Importance of SAT/ACT for MT admissions?

My D earns A’s and B’s but struggles on standardized tests. How much time, energy, and money should be devoted to SAT/ACT prep? She wants to earn a BFA, preferably at a conservatory. We are not looking for academic merit scholarships to fund tuition.

If you are not concerned with academic merit money, I would not worry too much about her test scores. Just be aware that for many MT programs, the bulk of the scholarship dollars are in academic money. There is talent money available. But in general, we found talent awards to be smaller than academic awards.

The answer to your question also depends on the schools to which she is applying. There are some schools for which test scores may effect her admission. Schools such as NYU, Syracuse, Penn State, Illinois Wesleyan, Elon, Muhlenberg and others will care about her GPA and test scores more than some other schools. I hope @EmsDad can weigh in here and point you to a thread that shows which schools are the most academically selective (and therefore probably the ones who will care most about her test scores).

Here are a couple of posts with data regarding academic admissions for MT programs:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/16915613#Comment_16915613

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19836702#Comment_19836702

Some of the schools that are likely to apply the most rigorous academic entrance requirements for MT applicants include: Northwestern University, UCLA, University of Miami, University of Michigan, University of Southern California, American University, Illinois Wesleyan, NYU/Steinhardt, and NYU/Tisch.

Note that Carnegie Mellon, while normally very selective for academic admission, is apparently very flexible on academic admissions standards for theatre students.

If you look at the College Data website, it includes relatively detailed information on academic admission requirements for basically every school in the nation under the “Admission” tab for each school. You can also try and find the “Common Data Set” submission for schools that you are interested in, which is usually posted somewhere on their website, which includes the same detailed information including what percentage of students were admitted for various levels of SAT/ACT and GPA’s.

I believe that Montclair is SAT/ACT optional meaning you don’t have to submit test scores (someone please correct me if I M wrong)

My D applied test optional at 2 schools because even thought her scores weren’t awful they were at that average line where at one school the admissions person told us to go test optional and it might actually mean better aid. Like you sometimes have to submit graded writing samples or do an interview for additional scholarships plus I wouldn’t do it if your GPA isn’t high cause my D has a high GPA. . Each schools different but a majority of MT schools are not that academically strict. But yes some as stated above are.
Ask the school about the test optional thing. I found they are more then happy to work out what’s best for you.

As @DVCmember said, Montclair is test optional–here’s the link to their webpage: https://www.montclair.edu/admissions/apply-and-check-status/admissions-requirements/satact-test-optional-policy/

Wagner is also test optional; my daughter didn’t submit any test scores but still got quite a bit of money from them (she did not go there).
Also the comments here seem to imply that the only people interested in test optional are those that don’t test well, and that just is not the case. Some, schools and applicants, feel that these tests are not a measure of success and therefore don’t put much stock in them.

Thanks to all who replied. We will certainly look at test optional schools. However, for schools that require standardized tests, how important is the SAT/ACT for BFA applicants?

@2wuhanmom That answer is dependent on each school. Perhaps sharing your list or reaching out to people on this board who have kids at the schools on your list will get you more information. I will send you a PM about my experience with my S.

Thanks, @IfYouOnlyKnew - I pm’d you back