<p>My family makes around $30K a year. I live in Texas and would like to major in music. My grades are nothing special compared to the people on this forum. I rank in the top 5% of my high school class. I think my GPA is 3.5 W. I took 4 AP classes, gonna take 2 more my senior year. AP scores: 3, 3, 4, 5. I took the SAT one time and have: 560 M, 570 W, 600 CR.</p>
<p>My question is, should I even bother applying to private schools? I'd like to attend a small, liberal arts school, but I don't know if I'll be able to afford it. Any recommendations are welcome. Thanks!!!</p>
<p>It depends on what kind of liberal arts school you’d like to attend. Aside from the well-known, super prestigious ones, there are tons of strong LA colleges that would not only take someone with your stats, but offer you generous money as well. You just gotta have the patience and acumen to find them.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would save as much as I can for college education.</p>
<p>I don’t know if the no’s are serious are not, but I think you have a good chance. Your grades seem good, maybe take an SAT prep or something to raise it some, also a lot of liberal arts are need blind. The University of North Texas is very cool, private, and artsy if you wanna stay in state, Baylor is kinda too religious for my tastes, UT at Dallas is like the honor college of the UT system so it’s like a private liberal art education at the cost of a public school. I don’t know if you have Project Stay where you’re at but look at that or other places that help you file your financial aid for free. I’m trying to think of all the schools one of my friends was applying to because he was also wanting to do a music major but I can’t remember any schools he applied to out of state if that’s what you want (I could maybe message him if you want, just pm).</p>
<p>EDIT: Oh wait, Occidental (it’s near or in LA and pretty nice), Amherst, and something in Colorado were ones he applied for. He didn’t get Amherst but I don’t think he had stats like you and I know north liberal arts places like people from a different region. Oh, and a lot of the artsy majors at school applied and got into St Johns in NY. Also NYU but that place sucks in financial aid, just sucks so much.</p>
<p>But I do know for a lot of music it helps to have a good variety recording of your stuff and interviews.</p>
<p>My bad. I thought you meant private high school.</p>
<p>Yes, you should definitely apply.</p>
<p>Yes you should. In fact many private schools give great financial aid, and because of that they can be cheaper than many public colleges. So yes, and LACs have a very nurturing environment. Never take out a private cause you think you may not afford it cause they give a lot of money to the students.</p>
<p>^yeah, this is true. Friends that are going to UNT or Amherst generally had an easier time getting full pay. Also, I forgot but do you know about that top 5% in texas scholarship? Just saying because it’ll cover you for UT@Dallas and it’s a good back up. UNT has a really nice honors, Amherst generally covers all need. Someone from my school that went to Oxy got it fully paid. Don’t let the cost stop you, there’s always a way.</p>
<p>Top 5% is 3.5W, ***. Sounds like grade deflation by your AP scores.</p>