NYU: Tisch for Drama

glassharmonica
Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:57:05 +0000

I’m going to step in as the parent of some non-traditionally schooled kids and say that I know of many students who have gone on to all kinds of college experiences (including Ivies, elite BFA programs, top music conservatories, and LACs) without completing a traditional high school diploma.This was a less common route in 2004 when my oldest daughter entered Swarthmore at 17 without a high school diploma, not having been to “school” since age 11, and having turned down numerous other offers, including two Ivies. It’s a lot more common now.

The CHSPE or GED isn’t the issue so much as the resume of the student. Most of the students I know that come from non-traditional educational backgrounds (but not all) have significant parental support in their quest. They also tend to either have standardized test scores or other resume material to back them up, and if they are applying to an auditioned program, they have a great audition (which often requires parental involvement. In this regard, acting is a lot easier than music.)

If Kat truly “almost falied” sophomore year and wants to apply to a school (like NYU) that will look seriously at her academic record, she will need to demonstrate a strong upward trend for improvement (so she will be seen as capable of doing NYU’s academic work.) She will need to show some kind of standardize test score that will place her within NYU’s range (NYU is unusually flexible about what scores to show.) She will need great essays on her application. And she will need a great audition. She will also need some kind of financial support to put all this together. Unfortunately, it may be too tall an order for a 17-year-old whose parents are not behind her.