I will be applying to the University of Michigan School of Music Theatre and Dance as an instrumental music education major with my primary instrument as horn. My current SAT score is 1290. Last year, the average SAT score was 1320 for SMTD accepted students. I tried to take the test this weekend but know that I did horribly worse. Should I take advantage of the test flexible policy and submit no score? I have reached out to SMTD to see if they can tell me what the 25th and 75th percentiles were but they didn’t have any more data. Here is a little bit about me:
-I am white female from Long Island, New York
-Weighted GPA: 96.00
-Rank 40/341
-9 AP classes (1 exam failed I will not send, 4 exams passed, 3 I have yet to take)
-Lots of music related extracurriculars involving various music groups instrumental and vocal.
-Highest music related achievement is that I was admitted as a member of the All-State Band.
Even a 1320 is fairly low nowadays. That’s around the 78th percentile. Are you an exceptional instrumentalist? On what instrument? Coloratura Soprano to C6?
Before you spend 6-figures on a college degree, you need to honestly assess your strengths and weaknesses.
I am comparing my score to the average score for my intended field of study at the school, which is a 1320. Whether that is low or high, depends on who you ask but it is at about the 88th percentile according to PrepScholar. I’m not sure how much of question you read, but I did state that my instrument is the horn and I am currently a member of the New York All-State Symphonic Band.
I’m not quite too sure why you are suggesting that I need to assess my strengths and weaknesses. I am aware that the SAT score is on the weaker side, hence why I am posting this question.
If your test score is below the median - or the mid-point of the 25th and 75th percentile scores as a proxy - then it is probably best to apply test optional.
The average score for the school I am applying for is 1320 and currently my score is 30 points below the average. I reached out to the school but they didn’t have data for the 25th percentile so I’m not really sure if I’m above or below that.
Do you feel like your score strengthens your application, or not? That’s the real question. IMO It’s probably unlikely that a below average score strengthens your app.
My rule of thumb: If the rest of your application is exceptional (GPA, coursework, ECs), submit your SAT/ACT if it is at the college’s 25% percentile or higher. If your application is just average (or below), only submit scores if they are higher than the median/mean. Just my two cents.
Test scores for UMich SMTD applicants, similar to STAMPS, Kinesiology and/or Nursing, tend to be towards the lower end of the test score spectrum in each UMich applicant class.
You shouldn’t try to compare test scores from these schools to LSA or CoE.
Unfortunately, I have little to no data from CC here, since the SMTD applicants and STAMPS applicants typically don’t post their stats on the accepted threads.
However, I can give you ONE example of an accepted applicant to SMTD from the last cycle, Page 28, Post #549 of the Class of 2024 EA thread here on CC:
This was the first EA acceptance posted for the entire UMich Class of 2024 thread.
To the @taylkelly I think I’d lean towards submitting it. Why? You’re right. You’re only 30 points below the 50% percentile for SMTD students and there are plenty of applicants to other schools, like CoE and LSA, who have been accepted with scores just below the 50% percentile.
Also, uwGPA and course rigor are considered “most important” per the UMich CDS. Test scores are just considered “important,” and likely even less so in this application cycle due to the pandemic.
That’s just one opinion from a stranger on the Internet.
I reached out to the school to see if I would be able to submit a December score (deadline for SMTD is Dec 1) and they told me that I should submit an PSAT score or AP score if possible and I could then send then my December SAT score to be reviewed. I told this to my counselor and she thought I should just submit the score I have. If I were to take the SAT next month I would have to make travel pans to take it out of state as all sites in my area have already been filled.
I reached out to the school to see if I would be able to submit a December score (deadline for SMTD is Dec 1) and they told me that I should submit an PSAT score or AP score if possible and I could then send then my December SAT score to be reviewed. I told this to my counselor and she thought I should just submit the score I have. If I were to take the SAT next month I would have to make travel pans to take it out of state as all sites in my area have already been filled.
Thank you for your recommendation! I will definitely be checking that thread out! It is usually pretty hard for me to find info on SMTD student profiles so thank you for that resource!
I would also submit the score if your profile from there is good and it is. Also the score isn’t getting you in to play the horn at Michigan. Either you have the talent or not to compete. Many art /music/performance /dance students don’t have the strongest scores. Most engineering students don’t do well on the English /writing for these exams. The colleges know this. Your Sat score won’t be the reason you don’t get in. AP scores of 4 /5 would be a strong plus.
Thank you, I think I am going to submit my scores. I agree that I might be better off spending the little time I have left practicing for my auditions rather than studying to get 30 extra points considering I don’t know if it will make a difference in the big picture.
