Applying to musical Theatre BFA with 3.0 High School GPA

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

So I had a terrible junior year. I began with a 3.5 and ended with a 3.0. It’s my fault, I know. The stress got to me and I managed to convince myself that I was stupid and shouldn’t even try. I kept it in for too long, it didn’t really burst out of me until halfway through the year when I was too far behind. The only class I did well in was my music class, which even then was worse than I had done years before. I’ve been going to a counselor and taking anxiety and depression medication that’s been helping but now that college application time is rolling around the stress is piling up.

I hope I don’t sound conceited or anything but I’m very confident about my singing and feel pretty good about my acting. (Dancing is getting better) I still have time with my voice teacher to improve but she’s very optimistic. (Well I say I’m confident when really I’m constantly trying to be perfect, which is messing me up but what are you gonna do.)

I’m in a show right now (Hodel in Fiddler. I love it!) and it’s helping my stress and is helping me improve my skills.

My main problem is grades. Like I said earlier I had some problems but I don’t think I was to try to use an excuse. I know it’s my own fault. The weird thing is one of my worst classes was English but I love writing and reading. Math and science was awful because those were the classes that stressed me out the most. I would cry for no reason and occasionally have panic attacks because of embarrassment from crying. I’ve always been sensitive but…it escalated.

I feel most comfortable on stage. I always have. But I’m scared that my junior year ruined my chances of getting into a great program. Not to mention tuition restraints my family has. I’m the youngest of five, two siblings are in college, and I already know I’m not getting anything from FAFSA.

I have a backup school. I worked with the director and he offered me close to a full ride. It’s not a bad program but my voice teacher feels I wouldn’t be challenged there.

Sorry if this is really long it actually felt kinda good to get some of that out. Thanks

2

Don’t despair! Many programs really focus more on the artistic capabilities of their applicants and much is determined by the audition process. You might want to focus on more conservatory style options and review information in some of the older threads here regarding schools that are less academically stringent. Here are a couple of recent examples:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1854405-academically-less-selective.html

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/101257-academic-importance.html

3

Thank you very much! Roosevelt is my top pick since my voice teacher attended there and it’s comforting to know it’s not super selective.

4

My son is attending Roosevelt in the Fall. He is in love with program:) They have a lower academic threshold as do many other conservatory programs. Please take a deep breath! You must take care of yourself first. Do you have anyone helping you through the process? It’s important to have support and proper guidance.

5

Really, don’t worry. How are your AP/SAT test scores? My son had a similar unweighted gpa and was accepted academically everywhere he applied and offered merit scholarships at each school.

6

That will not be a problem at CCPA/Roosevelt.

7

My SAT was 1270. My highest was writing at 690. My math was 580.

8

My kid was not an academic at all and managed to graduate with a 2.5. June of last year I finally convinced him that he really should look at colleges; up until that point he thought there was no point because of his grades. We focused on schools that didn’t have specific academic requirements and he had several artistic scholarship offers. We just moved him in at Roosevelt on Friday :slight_smile: