<p>I know that Michigan is very tough in their academic review. However, I was wondering what the average SAT scores were for just the musical theatre students, and not the ALL the music students. Also, what happens if I take the SAT and score below the minimum requirement, which and 1650, and then take them again and score above the minimum requirement? If my other academic history is fine, should I be granted an audition?</p>
<p>It has often been stated here that or MT, they look for an SAT score of about 1100 as a minimum. </p>
<p>Michigan reviews your ENTIRE app before offering you an audition. This includes grades, SATs AND your theater activities, etc. They deliberately don't make the academic threshhold as high as they do for Liberts Arts and other divisions. (Note you can be invited to audition, but that does not mean they would accept you into Liberal Arts.)</p>
<p>This is the first I have learned of a minimum of 1100 SAT for MT and that the academic threshhold isn't as high for this department as for liberal arts. I did not realize that. </p>
<p>I know that the stats for accepted students for Univ. of Michigan (as a whole) are: Avg. GPA 3.8, mid GPA 3.60-3.90, SAT V 590-690, M630-730, Combined 1210-1400, 69% in top 10% of class, 93% in top 25%, 99% in top 50%. So, an SAT score of 1100 falls quite below the bottom 25%tile for admitted students to the university. </p>
<p>Where did you all learn of the 1100 minimum or the 1650 min. (new SATs)? I don't doubt you at all. I just learned something new that I had not known before. I have gone by UMichigan's stated ranges for accepted students and did not realize that the standard for academic admissions was lowered for BFA in MT admissions. I had figured a student had to be within range of the published stats for that university in terms of academic review. I may have assumed wrongly. I normally would advise a student with low SATs and low GPA that this school's academic standard is selective, going by the published ranges of admitted students. If there is another standard or range for MT, I didn't realize that and perhaps should encourage students with lower scores or GPA to still apply anyway. </p>
<p>NYTheatermom, I fully agree with your statement/advice that UMich evaluates the entire application before inviting a student to audition and it is not just a numbers thing but the strength of the academic courseload, the GPA and rank, SATs, essays, recs, theater and other extracurriculars, etc. as you say. Students need to realize that it is not like an equation of X score = admission. They look at students wholistically as NYTheaterMom indicates.</p>
<p>PS..LydDel....you asked what would happen if you scored below the min. threshold for the SAT for UMich but later scored above it.....Colleges will take your highest SAT score and go by that, not your lowest one. So, if you score above the min. the second time, that one will count. However, I think it goes beyond being past a minimum score. It is competitive and selective to get in and so a stronger score beyond the minimum and more in the ranges stated, will be more helpful in terms of chances....though they will weigh every aspect of the application and not just go by one's SAT score.</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, the minimum requirements for SAT's and grades for the University of Michigan School of Music, which I assume includes musical theatre applicants, is stated on the music school's website.</p>
<p>The old SAT number 1100 number (my memory could be faulty and it is 1150, but I'm pretty sure 1100) comes directly from conversations with the school.
