Am I setting myself up for disappointment?

Chance Me / Match Me
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<p>U of R does have an affiliation with Eastman, so that might be worth looking into.</p>

<p>Since many of the schools you are looking at are so competitve, you may wish to view the results of your ACT and SAT retakes before you send them to colleges. If the results are comparable, send both. If one is noticably stronger, send it only. You can do score choice on the ACT so if you nail it next time around you can hide the 29.</p>

<p>Adding Lawrence to your list would give you another strong match. Your list isnt’ exactly top-heavy, but many of the schools are selective and that makes the whole thing a little more problematic. Your GC or CC may have a gray book or scattergrams of admissions from your HS at various levels of SAT and GPA. When you compare your stats with these, consider your CR + M. It is not entirely obvious how the writing portion will be viewed, and your excellent writing score may not, unfortunately, be counted as 1/3 of the SAT at all schools.</p>

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<p>Because we do not know your musical ability, we cannot predict how you will be viewed at the schools with conservatories. These are especially competitive and difficult to get into, and don’t rely on test scores or GPA. From the awards you have received, it seems that you might be competitive, but it’s all about the auditions. My D is pursuing a double major in physics and vocal performance so I know a great deal about these programs.</p>

<p>A double major at Northwestern and at U of Mich requires that you be accepted into BOTH the music school (by audition) and the college. At both schools, a double major in music and a non-music field generally requires at least 5 years and you get one degree. Your scores/GPA are competitive for the school of L,S, & A at UMich, but a bit low for Northwestern. Oberlin has a combined 5 year program which awards a BA from the college and a BM from the conservatory. It is VERY competitive (your GPA and test scores are currently at the very low end of the ballpark) and accepts only 25 students per year. Most of these students DROP the BA program at the end of the freshman year and pursue only the BM because it is too rigorous. I say this not to discourage you from applying, but so that you understand exactly what you are applying for.</p>

<p>Your GPA and test scores are in the lower range for Northwestern (the college…admission to the music school is by audition), Kenyon, and are low for Oberlin College. They are too low for Chicago unless you have a hook other than being a legacy. If you can bring these up, it will help you for these colleges. You are more in the range for Barnard but should visit there if you have not done so. It is very urban. Why is Kenyon in your list? It frankly doesn’t fit for someone interested in vocal performance. I agree that you should closely look at Lawrence U in Appleton, WI. They have a combined liberal arts college/conservatory which awards a 5 yr BA/BM degree and offers merit money for students with your qualifications. Also, OSU has a great music school and you can find a good education in other fields, but it is huge and you must fight hard not to get lost. Other schools in Ohio you should look at are Case Western Reserve (with Cleveland Institute of Music) and University of Cincinnati (also with conservatory nearby).</p>

<p>Indeed, ALL of the middle school stuff should come off your resume. Adcoms don’t want to see things from middle school unless they are truly unique (you found a cure for cancer, e.g.) and get annoyed when they are there.</p>

<p>And, I don’t mean to disappoint you, but when I was in high school at Reynoldsburg HS (and on the team), we whipped your In the Know (academic bowl) team’s butts every year. Upper Arlington is one of the better schools in Columbus, but hardly in all of Ohio. Congrats on your IB accomplishments!</p>

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<p>lol…actually, lately our school has had the best standardized test scores in Franklin County and some of the best in the state. “In the know” is hardly taken seriously at the school anymore, if it ever was (don’t mean to disappoint you, but nobody tries out). And I believe we’re the 1st school in central ohio to adopt the IB program, although I’m not sure about the rest of the state.</p>

<p>I do appreciate your advice, it’s very helpful. Actually, from the scattergrams given by our college center, I have about an equal shot of being admitted there as, say U Michigan. That’s just what our graphs say though. I’m not sure exactly how accurate they are. And honestly, I just love the campus and the environment of Kenyon. They do have a few strong music teachers, but if I decided to attend Kenyon, it would definitely be to pursure political science.</p>

<p>I don’t mean to be arrogant, really I don’t, but I’m not too worried about most of my music auditions. I’ll be having consultations with different music professors from around the area (OSU, Capital Conservatory, etc.) to make sure I’m ready, and I’ve been preparing my pieces since the beginning of Summer. Also, being a violinist as well gives me somewhat of an edge (I would think, though again, I’m not sure) over other vocalists, if only in the area of sight reading and theory.</p>

