I’m currently a junior in HS and NYU is my dream school. I’d love to go for musical theater, but I’m really struggling to get an SAT/ACT score within their “average range”, and I’m having some doubts regarding how I’ll score on my AP Exams. I know NYU will be test-optional when I apply, but I feel like I should have at least one test score to submit. Does anyone have any advice? 
Like anyone …DO NOT FALL IN LOVE with ANY school.
Don’t put so much on yourself. If NYU goes test optional, you can apply that way. If not, get an ACT book, use KHAN Academy or if your parents can afford it get a tutor.
But it’s a very competitive school. Go for it regardless but also have others that are safer.
Ithaca, Evansville, Elon, etc.
You’ll get a great esucation regardless of where you go and you can shine from anywhere.
Good luck.
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This forum popped up and I just felt really intrigued to reply. Also please know you can totally ignore this because I know this suggestion isn’t for everyone. I do wish someone had given me this advice when I was applying to schools.
If your grades aren’t the best, you’re worried about testing, or if NYU is out of your price range…consider community college. I attended a couple four year schools that weren’t my favorite and I only went because I felt like I needed to go to a 4 year school. I hate this pressure from your counselors or your peers to attend a 4 year school first when you could be saving so much money and still be getting a great education. I’d suggest attending your local community college for a couple years as an option if you don’t get into your favorite school or if you want to save money. Community colleges are catered to wanting students to thrive. Four year colleges do not care. Four year colleges really just want your money, and leave it up to you to sink or swim. If you attend a community college for a couple of years and apply as a transfer to NYU, they won’t look at your testing scores. They also won’t care for your high school grades. They do care about your college grades, whether you can thrive in a college environment. But they honestly care most about your essays. If attending NYU all four years is what’s best for you, I’d suggest to start writing your essays now. And write every single one they offer even if it is optional. I don’t know what musical theater auditions look like, but I would focus more on preparation for that than studying for an SAT or ACT. When it comes to Tisch applicants, they’re way more concerned with your personal essays and your talents than your grades. Of course having decent grades or testing grades will further set you aside. Ultimately though it’s your portfolio/essay/audition that will determine whether you get in.
NYU has always been test-optional for Tisch applicants - because you will be submitting a portfolio or participating in an audition, test scores are not required. If your scores are high (1500-1600 on SAT, 34-36 on ACT) it can help you stand out, but Tisch doesn’t require you to submit scores, so if your scores are low - no need to worry. If you don’t end up applying to Tisch, though, it is recommended you try and get those scores up because sending in high test scores can put you at an advantage!
-NYU Tisch 2025
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Tisch ‘21 Acting Grad Parent here. I thought I’d add some advice in retrospect. This forum was helpful to us during applications. NYU in general and Tisch specifically are very competitive, not only to get into but during your time there. Students who were accepted and excel at Tisch in Drama have come with very good academic resumes. The reality is that the amount of time that you will have to spend in studio and rehearsing means that you have to be able to prioritize, be a quick study and a conscientious student to meet your other academic requirements. Most come in with AP credits which helps balance the Gen Ed workload and add minors. One of the great things about NYU and Tisch is that it’s also easy to add minors either inside or outside of Tisch, so that if you have other academic interests you can pursue them.
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2 posts were split to a new thread: Advice for Tisch Admissions