Hi!
I am a freshman MT major at a performing arts high school in my area. I have known that MT is what I want to do since 4th grade. I’ve started looking into colleges and getting a list down so that I know what I need to do and work toward so that I can get into college.
A few of my stats:
-3.9 unweighted GPA, haven’t taken the SAT but scored in the 99+ percentile on my SATs
-very strong singer, good actor, mover but GREAT tapper
-high tenor, A2-C5
-would love a BFA, but don’t mind a BM
-my current list is UMich, NYU Tisch, Steinhardt VP-MT, CMU, Elon, Ithaca, MMC, MSM, CCPA, Rider, Montclair State, JMU, and Molloy/Cap21
-i come from a financially well-off family but I am one of three kids, so my financials are somewhat limited.
**My questions:
- when should I start working with a vocal coach?
- are there any schools (based on my stats) should i add to my list?
- are there any schools i should take off the list?
- do you have any recommendations for vocal coaches for high tenors who would be able to help me with college auditions?
-thank you so much!**
If you go to a performing arts school then you should use the resources there for singing. I would try to meet with your advisor to see how guided they are towards MT programs. You have so much time to figure this out. Enjoy school and performing and make sure this is what you want. MT programs are extremely intense and very specific.
You have the gift of time, so good for you for thinking ahead!
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Regarding your list, consider adding at least one school that: 1) does not require an audition to study MT, 2) is likely to admit you academically (because your stats are above the average for the school), and 3) is within your target budget. Two common ones are Muhlenberg College near Allentown, PA and North Central College in Naperville, IL. This will hopefully ensure you have a definite option since every school on your list is a highly competitive, auditioned-based school with admits rates of 10% or less for the MT program.
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Another way to widen your net is to plan to attend a consortium audition in the fall of senior year where you can audition for multiple schools at once. Often these events include schools you might not know about, and some of them also make offers well before many of the schools on your list, so you know you have some options in your pocket. Most of the consortium auditions are regional events, such as Pittsburgh Unifieds and MARCAs (Mid-Atlantic Regional College Auditions) or through International Thespian Society, or a private audition consulting company like College Audition Coach’s Moonifieds. Most of these also have some sort of program for high schools juniors, so that might be worth investigating.
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As far as your stats, these will be important for admission to Michigan and NYU, but most of these other schools make their decision mostly based on your audition, including CMU. However, maintaining a strong academic performance is likely to help you secure more merit scholarships at schools, especially for schools that have a strong MT program inside a school that isn’t as academically competitive. Merit aid is usually more generous for academics than talent at many schools.