<p>I did check out Case Western / CIM, and although it was certainly nice, it wasn’t the sort of place I pictured myself. It’s not something I can really pin down…it just didn’t attract me like Oberlin, Barnard and Northwestern. (I did visit Barnard, and loved it. NYC is one of my favorite cities, and I especially love the Columbia Campus right across the street. It’s gorgeous.)</p>

<p>I realize that my SAT / ACT scores will need to improve, especially for schools like Oberlin, but hopefully as I’ve been studying rigorously for the upcoming tests, they should get bumped up. Plus, my essays and recs should be spot on. Writing is one of my greatest strengths (Although it probably doesn’t come off as such on a forum like this :slight_smile: ). Question: do they have higher standards, academic-wise, for students intending to pursue the double degree at Oberlin? When we visited, I was under the impression that the same standards applied, but that not many people were both outstanding musicians and academically viable students, creating the low number of students pursuing the double degree.</p>

<p>And yes, I know that I will inevitably be attending college for 5 years to get my BM and my BA. Hello, loans! :-)</p>

<p>One more thing and I promise I’m done: I realize that my middle school accomplishments shouldn’t be included on my activities chart; I had simply copied and pasted my resume. I can read directions :-D.</p>

<p>Sorry that was so long.</p>

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<p>You’ve got it dude. Great grades and everything. Raise the test scores though, those can’t be called perfect.</p>

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<p>I am glad to hear that you have the scattergrams to look at - at least gives you a better sense of where you stand academically. With auditions worked into the mix, it’s probably wise to cast a bit wider net than if you were concentrating on academics alone. </p>

<p>It’s probably not possible - but try to get at least close to enough sleep senior year. All the college visits and auditions and SAT’s and high school (keeps getting in the way) are all pretty grueling, and you need to be at the top of your form.</p>

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<p>bump bump///</p>

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<p>bump. bump. do the bump.</p>

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<p>The following are stats for schools you are applying and can be found on yahoo education (therefore its free):</p>

<p>Oberlin:
SAT verbal scores over 700 46%, SAT math scores over 700 32%, ACT scores over 30 44%
Northwestern:
SAT verbal scores over 700 51%, SAT math scores over 700 63%, ACT scores over 30 68%
Barnard:
SAT verbal scores over 700 48%, SAT math scores over 700 31%, ACT scores over 30 50%
Kenyon:
SAT verbal scores over 700 42%, SAT math scores over 700 23%, ACT scores over 30 52%
Michigan
SAT verbal scores over 700 20%, SAT math scores over 700 41%, ACT scores over 30 35%
Chicago:
SAT verbal scores over 700 66%, SAT math scores over 700 59%, ACT scores over 30 61%</p>

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<p>Although Upper Arlington may have the best standardized test scores in Franklin County, yours are a bit low for many of the schools on your list. Here are statistics available in US News about the colleges on your list. Your UW GPA is 3.8 (don’t know what your rank is, but knowing UA, suspect you may be in the second decile? (15%ile?), your combined CR + Math SAT = 1350, and your ACT comp = 29. You see for yourself how you compare:</p>

<p>Oberlin: Acceptance rate 37% all comers, avg GPA 3.6, 68% of freshmen were in the top 10% of their class, middle 50% SAT 1250-1440, ACT 26-31…you are in middle range unhooked Caucasian, so chance of admission probably about 25%. A reach.</p>

<p>Northwestern: Acceptance rate 30%, GPA not listed, 82% in the top 10%, SAT 1320-1500, ACT 29-33, your scores are definitely in the lower 30% of test scores which are usually reserved for athletes and URMs. A high reach.</p>

<p>Barnard: Acceptance rate 27%, GPA 3.9, 72% in the top 10%, SAT 1270-1430, ACT 28-31, your stats more closely match these, but overall acceptance rate is low so your chance of acceptance about 1/4.</p>

<p>UM: Acceptance rate 62%, GPA 3.7, SAT 1210-1400, ACT 26-30. Probably will get accepted to L, S, & A if you apply; music school admissions are separate. So L, S, & A is a match. Don’t think you’d qualify for the Honor’s Program.</p>

<p>Kenyon: Acceptance rate 38%, GPA 3.7, 50% in top 10%, SAT 1240-1420, ACT 27-32. If this weren’t such a selective school to start, it would be a match for you. Since it is so selective, it becomes a reachy match.</p>

