<p>I am a junior really starting to look at schools! I am having trouble with finding safeties because I only have average grades and scores so I don't know what is safe! I will study music performance and most of the schools I've talked to so far say that if my grades aren't the best, and I audition well, they might fight for me. They say they do it for students often. These are my stats</p>
<p>GPA: 3.5 unweighted (I saw a downward trend junior year because of depression, and now I'm getting help, but I won't be able to get back to my mostly A and B grades in every single class. I'll have at least one C. I had three last semester.) </p>
<p>SAT Writing: 750
SAT Reading: 650
SAT Math: 600
(I plan on taking the SAT two more times and I want to get every sub-score over 700. This was my first test, with no prep.) </p>
<p>ECs: Classical voice (primary), classical piano, Girl Scouts, Key club, dance. My music takes up most of my time. </p>
<p>These schools are already on my list (not including music conservatories):</p>
<p>Arizona State University
Boston University
University of Maryland
University of Michigan
Southern Methodist University
University of Texas - Austin
Lawrence University
Oberlin
Baldwin-Wallace
University of Wisconsin
University of Southern California
McGill University
University of Toronto
University of British Columbia </p>
<p>What are the safeties, matches, and reaches? What schools can I add to my list as safeties and matches?</p>
<p>Cost constraints? If you need significant financial aid, you may want to look mainly to your in-state public universities and community colleges for safeties, plus big-merit-for-stats schools like University of Alabama campuses in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Huntsville.</p>
<p>I don’t have any cost constraints. My family doesn’t want me to go to an expensive out of state school (other than the ones with prestigious music programs) because of value, but they would pay high tuition if I could justify it. No problem. </p>
<p>I am looking at one state school, NOT the flagship. My state has lots of rural universities and I want to be in a city, so I’m not interested in most. I didn’t put that school on my list because it gives away my location…</p>
<p>I do not want to go to Alabama or any place of that nature - the historically racist south. </p>
<p>I absolutely will not apply to or attend community college. I would rather not go at all so don’t suggest that.</p>
<p>This is purely based on your stats since you did not post extracurrelciurs, awards, hooks, or anything of that nature </p>
<p>Arizona State University - safety
Boston University - match
University of Maryland - IDK
University of Michigan - reach
Southern Methodist University - match
University of Texas - Austin - reach
Lawrence University - match
Oberlin - reach
Baldwin-Wallace - safety
University of Wisconsin - reach
University of Southern California - reach
McGill University - IDK
University of Toronto - IDK
University of British Columbia - IDK</p>
<p>If you are picky, you may not be able to find any safeties among four year schools at all. If that is the case, then your default safety is community college.</p>
<p>Remember I am applying to school for music performance, a conservatory degree. You cannot get such a degree at community college and you cannot transfer community colege credits to good music schools. I do not plan on having issues auditioning. Schools I have talked to (UT-Austin for example), say they can appeal for students if the university rejects them. My SAT scores are above their average of about 1820, also. I should get over a 2100.</p>
<p>I did post ECs but I dont have several because I spend most of my time with music. I will take 5 APs by the time high school finishes. I had mostly all As for my first three semesters of high school. Then I got a few Bs at the end of last year, and Cs first semester this year, but I transferred schools and also have had mental health problems.</p>
<p>I have over ten awards all in singing. I also have some for public speaking.</p>
<p>I find ucbalumnas very rude. I would not be happy in the deep south with the exception of Texas because I’ve spent lots of time there. I have a 3.5, not a 2.5! I am African-American, and from the north. Alabama doesn’t have well known music programs.</p>
<p>People on CC can be so negative. It seems to me you have great stats and a serious talent. If you can apply ED of course your chances anywhere will improve. Also doesn’t u of Rochester have a great music program?</p>
<p>LalaLovely – have you posted question on the Music major forum? What do your music teachers say in terms of music schools? It can be VERY difficult for music majors to find a non-auditioned/ academic/ financial safety school with a strong music program. Those on the music majors forum may be able to make some suggestions.</p>
<p>Have you been able to do any summer programs or participate in competitions that draw from a more national pool? People you have met through those opportunities may have suggestions as well.</p>
<p>The music school admission piece at many of the schools on your list will make it hard to estimate match/ reach. NO auditioned program can be considered a safety, because it is subjective, and is also dependent upon the particular needs of a program and the auditioning pool in a given year.</p>
<p>I am not familiar with the music programs at all of the schools on your list, but it is my understanding that the music school admission piece is highly competitive at Arizona State University, Boston University, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, Oberlin, Baldwin-Wallace… This is not to say they are not at the other schools, I am just less familiar. </p>
<p>You say you are in the north. where? I am pretty familiar with northern schools. But, like I said earlier… the Music Majors forum may be your best bet.</p>
<p>ucbalumnus isn’t being rude. He/she is being realistic. Too many threads appear here on April 1 with titles like “Didn’t get in anywhere I can afford” or “Didn’t get in anywhere I like”. Don’t set yourself up to be one of those people this time next year! The only places that guarantee admission to anyone with a high school diploma are the community colleges. Unless you identify a college or university that publishes right on its website the minimum GPA and/or exam scores that guarantee admissions, and you know that you meet or exceed those minimums, everywhere that you apply other than a community college is a place that can reject your application.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the help! I do lurk on the music forum, but I wanted to ask here where I might match for academics only because I want to make sure I don’t apply to too many schools where my stats might definitely get me rejected. </p>
<p>My music teachers don’t think I’ll have any trouble auditioning. I’ve done well at multiple summer programs. </p>
<p>Sorry, ucbalumnus. I did outline my goals, and CC has nothing to do with them, and I felt like you were telling me I would go to CC if I didn’t settle for a school in Alabama, which I don’t want. I don’t think I’m TOO picky with schools.</p>
<p>I visited UNT and I did not like the school. I thought it might fit well academically, but I was turned off by the school. I did not include the conservatories I’ll apply to in this list, as I said in my original post. (Eastman w/ U of Rochester, for example). </p>
<p>Columbia College Chicago doesn’t have an opera program, although it would be academically safe. I have a friend that went there and hated it. </p>
<p>I am only applying to audition schools. Probably 12-15. I’m confident I’ll get in to a few. I fear non-audition programs will be too low quality. I’ll ask in music if there are any good non-audition programs. </p>
<p>University of Central OK for opera, but as was mentioned earlier, if you really want to get into a conservatory your GPA/stats are secondary to your audition.</p>
<p>Agree with Erin’s dad and others re the audition and that is why I would add Northwestern and Johns Hopkins to your list. Both have excellent conservatories, as well as great overall academic programs. </p>
<p>As for your academic merits, do not sell yourself short. If anything, I think you have too many safeties on your list (one or two are fine, but you do not need 10 safeties). Assuming you are taking a challenging curriculum, a 3.5 unweighted GPA is not that bad and a beautiful voice can make up for a few B’s and a C. Also, you are off to a promising start on the SATs. My son took it twice, first in the 1870 range and bumped it up to 2130 the next try. You already have a terrific writing score and a decent reading score and with study I would be surprised if you did not bump up the math by a fair amount.</p>
<p>There are other fine privates in California also, but their merit-aid may not be as great. Sounds like you might do well in a smaller class rather than a larger class environment. Good luck in your search!</p>