Audition/college search advice?

mommafrog
Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:43:54 +0000

Thinking of merit (grade/test-score-based) scholarships – do a quick search of each of your schools, and you should be able to see what guaranteed awards they may offer based on your stats. You are wise to look at leveraging your good schoolwork into scholarships – artistic/talent awards are out there, too, but it seems that the larger dollars are often attached to academics (at least in kiddo’s experience). On your list, the ones I can comment on include CCM – check out the Cincinnatus Competition – can be anything from a guaranteed minimum award if you are invited to compete up to a full ride, Point Park can award up to $5000 academic merit, then can add artistic awards, up to a maximum of $14000 a year (academic/artistic combined). Looks like MMC could give up to $8000 for high GPA; possibly more for community service, other criteria. Are you a National Merit Semifinalist? (Well, at least at the moment, you would have received information if you are moving forward in the competition…) Northwestern participates in National Merit awards, so does University of Cincinnati (CCM)…the list goes on…

As to combining awards, my d’s experience was that just like academic and artistic acceptances are often separate things, so too are academic and talent scholarships, and she was able to be awarded both, depending on the school’s policies, of course. I would recommend that you look into academic scholarship competitions at the schools you choose – some of them offer up to a full ride (tuition/fees and room and board). Keep those senior grades up (hard while you’re auditioning…but possible) and good luck to you as you head out to choose and audition!