It is a given that they do not have the same standards for the music school because they don't want to exclude the many many fine musicians out there who may not be liberal arts admissible. On the other hand, the music school wants to have standards high enough that they are confident a student can handle the work load. </p>
<p>Also, the level 1100 is not absolute. This is "we look for XX" number. They are looking at the entire applicant at this point (minus the audition), which may account for why the UMich app with its Music School supplement -- things that must be submitted in advance of the invite to audition -- is so complicated.</p>
<p>This last audition season supposedly about 800 or more people applied MT, and about 300-350 were invited to audition. These numbers are a guesstimate. But the invite came based on many things. The school makes it clear an invitation to audition IS NOT an acceptance into liberal arts or any other division.</p>
<p>Yes, it was complicated and the most intense one my S encountered. Well, it was worth it (we hope) since that is where he is going! I have three children and this one is going the farthest away and I'll be an empty nester and getting weepy already! I discovered this site late in the process, lurked for awhile, but now I check in daily. It has been a wonderful source of support and so informative.</p>
<p>Thank you NYTheaterMom for explaining the minimum bar for the SAT for the MT program and the source. I learned something new and was not aware there was a minimum given or that it was lower than for liberal arts. All students should take note of everything else you wrote, that the evaluation of an application goes way beyond just test scores. In other words, one is not "safe" just to have an SAT over the minimum. Also, a minimum is just that, a minimum. The range of accepted students tends to be higher. Those whose SATs fall in the range of 25% of admitted students, their chances are slimmer than with SATs safer in the mid or upper range of accepted students. That's where assessing a school as a reach, match, or safety academically speaking enters in (along with the many other factors such as GPA, rank, etc.)</p>
<p>Susan: I think I disagree with you slightly. A person with a higher SAT score does NOT necessarily have an advantage over the person with the minimum. The academics are a threshhold. You meet it and you are looked at. They do not chose the higher SAT person based on having the higher SAT. They look at the package. </p>
<p>Having said that it was suggested at auditions that it was POSSIBLE that if after auditions they were struggling to decide whether to pick student A or student B they MIGHT go with the stronger student (even though both had already been prescreened). Again this is might might might; we do not know if this happened.</p>
<p>Actually, I completely agree with you, NYTheaterMom. With regard to ANY college admissions, students with higher SAT scores are not necessarily admitted over students with lower scores. It is not a simple equation, as you say. For instance, numerous students with perfect 1600 (old SAT) scores are rejected all the time from Ivy League schools. The total package is what is looked at. So, a higher SAT doesn't necessarily win out whatsoever over a lower SAT, but it is the entire package of qualifications and other personal characteristics. </p>
<p>That said, when looking at SAT ranges for admitted students at any university, and in terms of assessing odds of admission, a student who has an SAT score that is above the mid (25%-75%tile) range of admitted students has a great chance of being admitted than a student with SAT scores below the 25%tile range of published scores of admitted students to that university. Students who score below the 25%tile of admitted students can and DO get admitted. Their chances are slimmer than someone who has scores well above the average of admitted students for that school. A student in a certain range of SAT scores, rank, GPA, etc. can assess if a certain college is a reach, match, or safety depending how their "stats" compare to the range of admitted students to that particular college. Being in the mid range of accepted students' stats make it a match. Above range makes it more of a safety and below the range of admitted students makes it a reach. However, students can and do get into reach schools all the time. A student with a lower SAT can be admitted over a student with a higher SAT when the entire package may be stronger overall. One factor, such as standardized test scores, does not make or break the package as they look at the entire package. If someone has low SAT scores for the particular college, then other strong criteria can elevate or help to make up for weaker scores. So, SAT scores alone should not be what students go by....however, their chances are increased if they are within range of accepted students of that college (the mid 50% tile range of SATs for admitted students). </p>
<p>As to the last point you made, I also wholeheartedly agree. For audition based programs, when there are more talented students whom have what the school wants in terms of artistic qualifications, a strong academic profile could be the tie breaker because again, it is the entire package. That is why even for students going for BFA degrees, it is good to also do as well as they can academically in school as it does count at a lot of BFA programs for admissions. </p>
<p>Anyway, I may have been misunderstood but I am saying the same thing as you, LOL. The point about slimmer odds has to do with how a counselor would assess one's odds of admissions based on where a prospective student's stats fell in relation to accepted student stats for a particular college. A student with stats below the mid range for a college CAN and DO get in but at a lower rate of acceptance than those who have stats in range or above range. The one thing students should not get too concerned about is to focus on just a set of numbers because it really is the total package. However, students should have a balanced list of colleges on their list in terms of chances...reach, match, safety....acadecmially speaking and that can be determined by looking at the stats of admitted students at each college. </p>
<p>My comments are not specific to UMichigan in this regard but with any college.</p>
<p>It does state on the school of music website that the new SAT with writing section or ACT with writing are required. The MINIMUM score would be an 1100 Math and Verbal or 1650 Math/Verbal/Writing on the SAT. And the MINIMUM ACT score is 24. SAT II tests are not required. The average score for UM admitted students, and for the school of music specifically, are higher than those minimums, but at least as far as being offered a chance to audition, those minimum scores are what is considered.</p>