<p>Student info:
Fall 2011 Freshman applicant
American female with Armenian heritage
Very experienced and skilled musician (soprano with contemporary alto belt)
Parents are successful business people who graduated from VA universities</p>
<p>Academics:
3.5 UW GPA
4.15 W GPA
Midyear report better than cumulative GPA
Specialty Center for the Arts (Musical Theatre level IV)
1360 comp SAT
2000 total SAT
Perfect scores on 3 high school VA Standards of Learning tests
4 science credits (2 honors)
5 math credits (4 honors)
4 English credits (2 honors, 2 AP)
4 history credits (4 honors)
3 Spanish credits (up to Spanish 4, 1 honors)
8 Musical Theatre credits (4 honors)
1 Music Theory credit (AP)
1 stage band credit
1 psychology credit</p>
<p>Music Credentials:
-principal role in school musical senior year
-was vocalist, songwriter, and assistant audio engineer in recording project with guitarist whose band sold 6 million albums and won an AMA
-lead vocalist for school's R&B stage band (awarded for performance)
-4-year study in school district's audition-only Center for the Arts program (Musical Theatre; participation in biannual center showcases)
-very strong in music theory
-featured singer/dancer in annual Armenian festival
-over 10 solos in 3 high school years of choir (including tours in Tennessee & China)
-experience singing in over 25 different languages
-also proficient at piano, guitar, bass guitar, & various ethnic instruments
-2 years of private voice/theory lessons
-monetary award for VA music teachers association theory test and audition
-lead vocalist & songwriter for 3 rock bands
-co-taught and conducted 70 music camp students abroad</p>
<p>Other ECs:
Shakespeare youth troupe
Summer work as a receptionist</p>
<p>Applied to:
University of Southern California - Popular Music
University of Southern California - Music Industry/Jazz
University of Miami - Music Business (creative American singer/songwriter minor)
University of Miami - Jazz
Berklee College of Music - Contemporary Writing and Production/Performance (rock/jazz/r&b)
The New School - Jazz/The Arts (BA/BFA 5-year program)
New York University - Recorded Music (performer entrepreneurship)</p>
<p>I know that my auditions are a huge part of admissions decisions, but I passed all my prescreens and I think I did well in each audition.</p>
<p>I don’t know how your chance is to get into USC and NYU, but it is reach-able. University of Miami looks like a relatively good match, the New School seems like a possibility, although your unweighted GPA may or may not hinder you, and since Berklee doesn’t look at GPA, it’s hard to estimate. Your music credentials look good (I’m not a very good judge though), so you might have the most luck at a music-focused school. Because you’re applying for a music major, the New School and the Berklee College of Music are really good bets.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input. I doubt the New School will dislike my GPA; their prestige lies within their music and design curricula, so in the liberal arts realm of things I’m surely above average for admitted students. Other than that, you seem to have a lot of the same thoughts I do. Glad for the reassurance, but still definitely looking for more chancers, so keep 'em coming!!!</p>
<p>I heard if you did really well on your auditions, then you are basically in. usually the music dept. will try their best to convince the academic dept. to let you in. but it probably works differently for different schools.</p>
<p>Wow meteman, you didn’t have to go so far as to sugar-coat everything! I wish you’d be more matter-of-fact and slightly pessimistic!</p>
<p>Do you know very many music majors? The thing with us is that we put a whole ton of effort into our ECs because they’re more geared toward our desired career than, say, science classes. Many music schools even have essay prompts about the difficulties of balancing schoolwork and musicianship, because it is such a large thing to consider when admitting music students. If I wanted to study law or engineering or something, yes, my grades and SAT are on the low side for schools of this level. However, they usually cut the music majors some slack because they have had to put so much effort into out-of-school endeavors up until this point. </p>
<p>I’m not trying to defend myself because I’m certain that there are always a few superhuman kids out there who go into Julliard-level schools with nearly a perfect GPA, but they’re the outliers. I’m just saying that you may be misinformed in regard to what’s considered competitive for an aspiring music major. </p>
<p>Others may feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. I realize that NYU and USC are more of reach schools than the rest of them academically, but I really don’t consider my GPA and test scores to be “low” and “not good,” especially considering my intended major.</p>
<p>Well, music is a pretty special class in itself, so GPA might be somewhat secondary. I agree; if you do really well on an audition, you probably will have a good chance, even with a lower GPA.</p>
<p>I think you have a good shot at all. My d got into USC popular music with similar stats-slightly higher SAT scores. If the program wants you, they work with the admissions committee. Most impt are the live audition and music chops. She also got into Berklee and UCLA ethnomusicology, but not into NYU -she didn’t have any audio experience. Good luck- only about a month to go before you find out! USC’s popular music is an incredible program.</p>
<p>Are you kidding me? What low GPA? I see a 3.5… outstanding for a music major… and quite frankly great for anyone. I’ve seen people get into USC with less. Your GPA is perfectly fine, and combined with your extensive music background, in my opinion you look like a shoe in… Honors student…Lead singer… Recording artist… I thought you were joking or trying to rub it in someones face… I feel like this site is dedicated to worry-some overachievers… you’ll be fine… Have you heard back yet??</p>
<p>27dreams, you should add me on Facebook; I’m looking into both USC and Miami as well. =D</p>
<p>I applied to USC with a 1880 cumulative on the SAT, a 30 on the ACT, and a 3.83 unweighted (like 3.9 weighted) GPA, and I received a Presidential Scholarship. I’ll be frank; I was competing the stereotypical asian megamind crowd with merit scholars and well-above 4.0-GPAs. The reason I got it? Audition and musical experience.</p>
<p>The biggest factor in getting admission and scholarships to these music universities is how well your audition goes or how much your talent appeals to that university; the grades and test scores just help your case. You look like a great contender so I wouldn’t worry at all. Best of luck and maybe I’ll see you in the fall! =)</p>