<p>Hi everyone, some of the schools I'm applying to are: Rice, Northwestern, Tufts, Cornell, Brown, Columbia, Michigan, and Swarthmore (among others). I am applying with a somewhat unique situation... My grades are not great, but I have very many things going for me other than the grades.</p>
<p>First off, my GPA is around a 3.4 (unweighted) taking all the hardest courses offered at my school. I know this is not high enough to normally be in the running for any of these schools. However, I am applying as a music major, and am high-conservatory level (potentially Curtis, Juilliard, etc.) in both composition and piano (I just finished learning Rach 3, to give any people that know about piano a gauge of my level). I am also very interested in maybe doing a dual major in composition and creative writing (or English), and just recently had a magazine article published. My essays should all be very good.</p>
<p>My SAT score is a 2180 (800 in reading, 660 in math, 720 in writing). I have a lot of extra-curriculars (several sports, volunteer piano teaching at a low-income daycare center, and several other things). I have top recomendations from teachers, councelors, and a psychologist (for reasons somewhat hard to explain).</p>
<p>So, with all this being said, will the colleges potentially look past the one stumbling block of decent but not great grades and look at everything else I have to offer?</p>
<p>You should probably look at the Common Data Sets for the schools you are considering. Specifically Question C-11. (Some of your schools may not release the common data set or may not provide this information). </p>
<p>To take one of your schools – Michigan, Approximately 90% of their enrolled students had a GPA of 3.5 or higher. The remaining 10% is probably made up of special cases, alums, athletes, URM’s, etc. However, it is 10% of the student body, so people with your GPA are admitted. Whether your talents, SAT-CR etc are sufficient to give you a realistic shot is something you should discuss with your GC.</p>
<p>You should apply to USC as well, which has the well respected Thorton school of Music. Your GPA will keep you out of most of the U’s on your list. You have a good chance at USC because of your SAT’s and EC’s. You will need to send in an audition tape to USC, if you cant audition in person.</p>
<p>i would say check **************, but i dont think that works anymore. they tracked unofficial, but exacting and fascinating records of all sorts of info, and the corresponding admissions decisions. for a personal opinion, id say that as far as music school goes, theyll probably be more worried about your talent and attitude than anything else, so ace the interview/audition, if you get one, and youll be fine.</p>
<p>keep in mind, though, that music conservatories (the elite ones, at least) are renowned for having the most competitive admissions of any schools, especially michigan/juilliard, etc, so if you dont get in, dont blame your gpa, blame the equally well qualified sea of applicants.</p>
<p>I don’t really want to go to a school so far away (I live in WV, if that helps with admissions too) and am mostly looking at east coast schools, so I don’t think I want to apply to USC. John Hopkins/Peabody is a good choice, and will add to the list if I have time to apply (I currently have 13 schools on my list to increase my chances… The schools are: Rice, Northwestern, Cornell, Brown, Columbia, Swarthmore, Tufts, Curtis, Juilliard, Michigan, Oberlin, and Skidmore, and I am going to add 1 or 2 safety schools.)</p>