<p>I agree that you need to be very careful when you discussing merit aid with people to distinguish between talent/ academic merit aid (no financial need) and talent/ merit aid packages that are part of a financial aid package. They are not the same.</p>
<p>D is at NYU-Steinhardt as a VP (MT) major. She receives a talent merit aid scholarship (no need.) Her grades were high and she was originally supposed to receive academic merit aid (a long story), but in the end it was switched to talent merit aid as academic was no longer available without need.</p>
<p>D did not go to a performing arts school–some of her classmates at NYU did, but the majority did not. However, she did attend the NYU Steinhardt summer MT program before senior year. I believe that did help her gain her scholarship money since she went into the admission process as someone that they knew and liked.</p>
<p>D took voice lessons, made all-state, studied dance over the years and did her hs musicals–leading roles as a junior and senior. Sophomore summer she went on a teen tour, junior year summer she worked in a camp. Performing arts camp when she was younger. No community theatre whatsoever. Additionally she had very strong EC’s that showed leadership–she founded and directed an acapella group, was the school president, etc.</p>
<p>In the end, I believe it was her voice training, overall raw “talent” and her ability to learn and work hard that NYU saw her display during the 3-week program that helped her gain admission and her scholarship.</p>
<p>Whereas I would not talk anyone out of a PA boarding school if it is affordable, I would certainly not consider it a pre-requisite for admission to top programs or merit aid.</p>