Or a good college at least… I’m a junior in high school. I have terrible grades because I slacked off a lot in previous years. My GPA right now is a 2.5. First quarter this year I made grades ranging from 3.0-4.0 in all my classes, except I got a 1.0 in math and history. I know this is awful.
The thing is, I am an avid actress and singer. I’ve been in over 20 shows, done summer programs, camps, workshops, New York City productions, voice lessons, dance and acting training all my life. I also write songs. It’s truly my passion. I know if I bring up my grades now my GPA can go up but probably not that much. And that terrifies me… I would love to go to Carnegie Mellon school of drama, I would love to go to Boston conservatory, i would love to go to Syracuse, and although a long shot I will audition for Julliard. I have a hard time believing they will not care about grades. I don’t know where to go and I don’t want to go to community college or not get in to any program I like. I’m terrified and it is eating me alive. Does anyone have any advice, pointers, reassurance and college suggestions for me? Is a 2.5 so terrible? Am I hopeless?
I think you know you’re not going to get into any of those schools with a 2.5 GPA. That being said, if you have good test scores, you can still get into a “decent” school. Maybe not one that is name brand, but certainly a school that will provide you with a decent education in some capacity.
Yes, all the schools you listed have very competitive admissions, so your GPA isn’t going to help you there. But there are less competitive choices out there where you can thrive (sorry, not personally familiar with music and theater programs) if you can demonstrate an upward trend with your grades and show your potential in other ways. So don’t despair, just be realistic and make the best of wherever you land.
There are specific forums on this site for Musical Theater majors and Theater/Drama majors. You might want to post there for advice from those with expertise in the field:
Look, as a fellow student with not-so-stellar credentials, I advise that you don’t let scores bring you down. I also have the same fear as you do, but I am applying to so many colleges that are very selective. Is it a ridiculous thing to do? Of course not! Yes, colleges look at GPA and SAT scores, BUT, that is not all they look at. There are colleges out there, even really good ones, that are truly holistic. Although it may not be so common, there have been students accepted into brand name schools with credentials that do not even come close to a school’s 75th or even 25th percentile. I encourage you to apply to ANY school you would love to attend. Doesn’t hurt to apply, does it? Apply and see what happens. You never know. You sound like you would be a perfect fit at any Theatre/Drama program. 
A 2.5 isn’t great, it shows there’s some type of issue. The student is usually slacking, struggling, or distracted because of personal issues.
Your a junior, so you can slightly improve your GPA. Colleges like to see an upward trend. If you do well on the SATs, you can get into some good colleges. These schools definitely won’t be as prestigious as the schools you’ve named, but you’ll get a good education. With your scores & budget, I can recommend some.
You might be able to get into Purchase College.