<p>I have finally got my son to start applying. He is very bright but only interested in music hence his grades and standardized test scores are OK but not that great.</p>
<p>He will apply to Berkelee, USC, and possibly some state schools (Miami, Ohio State, Arizona State).</p>
<p>I think he should apply to a few more schools. He had done a summer camp at USC and takes private lessons.</p>
<p>I would like him to apply to a few more places, both schools of music and LAC's with music programs. </p>
<p>Last year my S only wanted to apply to schools with programs in contemporary music (pop/rock, etc.) There are so few to chose from compared to the traditional classical programs. I know there are a few threads out there discussing them so you may want to do a search. In addition to USC and Berklee, I would take a look at U. of Miami (Frost School of Music). My S only applied to 4 schools and is now a freshman at Thornton School of Music (USC) in LA and is in their Pop Program. It is amazing! The deadlines for prescreens is fast approaching, most I believe have a Dec. 1 deadline so you don’t have much time. Good luck!</p>
<p>A friend of mine I work with is a musician (programmer as his main living), his younger sibling just graduated from Frost (U Miami) on guitar and loved the program there, plus he said being in Miami gave him opportunities to do Gigs and network with other musicians that has helped him even up here in NYC.</p>
<p>Search this board for guitar related threads and you will find a wealth of information! There are lots of schools that might fit the bill. Best of luck in this process!</p>
<p>idahomom, just to make sure you know: USC has slightly relaxed grade/stat standards for musicians they really want. There is no official minimum, but Thornton “works” with Admissions to get a student who really shines in their audition. Miami already has lower GPA/SAT averages than USC and may be the same way with the audition vs. grades scale.</p>
<p>Just so you know, University of Miami is not a state school. Also, they require a pre-screening video before they will invote you for an audition. My recollection is that last year, this was due on December 1. If he wants to apply there, he needs to get cracking.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your advice. My sons GPA is 3.2 Unweighted and 3.9 weighted. His ACT is 29. How that play in the admissions process?. Is USC even an option with that GPA assuming auditions are good?</p>
<p>First of all, ACT scores are like Greek to me. I have no idea what a 29 translates to in a similar SAT. </p>
<p>That aside, a 3.2 UW is a tough admit for USC, even with an audition/portfolio-based major, but like I said, if he is at the very top of the audition list (assuming he gets an audition and performs at the top of the “list”), it may indeed be <em>possible</em> at USC. So it’s not impossible and certainly worth trying. In past years, the unspoken minimum was around a 3.5UW, but again, the better the audition, the more Thornton will “fight” for a musician in the admissions process.</p>
<p>I would assume he is in better shape at Miami, since it’s academically a tad lower in terms of selectivity.</p>
<p>As others have suggested, Belmont and U of Denver are good alternatives. Berklee college of Music might be as well, unless he wants more of a “well rounded” school experience.</p>
<p>FYI, my son is jazz-trained guitarist who plays popular/rock music as well. (He also applied to many of the schools you are looking at.) He entered USC as a studio/jazz guitar major but almost immediately switched into Popular Music. For him, it was a great decision.</p>
<p>Any opinions on Cornish College of the Arts. How selective is it for the arts. Also how selective is University of Puget Sound as far as music is concerned.</p>
<p>Puget Sound is a great school, but the music department is primarily classical with some jazz and no rock/contemporary. The school itself is selective. Your son’s stats would be in the ballpark for them.</p>
<p>Also consider Capital U’s conservatory (about 20 mins from Ohio State in Bexley, basically Columbus). For a jazz/rock guitarist there’s the Jazz program or the Music Tech BM. S chose it last year (Music Tech/bass) and loves it, it also gave him the most $. He was a low B student in HS with an ACT of 28.</p>
<p>From what I have heard through my son and his friends (several of whom applied to Cornish in other areas), Cornish does not have a rock program and the its jazz program is more trad. jazz based with little jazz guitar.</p>
<p>Someone else mentioned University of the Arts in Philly. That would be worth a look. Several students from my son’s performing arts HS have gone there.</p>
<p>inchies, I’m not sure who you are addressing, but Belmont would seem a logical fourth choice given your post heading and the other schools you list.</p>