Hi there, I am going to be applying to LMU for recording arts or film (still haven’t decided) next semester, but unfortunately my grades are very low (3.12). (Stats listed below) While they are low, I am out working many days of the week as I am a child actor (voiceover) Ive worked with companies like disney, warner brothers, universal, Nickelodeon etc… and I am wondering if this could justify for my low gpa and perhaps give me an extra bump on getting in to this school. Since I am most likely applying to recording arts which has almost everything to do with voice over, is it possible that a school might overlook the grades or am I just falsely hoping for a possibility to be accepted. Thank you so much for reading!
GPA: 3.12
SAT: 1120
Extra Curriculars:
Voice Over
Sound Engineering
Managing myself
Concert Band/Marching Band
Leadership
Film making
No, you don’t get to justify grades by saying you did something else that was more important to you. I don’t think they’ll give you slack for the lower grades since you chose to work over academics, and your test scores don’t show that you mastered the material while missing school.
I wouldn’t try to justify the lower stats but would focus on the strong parts of your application.
I don’t know that anyone can answer that besides admissions themselves, when they make their decision. My DD was a Theater major with industry experience when she applied, and she got a good merit scholarship. Her grades were around 3.7, 29 ACT. I’ll never know if some of that scholarship was due to her Theater resume, but maybe.
The thing is, college programs are interested in their students being fully committed to their studies. They won’t excuse you to miss class for a job. If you focus too much on your work (impressive as it is) in your app, you’ll need to state how committed you are to putting your focus out of the workplace and into school/their program and to setting your work aside for 4 years, or putting school first (which you haven’t done in the past).
That said, film schools are hard to get into, you know you can’t count on any so spread a wide net…you definitely have credentials, give it a try. But be careful about excuses and what it could say about how committed you are to school.