4.3 and ACT score of 33, so I’m applying to Yale and Northwestern, which don’t require auditions but are still reaches. I am applying to many amazing MT schools, but of course because they have auditions, I have no idea where I will get in, if anywhere. I want some safety schools that don’t require auditions. My issue is, I still want to be challenged academically, and I want a program that will set me up for success post-grad and still give me many opportunities. BA or BFA, as long as I can perform and learn.
Look into Muhlenberg if you haven’t already. There is an audition for talent scholarship (not admission) and they stack good merit aid on top of that based on grades/test scores.
1 Like
With grades like that I’d encourage my child to apply to Brown. The people who come out of that program (like the Fiasco Theater Company) are stellar.
Vassar, Sarah Lawrence, Bennington, Tulane
Kenyon in Ohio is another option (more focused on straight theater)
Ditto Brown, Vassar, Sarah Lawrence, look at Skidmore. Harvard has a new theatre program I believe.
William and Mary
Christopher Newport
Tulsa
@samantharae well done and good question. As someone who had kids with similar stats who also were surrounded by peers with similar, some better or slightly worse stats, some of whom got into the schools you mentioned and some who didn’t but all were in the ballpark I can advise this: good call on knowing that Northwestern and Yale are reaches. They are. A hook that has nothing to do with your stats can help but if you are relying on your stats alone, you will indeed be in good company. Write killer essays. I hope you are from a geographically desirably area or have some other hook that will make you stand out. GO FOR IT and well done but yes, you need a more balanced list and good on you for knowing that.
Your OP asked about safety schools. EmsDad are those safeties for this poster? (I’m not an expert but I know them all to be great schools.) Pretty sure Brown which was also suggested above is not even close to a safety. Is Kenyon? I “think” Muhlenberg could be but heck… is it? And the rest mentioned give me the same pause though yeah… I’d think they look good and are GREAT schools but are they really safeties? @samantharae, ask your school counselor. Be sure. I had kids like you and I think I’d have put all of the schools you mentioned in the “likely” bucket but not have considered any of them safeties.
@halflokum - I took the OP reference to “safety schools” to mean non-audition artistic “safety” schools that have academic admissions profiles within or well-within the stats quoted while still being among those that some/many might label “academically challenging,” that ALSO have an MT program or at least do one musical a year (W&M sometimes does two musicals). I think all three schools that I mentioned fit those criteria. The most difficult one for admission is William and Mary and the stats in the OP are well-within the typical admission range:
Avg GPA 4.16
89% admitted with GPA 3.75 and above
ACT mid-range 29-33
Overall admission is 33%, much higher than typical Ivy numbers.
Whether or not W&M (or CN or Tulsa) would be definitively be a “safety” or a “fit,” or a “likely,” or whatever label you want to use is, to me, a matter of personal perception of probability.
Sarah Lawrence could be a “safety” in that they won’t give a crap about your stats and will care that you stand out in some other way that shows energy, creativity, individuality, and initiative (it’s a very non-conformist-type school), but they do have a great theater (and dance, and music) program and a wonderful learning environment. I also know super talented theater kids who have been happy at Bennington, Brown, Harvard, and Muhlenberg, and have also heard Bard is good for theater.
Kenyon is certainly selective (25% acceptance rate) but OP stats fall well within range. Example- their website says that 50% of their ACT score fall between 28-32. Perhaps it would be better defined as a “fit” rather than true “safety”. I second Calliene’s mention of Bennington- we have a friend who started there this year- she is loving it.