Hi,
My dream is to study Dramatic Writing at NYU’s Tisch School of Arts. Though my GPA is sadly low (3.1) and my SAT scores are fine (1360), I still have fairly strong extra-curriculars and awards –
Awards:
Screenwriting:
Award of Merit for Scriptwriting from Webster University’s School of Communications
Finalist in Moondance International Film Festival’s 18 & Under Screenplay Competition
2x Semi-Finalist in Nashville Film Festival’s Young Screenwriter Competition
5x Winner of West Orange High School’s Screenwriters Society Competition
Playwriting:
Selected by Midtown International Theatre Festival, Production at The Jewel Box Theater, New York, NY
1st Place in Prescott Center for the Arts Young Playwrights Festival
3rd Prize in The Theater Project’s Young Playwrights Competition, Production at Cranford Community Center, Cranford, NJ
Top Finalist/Guest Playwright in Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Young Playwrights Festival
Semi-Finalist in Blank Theatre’s Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival
Also, I’m co-president of my high school’s Screenwriters’ Society. If I pair these honors with a strong essay and portfolio, will my GPA still weigh me down?
Thanks.
Simple Answer: Yes
Long answer:
While I am not a current student nor faculty member, I have attended Tisch’s summer program for Drama and heard directly from the head of Tisch admissions regarding what they look for. In general, schools cannot “teach” a student to be smart/how to learn (learning/studying is more intuitive); therefore, these quality schools across America look for students who display the academic potential to be successful during crunch time (finals and other key weeks) while taking on intense degree programs. While those honors are awesome and the commitment seems present, your GPA is low. For NYU, the average GPA is somewhere between 3.5-4.0. Your SAT score is right around NYU’s average SAT (1365). If you could throw in some APs (preferably not Language or Literature (you obviously can write)), you can definitely demonstrate your potential better. If you can break 1400 on the SAT, that boost would help. Also, if the low GPA is due to a serious problem you have faced, make that problem your personal statement or use the “Additional Information” section on the Common Application (or whatever application you use) to explain your situation. In addition, if you can attend NYU’s summer program for Dramatic Writing, that attendance would help your chances (NYU has noted that students who attend their summer program have an edge in the admissions process (because NYU has a record of that student and his/her work at NYU)). Admittance to NYU is definitely not impossible for you with such great accolades; however, GPA will weigh down your application, especially if no particular reason is given for the subpar academics. Really take the rest of your high school career to change your academic profile (if possible). You can do it!