Hi all,
I am a senior at a competitive highschool with only honors/AP classes. Problem is, I have horrible grades, due to many reasons such as mental health issues and the fact that I didn’t care about my grades believing I would go to a music school (around a 2.9 UW). Consequently, my grades are extremely low, and my test scores are OK (32 ACT, retaking). The thing I have going for me is that I am a great pianist. My teachers have routinely told me that I can get into Juilliard and similar music schools with my talent (from piano teachers who have taught/gone to Juilliard, Yale, NEC, etc.). Now that’s great and all, but the problem is, I’ve changed my mind extremely late into the game, and want to major in a science. Obviously, this puts me in a terrible situation because I’d been working hard to get accepted into a music school this whole time, and now the value of that work is heavily reduced, if I were to apply as a science major.
Basically, my question is: Can I apply to a top academic school (ivy level or similar) as a music major, get in, then transfer into another science major after some time, and finish within 4 years? My impression is that most music schools/departments don’t care about your academic credentials when applying, which would be a huge plus for me. Would some schools be willing to overlook my GPA in this case? Have you heard of something like what I want to do happen? What are some top schools that this would be possible at?
Extremely unlikely. You would need to change schools within the university which can be very competitive based on grades. The schools that don’t care much about academic credentials are auditioned music programs which make it more difficult. No school will just overlook your GPA if you intend to go into science.
Not sure about the conservatory type schools, the “regular” universities/colleges will still be interested in your GPA because you have to be accepted into the university, then the degree program.
Depending on the school, It is possible as a non-music major, you might get some merit/talent money if you are in an ensemble. You could also look into making some money on the side being an accompanist for music majors during recitals.
"I have horrible grades; 2.9GPA " plus “top academic school (ivy level or similar)” is a no-go.
You can use the Supermatch function on the left side panel but remove “top schools” from your level of expectation. Good thing is your ACT score will give you some more options.
Abandon the “apply to music school, switch to science” strategy and make your best efforts into a school with your GPA and very good scores.
If you’re ok with potentially taking 5 years (and spending a good amount of that time pursuing music) it might give you some other options. Oberlin for instance has a 5 year dual degree program with its conservatory that I think you can apply to after a year or so at the conservatory, but of course this has the risk that you might not get into the program if you don’t absolutely ace that first year or so academically.
Colleges are wise to the game of people applying with one major and then switching. IMO you would have to be academically qualified to have a shot an any non-conservatory based college program so your options will be impacted by your GPA.