Your acceptance to Jacobs will depend on your audition. As you probably know, Jacobs is difficult to get into. In addition, you will also need to qualify for acceptance to IndianaU. Normally, I would say your standardized test scores will not help your application, especially the ACT, but you can go test optional. The real concern however, is your GPA. The 25th-75th percentile range for Indiana is 3.72-4.00. Yours is 2.3. Maybe if you are the best horn player they have seen in a while… Because of your GPA, I would include your SAT score, but not the ACT.
THIS. Even IF you meet the academic bar for admission to Indiana, you need to have a great audition. Your acceptance will be based on the strength of your audition relative to others doing an audition on your instrument. There is NO WAY to predict the strength of the other applicants and therefore, no way to predict your chances of acceptance.
Are you a high school senior?
At many strong conservatory programs, your GPA and SAT won’t matter as much. This, however, is not the case at Indiana where you also need to meet their academic bar for admissions.
Yes, I am a highschool senior. My top two schools are UNT and JSoM, I’m trying to go to music schools that are affiliated with a university so that if I ever change my mind about music I can change majors. This however puts me at a lower chance of being admitted because of my academic profile.
Hi, I was told to post on this forum. I was already told that my chances are very slim or unpredictable, on Reddit as well (Someone even told me to just change careers at that point haha). Other than the audition, it’s known that your academic profile is one of the most important key factors to your admission, which I lack. It’s discouraging, but I’d like to believe that there’s a possibility for me.
Demographics
US Citizen
Out of State
Public
Female, Asian
Second Gen
Intended Major(s)
BM, Music Performance
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
HS GPA: 2.3 jr yr
Class Rank: Unknown
ACT/SAT Scores: 1270, 22 (retaking ACT next month, and probably Digital SAT as well)
Awards
Blue Ribbon Gold Medal for State Solo & Ensemble (highest reward given)
Extracurriculars
President of a hobby club
Vice President for school band
Section leader for school band
Ambassador for school leadership program
Principal Horn for school band and symphony orchestra
Principal Horn for state youth symphony
Principal Horn for state select band 2024
Participated in a summer music institute in 2022 and 2023, Principal Horn for Wind Ensemble in 2023 and selected to be apart of the Symphony Orchestra
Done multiple volunteering shifts
Essays/LORs/Other
Wrote creative essay that impressed multiple peers and adults, provides a unique view of my journey in establishing my choice to pursue music
Faced many obstacles in regards to mental health
Can my audition be successful enough to carry me through the admissions process?
I wouldn’t think so - they’ll have minimal standards.
But perhaps someone will know of a school for you.
PS - do you know why you had the GPA you did? Perhaps starting at a community college with some remedial classes. What didn’t you learn? It’s likely going to impact you in college as well.
The GPA I had was not because of my inability to learn, it was a combination of multiple factors that were much out of my control. I am considering community college, but for now, it’s my backup plan. Thanks!
At some places, yes. You need to be close to the academic bar at many universities, but you sometimes don’t have to be academically accepted…first.
What other colleges have you applied to, and been accepted for an audition?
I wouldn’t think so - they’ll have minimal standards.
@tsbna44 This isn’t universally true for music performance majors where the audition is the key element…but the student usually needs to be in the ballpark because the university wants the student to be successful IF they switch majors, plus there are usually some core courses required of all.
What is your private horn teacher telling you?
You might want to post in the music majors forum here. The people posting there actually have experience with music performance majors.
You mentioned your GPA was affected by “other”. If this is an extenuating circumstance, will or did your school counselor address this in their counselor letter?
Also, why are you retaking the ACT? The SAT looked to me to be your better standardized test option.
Also, where else do you have pending auditions and applications?
In order to be admitted to Jacobs, the student must have a minimum of the following, per IU. Does the student have this?
Students at Jacobs have to meet IU requirements which are below. The average GPA at the Bloomington campus (not required of course)-is an average 3.9 weighted on 4.0.
While I appreciate your knowledge, exactly .05% of students in this GPA range (2-2.5 and the student isn’t close to the top) are admitted. 1.6% of students with under a 3.0 have been admitted.
Football or basketball (and perhaps a musician or two) likely make up that teeny tiny percentage.
So the student asked a yes / no question - and I said I wouldn’t think so. And I still don’t. Unless they’re an established performer, I don’t see the student having a chance.
That’s my opinion. It’s fine that yours is different.
8 credits (semesters) of English, such as literature, grammar, composition, and journalism
7 credits (semesters) of mathematics, including 4 credits of algebra and 2 credits of geometry (or an equivalent 6 credits of integrated algebra and geometry), and 1 credit of pre-calculus, trigonometry, or calculus
6 credits (semesters) of social sciences, including 2 credits of U.S. history, 2 credits of world history/civilization/geography, and 2 additional credits in government, economics, sociology, history, or similar topics
6 credits (semesters) of sciences, including at least 4 credits of laboratory sciences - biology, chemistry, or physics
4 credits (semesters) of world languages
3 or more credits (semesters) of additional college-preparatory courses. Additional mathematics credits are recommended for students intending to pursue a science degree and additional world language credits are recommended for all students.
Where else have you applied? I think the wonderful music parents on this forum can give you some info.
Really, it’s impossible to chance a music performance major anyway. Your audition will be compared to the others also doing an audition on your instrument. We cannot predict the strength of the applicant pool this year.
What did your private teacher suggest in terms of colleges?
Freestanding conservatories (that are not part of a university) may be better choices if you can afford them. If you are truly talented, the audition is the main factor at schools that do not have academic admission (to the university) as well.
