I have a low GPA (high 2, low 3 range) and pretty high SAT scores (above a 2000 and I’m taking them a second time for a higher score). I also have ADHD which wasn’t diagnosed until I was more than halfway through high school. I didn’t do very well my freshman, sophomore and junior years but I improved from sophomore to junior year and I’m trying to get straight A’s this year. I know I could hypothetically get into an art school with a low GPA as long as my portfolio is good enough but could I get into a top school as an art major with my low GPA? Also, what would be my chances of getting into a top school (as an art major) that one of my parents went to?
First, what colleges did your parents attend? Some colleges weight legacy heavier than other but usually only through ED/EA. Do you have colleges that you had in mind specifically as well as geographic residency? Your SAT is good but if you can definitely improve it especially with a lower GPA. You can probably go to your state school at the very least if all else fails.
My dad went to Columbia and I think I want to apply, even though it’s a huge reach. I’m also applying to a bunch of small liberal arts schools (Oberlin, Barnard, Smith, etc.) which are all reach schools of course.
I also have been living in Virginia for the past four years which I guess gives me a slight advantage with the liberal arts schools I’m applying to, but I’m guessing Columbia gets applicants from all over since it’s an Ivy League school.
DELETE: Thought you were referring to a music major.
You aren’t going to get into Columbia. Legacy would be a bump if you were otherwise qualified, but your GPA disqualifies you. My sons didn’t even bother considering it, and my husband went there (I went to Barnard and to graduate school there). You should look at each art college individually. Some will base decisions almost entirely on your portfolio. Others will weigh your transcript more heavily. Your GPA puts most of the liberal arts colleges you listed out of reach, I would think, unless you have mind-numbing test scores. Virginia provides no geographic bump whatsoever. Young women applying to liberal arts colleges from the northeast and mid-Atlantic states are as statistically overrepresented as Asian men are in STEM admissions.
Do you have a college adviser? Does your school offer Naviance? You should also have an arts mentor who might be able to review your portfolio and suggest improvements. It sounds as if you have not been receiving helpful, realistic advice.
I have a bunch of safety schools that are more realistic for me that I’m applying to. I just wanted to know if having a good art portfolio could help make up for my GPA at all with the schools that are more in my SAT range.
If your SAT was in the 2000-2100 range, it is low for some of the schools you mentioned. It certainly isn’t high enough to compensate for a GPA below their typical range. My older son had a similarly low GPA and similar test scores. He did not even consider any liberal arts colleges as selective as the ones you mentioned. He was interested in Theater, rather than Visual Arts. I just don’t see how you would be competitive with a GPA below 3.0 at any highly-selective college. If you move a little further down, in terms of selectivity, you might be.