@jym626, so you think good grades don’t show that the applicant can “handle the academics”? Do you think test scores are more important as an indicator? Or are you saying that test scores would be used as a “tie breaker”?
I guess I don’t think the combination of his grades, test score and recommendations would indicate a bad student or someone who can’t handle the academics.
FWIW, his top choice schools are mostly conservatories that don’t require test scores. Exception being Thornton.
In my opinion, although others on this board will disagree, the score of 24 is going to be fine for programs that are completely audition based, and for most that consider scores if the student has a great audition. I’m surprised to read this:
It does not reflect my experience with that institution or others that have sometimes have no openings for specific instruments. While they may not be able to give an exact number because some students might drop out (opening a spot) or stay longer, they will generally give you some idea. To do otherwise, if there are really no openings, would put students and families to great expense, sometimes for nothing.
I should have qualified that this was specifically for the jazz department. That department has relatively new leadership in Wynton Marsalis and Aaron Flag.
ScreenName48105, I’m glad you weren’t offended by those comments. I personally was offended. We are here to help people navigate this process. Most of us here have been through it with our own children. We are not here to play internet psychologist and place worry into peoples minds who are trying to travel this sometimes nerve wrecking road. Sorry if I offended anyone.
Just trying to help based on the experience of one of my own children who has a similar “blind spot” which was accommodated rather late in the game, much to her benefit. Not something to worry about but something to keep in mind. As I indicated, that issue is irrelevant to the original post and it looks like the son will do fine with admissions. I hope he lands in a great place: he sounds like a great kid and talented musician.
I am a public school remedial teacher. I have been working hand in hand with special education departments for over 20 years. I have been administering modifications for all of this time and am one of the people responsible for making sure they are carried out according to the law. That is where I am coming from on this subject. It upsets me when people suggest things like modifications in this manner. There is a lot that goes into assigning a learning disability to a child, along with modifications and it’s something I don’t take lightly.
Screenname,
Is your s’s GPA weighted or unweighted? My suggestion re: retaking the ACT, even for a potential music major and if he is considering schools other that julliard or conservatories, is that ACT is a content-knowledge (achievement) based test and some colleges might have concern that these scores are not consistent with his grades.
I think that jym is expressing this better than I did
A person’s working and learning style can be helpful in thinking about strategies for the future, including school and course choices. (Two of my kids have extra time on tests and neither has a learning disability.)
GPA 3.75 is “unweighted” I guess. I’d never even heard of weighted/unweighted until I read about it here. His school calculates GPA pretty much the same way it was calculated when I was in high school, 35+ years ago… 4.0 for an A, 3.0 for a B, plus or minus accounted for by +/- 0.3 points. I don’t believe A+'s are given. He’s a “mostly A’s” student.
Honestly, I’m not worried about suggestions or any insinuations made that my son may have learning issues (or whatever.) It’s the nature of these types of forums that only problems or weaknesses get mentioned and highlighted and, taken out of context, easily blown out of proportion. We knew that his test scores probably wouldn’t be that strong but didn’t make it a priority his junior year (or even earlier.) This thread is really about me, the parent, questioning at the last minute whether we’d dropped the ball on something we should have paid more attention to last year and what, if any, damage control we can/should/need to do.
Also, he’s going into music for a reason and there really isn’t any question about what his major will be. He’s not selecting schools based on any criteria outside of its music school. (Michigan is on the list because we’re residents.)
Will he have prescreen recordings to make? If so, that September/October timeframe could be extra stressful with an additional test. If he doesn’t need to record prescreen videos (or if they are already done), the extra test might be a nice distraction while waiting for prescreen results or auditions.
Yup, lots of them. A big reason why I want to make sure that the it’s actually worthwhile, and being realistic about how much study/prep he’ll have time to do.
That is a tough call! In my experience w/ DS’s auditions, it seems that test scores did help with scholarship $$ at some schools, but had absolutely no impact at others. Is your primary concern w/ admissions or are you considering merit $$ also?
Admissions first. After all, $$ is moot if he doesn’t get in… Certainly don’t want to compromise the quality of the prescreens or auditions by fixating on standardized tests.
