MT schools offering full tuition for 35 ACT?

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>Do any MT colleges offer full tuition for high stats kids?</p>

<p>We have been considering less selective MT schools in the southeast that have great merit aid for my D (HS Jr) based on her academic stats of 4.0 UW GPA and a 30 ACT, rigorous academic course (many APs), good ECs, community service, etc. </p>

<p>She took ACT again in Feb, hoping to get a 32/33 which qualifies for full tuition at several schools on her list. We just received her Feb ACT score and she received a 35. We are still kinda in shock...thrilled, but in shock!</p>

<p>So now I'm wondering if we should expand her list to include others that I thought were out of reach financially, as well as artistically. I know most people have said to have a good mix of schools on the list, and while I've been hesitant to do that to avoid major heartache for my D, I'm thinking that we should consider a few more.</p>

<p>We would NOT qualify for financial aid, as we are in the black hole known as the "Middle Class."</p>

<p>And while some schools may offer $10-15K scholarships which are very nice, if tuition is $30K, that is still out of reach for us if you add in $8-10K for room and board, not to mention books. Despite what FAFSA may say, we're only willing to pay about $8-10 per year.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>Check out Oklahoma City University. They have full ride for National Merit Finalists and other scholarships depending on test scores and GPA. It is all listed on their financial aid page. And its a great MT school.</p>

<p>Edit: Just checked and it is full tuition for ACT 33-35.</p>

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<p>Yes, that was one on our list! Actually, the dance performance major there, since D is stronger in dance than voice. She has two theatre friends who are there – one in MT and one in Dance performance. Both said for D dance is the way to go…</p>

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<p>UArts is another that gives great merit aid for high stats. So many do not…</p>

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<p>With that score she should be looking at the Ivy League schools.</p>

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<p>Congrats to your D!! You might look at the University of Oklahoma. With those scores she would qualify for at least a partial tuition waiver, but since you are in Louisiana, she should qualify for in-state tuition. It’s one of the few BFA MT programs listed for Louisiana residents on the Academic Common Market. That should make OU very affordable:
<a href=“http://www.sreb.org/page/1304/academic_common_market.html[/url]”>Academic Common Market - Southern Regional Education Board;

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<p>I think you’ll find that the only schools that won’t offer generous merit aid are those where every student has similarly-high stats… assuming her ECs and recommendations are as awesome as I assume they will be.</p>

<p>Congratulations on her great score!</p>

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<p>fnpmom…many of the Ivies don’t offer a BFA in Musical Theatre or dance (although there is a fine student dance company with many Princeton students involved). </p>

<p>mom2them, As the mom of a high-stats kid/performing artist, it is a conundrum when you want to “feed” both the arts needs and the academic needs (and then add in the very real financial burden.) Did your d take the PSAT in fall of her junior year (which could qualify her to continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships)? If she did, and has a qualifying score, I could give you a list of schools that can be generous with awards to National Merit Scholars.</p>

<p>One thing that opens up to high-stats kids are the academic competitions sponsored by the University. Some that come to mind are Elon’s Fellowships (not a full ride, but an Elon Fellow can add that award to the Presidential and others). Another is Ball State’s Whitinger Scholarship, which covers everything but books. Another is CCM’s Cincinnatus award, which offers different levels of award, based on the competition results, up to full ride.</p>

<p>My d sounds somewhat similar to yours – high stats kid, lots of APs (and keep in mind that APs aren’t necessarily used at all in the admissions process, and for an MT, they tend to fill in electives, but don’t really reduce the time spent on campus), strong dancer. In making The List at our house, we looked at fit of program, academic offerings, the availability of an honors college, scholarships…but did not exclude a school based on the price tag alone (yup, we live in the same black hole!!). I kept a spreadsheet of various details, including “retail” price, guaranteed scholarships (based on GPA, test scores, etc), scholarships she could compete for, etc. BUT we also tempered this with the knowledge there was a price point we were not willing to cross, regardless of the acceptance status.</p>

<p>In the end, d had several artistic/academic acceptances (that balanced list is critical!) to choose from, as well as a variety of scholarship offers. She had success in on-campus academic scholarship competitions (so go do them!!!). Also, additional scholarship offers came from a couple of schools over the summer, after she had committed to her college…</p>

<p>You mention wanting to avoid major heartbreak for your kid. Sadly, this is a profession (and college admission process) of lots of rejections. So do make that list carefully, looking beyond the price tag at the artistic fit, academic fit, selectivity, offerings for your d. (Keep in mind that talent scholarships happen, too…but they tend to be smaller than the academic ones…the artistic departments just don’t have the same amount of dollars to give!)</p>

<p>In the end, my d was incredibly fortunate to be awarded some of the competitive academic scholarships, and will be graduating debt-free from college. So have your d keep those grades up senior year! Good luck to her (and you) as the list gets made. Feel free to PM me if you’d like.</p>

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<p>We’re in this same boat-- hoping momcares is right but not counting on much.</p>

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<p>Westminster College of the Arts at Rider U. in NJ is VERY generous with merit aid for academic achievement, plus you can combine with talent awards.</p>

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<p>Interesting this comes up right now, since my daughter got her ACT yesterday. Very similar to the original poster, got a 32 ACT and has a GPA over 4.1. That should bring more schools into play that weren’t before because of finances. </p>

<p>Anyone has any specifics about other schools in the Midwest and their aid based on academics? I’d be especially interested in Northwestern as up till now I just thought their tuition was unattainable, but with her ACT and academics it might become doable. And we’ll check out the Oklahoma schools, thanks for that info.</p>

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<p>Northwestern does not give out merit aid - just financial need. They say that they try to meet EFC, but did not without substantial loans in D’s case. We declined (even though D was a triple legacy!)</p>

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<p>I believe that University of Alabama give generous scholarships for those stats. </p>

<p>JMU does not give guaranteed merit, but a student with high GPA and test scores, and community service is encouraged to apply for the Dingledine Scholarship. This is a competitive scholarship that is equivalent to 1/2 of instate tuition for four years. </p>

<p>A student with those stats may also qualify to interview for the Cincinatus (sp?) scholarship at University of Cincinnati.</p>

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<p>Look at Texas State U. San Marcos, too. VERY selective for BFA MT, but accepted students get a scholarship that equates to in-state tuition.</p>

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<p>FSU has a scholarship for freshman applicants with high academic stats.</p>

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<p>Coastal Carolina University also has nice merit aid based on test scores and GPA, but not close to a full tuition waiver for an OOS student. Can be combined with a talent scholarship, plus there are application-based scholarships for theatre students as well.
[Coastal</a> Carolina University](<a href=“http://www.coastal.edu/financialaid/calculator/]Coastal”>http://www.coastal.edu/financialaid/calculator/)</p>

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<p>@megpmom is right That Northwestern gives virtually no merit aid… but commits to meeting 100% of DEMONSTRATED need. D knows kids getting need-based full rides there, but it’ not the place for middle class folks who wish to pay less than CSS Profile EFC.</p>

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<p>Ohio Northern and Otterbein both give great merit based scholarships that can be combined with lesser amounts of talent scholarship (both offer money for theatre/MT as well as for a dance minor). Their “retail” prices are high, but after scholarships they are very competitive with or less than in-state tuition at many public universities.<br>
When developing The List, look at schools with strong BA programs (in addition to or instead of BFA) that offer great academic scholarship especially if money will be a deal breaker even if she gets into a great BFA program.</p>

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<p>USC (Southern California) has some really great merit scholarship possibilities.</p>

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<p>I would look at Ball State as well. Those scores might qualify for a full tuition waiver.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>