<p>U of Chicago: Acceptance rate 40%, GPA not listed, 82% in the top 10%, SAT 1330-1530, ACT 28-33. Again your scores put you in approx the 30%ile of accepted applicants which are usually athletes, development admits, or URMs, making this a high reach. </p>

<p>OSU: Definitely in to the college, again the issue is the music school.</p>

<p>Hope these statistics help you in your plans. Applying ED to the colleges (again not the music schools) will give you an admissions boost at all. You should know that Oberlin Conservatory has an “early review” process in which you audition in November, and they let you know by the end of the year. Check out their website for this. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks for all the stats. I’m taking the SAT/ACT again in October, and like I said previously, I’m hoping to raise my score 80-100 pts (mainly in math and verbal, since my writing was already very strong…that confused me though, because I only had time to write half an esssay) putting me around a 1430-1450. Even if it doesn’t increase that much, I’m sure I’ll be able to hit 1400. As far as the ACT goes, it shouldn’t be much of a problem to increase those scores. I was sick as a dog when I took them, and tired like you wouldn’t believe. I fell asleep halfway through the reading section, so I only finished like, 75% of the problems… :-/. </p>

<p>I know I have quite a few reaches. Hopefully one of them will come through (I’m thinking either Oberlin or Barnard…I’ve essentially given up on Northwestern and U Chicago). If not, I would be really happy at U Michigan. And I added Lawrence to my list, officially, so although I would have to visit before I agree to attend, it’s another solid match with a great music program.</p>

<p>And I don’t think OSU requires an audition…it’s just a music major, not a school…though I could be wrong.</p>

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<p>The thing is Northwestern and Chicago have their own essay questions and they are big deal. You still can get in even with lower stats (you will probably improve the scores by a lot anyway) if you write a good essay.</p>

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<p>Quiltguru: In case you’re still reading this thread, it’s NOT TRUE that most double-degree students at Oberlin drop out of the program at the end of the first year and just pursue the BM in the Conservatory. Some do, but most students happily and successfully pursue the double degree in five years. And other students in the College apply to the Conservatory during their first year, and join the double-degree program. I’m not sure where you got that information, but it’s false.</p>

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<p>That gives me a lot of hope. Thanks, dave72. I was worried that I would kill myself for the first 2 years of college, trying to do the double degree, then drop out and pursue only one major. It’s good to know that most people are able to complete it.</p>

<p>Do you know whether it’s easy to transfer into the college and begin the double degree program your sophomore year? I only ask in case I’m admitted to just the conservatory, and I have to make a choice as to whether I should attend the conservatory my freshman year, completing some electives in poli. sci. at the college, then transfer to the collegemy sophomore year, or whether I should just pick another school. If any of that made sense at all…</p>

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<p>Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music- Rejected
-Northwestern University- Rejected
-Barnard College- Rejected
-University of Michigan- Accepted
-Kenyon College- Accepted
-University of Chicago (not sure about this one…my mom went here, so that’s the main reason I’m applying)- Accepted
-Ohio State University - Accepted w/ full ride</p>

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<p>crap, your performance activities are just like mine. concertmistress violin w/ solo and ensemble superiors and awards, soprano section leader w/ solo and ensemble superiors and awards, theater leads and supporting role, and performing arts award. And I thought I could differentiate myself with all that on top of academics… :slight_smile: Well, I’ll take hope, we’re not applying to the same places, lol!</p>

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<p>Oh, and U of Chicago’s vocal programs aren’t that great, if that matters to you</p>

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<p>I don’t think it’s that common to have all of those performance activities. Most people applying to the big universities have lots of ECs, but they’re spread out in lots of different areas. Colleges say that they like a concentration, though, so I suppose we might stand out that way.</p>

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<p>Come to NYU - your stats are good enough and its a brilliant school.</p>

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<p>NYU doesn’t offer a cross-school double degree program; therefore, I’d be more hesitant. But I know it’s a really excellent school. Oh, and also the whole financial aid thing…apparently they only satisfy about 70% of demonstrated need. And with a price tag like NYU, that’s never good.</p>

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<p>Perhaps I’ll see you at UMich’s vocal program (I’m applying for composition w/voice as my instrument)</p>

<p>And who were you in Les Mis? I was Convict #5 freshman year!</p>