<p>My son is looking for a college/conservatory that would allow him to do both. He loves composing and drama. His grades are not that great - 2.98 gpa but he is taking honors classes. Most of his time is spent on music and drama. We would also need financial aid. Any suggestions? We already know schools like Carnegie are out of the question because of grades.</p>
<p>Try College of Santa Fe.
<a href="http://www.csf.edu/csf/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.csf.edu/csf/index.html</a></p>
<p>I am not sure, but I think that I have read posts that suggest that outstanding theater applicants without great HS stats. still have a shot at CMU. I asked a faculty friend of mine who teaches acting how GPA and SAts are weighted in some theater programs. The comment; they may be treated like excellent athletes. I know that CMU lowers its criteria in recruiting athletes. There are, of course exceptions and, given equal aptitude for theater, the applicant with better stats will get the nod, but, assuming the athlete analogy, it would surprise many how low HS GPA and SAT scores can go. My son is now looking at BFA programs, but until his injury last Fall, he was being approached by some top-tier LACs for football - he is a B student and does not do well on aptitude (SAT) tests.</p>
<p>I aggree, when it is a talent based audition program grades, test scores and letters of recomendation are not that important. In fact at some places have no importance unless you are failing. Briansteffy's athlete analogy is right on the mark. If CMU theater wanted your child a 2.98 would not likely kill the deal. An acting teacher at NCSA offered to write my D a letter of recomendation and then said, "but they really dont matter because its all about the audition".</p>
<p>Look at Baldwin-Wallace. You should be fine with getting into the College.</p>
<p>My daughter has a GPA of 3.4 at a very competitive high school and did not get in academically to Baldwin Wallace. Her SAT and ACT scores were low, as she has always done poorly on "timed" testing. She was called and notified the week before her audition (after our flight arrangements had been made) there was no need for her to attend the audition because she didn't get in academically. Then she received a letter saying they would reconsider her academically and inviting her to go ahead and audition. By then, we had canceled our flight reservations and decided it probably wasn't the school for her. I understand they had a good number of kids auditioning this year, so maybe they were a little stricter with the academic requirements.</p>
<p>what date was your D supposed to audition on? I do for a fact that the school had to turn down auditioners on the final day because over 60 kids had requested that audition day. There was no way that we were going to be able to take over 50. I think that is probably what happened. I'm sorry that that happened to your D. This year the amount of auditioners did go up and that was the first time we had to cut on academics. I know people here who did just ok in HS so my advice to hcpss' (or anyone whos grades are iffy) son if he does choose to audition here, have him audition earlier in the season. The last audition day is always our fullest.</p>
<p>24% in top 10th of graduating class
55% in top quarter of graduating class
85% in top half of graduating class
34% had h.s. GPA of 3.75 and higher
22% had h.s. GPA between 3.5 and 3.74
16% had h.s. GPA between 3.25 and 3.49
11% had h.s. GPA between 3.0 and 3.24
15% had h.s. GPA between 2.5 and 2.99
2% had h.s. GPA between 2.0 and 2.49</p>
<p>Thats the breakdown I got from Collegeboard.com for reference</p>
<p>If your child has both an interst in Musical Theatre and Composing he may want to look at a smaller college with a department of music and theatre... I am not sure where you live, but I would suggest looking at the music and theatre programs at Plymouth State University in NH... it is a department of Music, Theatre and Dance where some students choose to double major in both theatre and music... they have a musical theatre option in the theatre major and composition in the music major. Because its all one department and the students are very active.... music students involved in theatre and dance (and, obviously, music)... theatre students in small choirs, a capella groups, (and obviously theatre)... he may find the opportunities he is look for.</p>
<p>As far as CMU goes... the above posters are correct that if he is accepted to the theatre program, his grades may not matter... however, he conservatory programs at CMU may not encourage his cross interests in MT and composition.</p>
<p>I also forgot to mention that at BW if you have an interest in composition it is highly encouraged. There is a Soph MT who does both and has composed many things that many of the MTs have performed.</p>
<p>Well, I am somewhat more optimistic after reading your comments. I had pretty much thought we might as well give up. Maybe there is hope after all. Thank you all for your advice!</p>