<p>I know the deadline for application is December 1! I've done most of my apps already - prescreens in and everything, and for some reason, Carnegie Mellon came back into my mind after having taken it off the list for reasons I don't remember. I know that there has been some drama in the past few years, but they have produced some great singers (I saw online) and it seems they have a newer teacher that has a lot of recognition, Maria Spacagna. I have already done the common app and started the supplement, but my parents are skeptical about whether or not I should go through with the application. </p>
<p>For one, I don't think I really have the grades/scores to get into CMU (3.5 UW GPA, Lots of honors and AP, bad junior year, changed schools, emotional trouble my family has opted to leave out of my apps for fear of making me sound unstable, and 1850 SAT. I studied and retook the SAT and did worse than the first time.) I'm trying to remember all the reasons I took it off my list. Is it even worth a shot with my scores? Given the state of the program, is the possibility of working with Spacagna worth it? Is anyone else there worth studying with?</p>
<p>CMU is not known to be particularly terrific in VP (they haven’t produced a classical singer of any special note)- as opposed to their great MT program. Your best bet, if you are set on a particular teacher (and since it’s too late to get a lesson before apps are due), is to head over to one of the other message boards that are only for classical voice and see if you can find anyone who has studied with her/him. (If you don’t know where to look, PM me).
You’re right in thinking that your stats are low for admission to CMU, just on the basis of your SATs and GPA, but if you have 5s on your APs, some good letters of recommendation and an amazing audition, you’d certainly get their attention! However, at this late date, assuming that you have a good and realistic list of schools on your list, I’d think long and hard about adding in CMU at this point.</p>
<p>For aspiring VP majors, the audition is 90% of the admission decision (per the CMU Web site), so unlike prospective CMU students interested in business, computer science, engineering, etc., you don’t have to worry about your HS grades; they’re sufficient. (However, for those majors I just mentioned, acceptance would be unlikely with your academic record.)</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>