<p>Another vote for Case Western. The music lessons (and some classes) are at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Plus, opportunities to play in ensembles and take master classes with the CIM students.</p>
<p>Another vote for Lawrence. It really is a good school for physics and the conservatory is open to non majors. We really liked the vibe on the campus as well. </p>
<p>They have a Physics weekend for admitted students in April. I know it came right before the FA awards.</p>
<p>Though both would be reaches, I’d take a look at Bowdoin and Wesleyan, if you are interested in small colleges. They each have excellent science facilities and get good marks for their music programs.</p>
<p>Have him take a practice SAT/ACT from one of the books you can buy online to get a ballpark of his score–or what did he get on his PSAT? Knowing that score will give you better ideas. A B+ student could be a bubble student for many of the school suggested with lower test scores but a pretty qualified student with good test scores.</p>
<p>Not in the Northeast, but if looking at Oberlin or Case, check out Kenyon College. They have specific merit scholarships and music scholarships as well.</p>
<p>Also, Bard College in New York is strengthening its focus on sciences and offers merit awards for students in that field. They have beautiful performance facilities.</p>
<p>Can’t believe I left out Skidmore. Their apps just took an astonishing percentage jump this year and I think it’s because a lot of students have found strength in the sciences and music there.</p>
<p>Hi all,
I haven’t posted in a while. Son got his SAT scores back & they weren’t so good: 540 in writing, 600 in math & 800 in reading. His PSAT’s were much better, a 221. He is slow at test taking & didn’t finish the math section or the writing section (only wrote 2 paragraphs of the 5). I have suggested that he look at schools that don’t require SATs. Any other suggestions?</p>
<p>I would recommend looking into some test prep tutoring. There is always the Princeton Review, but there may be less expensive alternatives in your community. I think 1:1 tutoring is most effective–zeroing in on test strategies and areas of personal weakness.</p>
<p>The real question is whether he wants to major in music as well or just have the opportunity to take some classes and perform in bands/orchestras. Or likes to go see live performances, in which case location might be a factor.</p>
<p>BTG: at this point he is saying he just wants to have an opportunity to play. I think he is pretty realistic re how difficult it is to pursue a career in music. He does play at least an hour a day and spends a lot of time listening to music. His friends at school are all into music too, so I know it is important to him.</p>
<p>NWMom2: I think the SAT prep is a good idea. I don’t think his scores reflect his ability. He has always gotten A+'s in math so far. He just has a slow processing speed & that hurt him on the SAT’s.</p>
<p>If he can get the test scores up, Case Western would be worth a look. If he becomes interested in Case, I would recommend visiting (if possible) to show interest and applying EA.</p>
<p>He might want to try the ACT too - though some say being speedy is important there, I think there are fewer trick questions in the math.</p>
<p>That 800 in CR is great though, my younger son I think was helped by a 790 in CR even though both writing and math stayed stubbornly just below 700. He also had a math teacher write a recommendation that talked about how he wasn’t quick in math, but had the best understanding of math of anyone in his class despite the B+ he ended up with. I have to think that helped some readers look at the SAT math score in a different light. He was taking BC Calc senior year and doing fine as well.</p>
<p>The 800 CR is great, and would help him at a lot of schools. I would’t worry much about the writing, but if he can do test prep and get his math score up significantly I think it would be a great help to him. It seems likely that he doesn’t have any problem with the concepts, so the kind of prep book that deals with “cracking the SAT” could really help him move through the section more quickly.</p>
<p>A recommendation from a math teacher who thinks highly of him could really help, also. He could discuss with the teacher the fact that he got a low (for him) math score and is worried about it.</p>
<p>Those SAT scores are a radical departure from the PSAT. Are you sure you have those numbers right? If so, he could be in the running for NMSF. If he gets his SATs ~2000 he should make NMF with some very good scholarships available.</p>
<p>Bowdoin College is test optional and has wonderful music and science. Also, look the University of Indiana and ASU Barrett.</p>
<p>Check out WPI which is the only test-optional engineering school. For a school its size the music and drama programs are very good and very popular…
[Humanities</a> and Arts: Student Ensembles - WPI](<a href=“http://www.wpi.edu/academics/hua/student-ensembles.html]Humanities”>http://www.wpi.edu/academics/hua/student-ensembles.html)
[Music</a>, Nature & Life in Balance - WPI](<a href=“http://www.wpi.edu/about/balance.html]Music”>http://www.wpi.edu/about/balance.html)</p>
<p>OP, have you thought about trying to get accommodations for your son? That 800 is terrific and I bet, with more time, he could get a much high math score, one that’s similar to PSAT (which is terrific, btw).</p>
<p>My son has accommodations and it helped get him a good SAT score for a first attempt (2090 with a 730 in CR and 690 in M). He also has slower processing speed but his accommodations are for vision disability and diabetes.</p>
<p>I’m not convinced that a kid with an 800 CR score should go test-optional. A 600 in Math is probably well below his capabilities, but it isn’t THAT bad. I would definitely go with prep aimed at test-taking strategy followed by a retake, but seems to me that explanatory recs from GC and teachers might yield a better result.</p>
<p>Of course, he could do both: apply to some test-optional schools and some not.</p>
<p>St. Olaf, although it is in Midwest, not NE.</p>
<p>Hi folks,
Thanks for your input. Our son is meeting today with someone to help with SAT prep. The tutor said that we can get a copy of his test & to see what he had trouble with. You can buy it from College Board apparently, takes 6 weeks to come in though. Our son is wondering if he got off by one on the answer sheet. He is mystified by his writing score as he thought the test was easy. Anyone know about this Q/A sheet?</p>