Vocal performance kid on a budget, Loves theater too [Grade 11, 4.0 unweighted GPA (all A+), 4.3 weighted GPA, VA resident, <$45k from parents]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Demographics

  • US citizen
  • State/Location of residency: Virginia
  • Type of high school: public

Cost Constraints / Budget
Parents can contribute up to $45k but they are elders nearing retirement so any scholarships would be beneficial and probably needed for private or out of state schools

Intended Major(s): vocal performance first, acting second. Love musical theatre also but have no formal dance training

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 4.25
  • Weighted HS GPA: no idea
  • ACT/SAT Scores: Not yet taken -PSAT just taken, no scores yet

List your HS coursework

I am in my junior year, currently taking IB French, AP US History, AP Calculus, AP Environmental Science, Chamber vocal ensemble (previously completed treble choir and one year prior Chamber Choir) . Also taking College Composition I (Dual enrollment), Creative Writing, and Comp Theory . Dual enrollment in Economics and Personal Finance over the summer.

Awards/recognition: Tri-M Honors society, National Honors Society

Extracurriculars: tennis team and lessons, theater (in school and in professional and community theatre—a handful of productions, musical and comedic,) piano lessons (3+ years) voice lessons (3+ years,) rock climbing

Aiming for a major in vocal performance but concentration in contemporary styles , possibly songwriting or music production (rather than opera/classical). Scholarship assistance needed for acceptance to private universities or out of state schools

Just starting my college research journey but so far I’ve mainly focused on the southeast US, with initial visits to Shenandoah and UNCSA. I also have varied interests- creative writing and French language interests too though, so I’m not sure if pure conservatory would be the right direction for me. Looking for suggestions /insights on

  • Assured (100% chance of admission and affordability):
  • Extremely Likely:
  • Likely:
  • Toss-up:
  • Lower Probability:
  • Low Probability:

PS: prefer an urban campus over suburban or rural, a coastal or warm locality is a nice plus

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What is the 4.25 out of (meaning the scale) as most unweighted are a 4, but some may be 4.33, etc. After you get an SAT, it will be more telling because it will impact merit.

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University of Miami offers both vocal & theatre arts majors. You’d likely need both need-based & merit-based aid. You will need to take the ACT or SAT to assess your chances. ECs & awards will matter in addition to high test scores.

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One of our kids has both a bachelors and masters in music performance so I am quite familiar with the process. In addition, we have a bunch of friends who are faculty or were faculty at our local conservatory.

First stop should be your private voice instructor. They know the level of your student’s singing skills, and probably have some suggestions. In addition, they can look at the required repertoire for auditions, and know whether these are good matches for your student.

Baldwin Wallace might be an option. The Hartt School? These would be academic safety schools, in my opinion. Audition would determine acceptance into vocal performance. Hofstra is another option.

College of William and Mary has many performance opportunities for students, not needing to major in performance or theater. Worth checking out as an instate option.

For vocal performance, the audition will be the number one thing deciding admission. Yes, at some colleges, you have to be accepted academically as well, but this student sounds strong enough that this shouldn’t be a problem. If the vocal performance folks want this student…they can advocate for their acceptance…and will.

One of our kids got a masters at UNCSA and I can’t say enough good things about the school.

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The audition is the number one criteria for music performance majors. They can have a 1600 SAT and 4.0 perfect GPA…but if they don’t do well at the audition relative to others doing the audition at the same time, they likely won’t get accepted to the music performance program.

OTOH, a GPA that is in the ball park could be fine…and the audition committee can advocate for admission for someone who does a fabulous audition but isn’t quite at the top of the grade/test score range.

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I added the music major and musical theater major as tags on your subject. If that isn’t OK, let me know, and I will remove them. But this is what you are asking about.

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Agree with this. I may be the only parent on CC who has no idea what my kid’s SAT score was. Nor his GPA. He had great music conservatory and university based music performance acceptances.

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Tagging @helpingthekid73

If my memory is correct, they have an acting or MT recent graduate from UNCSA.

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Yes, S21 graduated from UNCSA in 2025. BFA acting. Had a wonderful experience. It is not possible to do both Vocal performance and acting there, the theater performances are only acting students and they do at least one musical a year. There are tons of operas for the performance majorsthat are very impressive. The acting program is 100% based on audition and extremely competitive. I dont know much about the vocal performance program.

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UW 4.25 means you’re not on a 4.0 scale. 4.25 out of what? 4.5? 5.0? 6.0? Where does that 4.25 place you, in relation to your classmates? What percentile, approximately? Regarding Hartt at U Hartford - it’s one of those less selective small private schools that is on the edge, financially. They offer massive merit money for high stats students, which you probably are, even without a test score. They have a lovely small conservatory, along with a musical theater program and vocal performance program, dance too. Assuming your audition qualifies you, you’d probably get a huge merit scholarship - I’ve heard of merit bringing down the cost of attendance to 30K/yr.

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Trying to figure out cost of attendance - to find schools that will assuredly meet the budget vs counting on merit, which at a school like Miami, is unlikely to happen to that level.

At many schools, GPA and test score when available will impact this.

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My college senior son applied as vocal performance. His gpa did not reject him from any of the colleges. Impossible to chance audition based majors as it is all about skill and space/openings at the college.

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“Kid’s” mom here. I had the kid dictate to me all of the stats we could think of, but honestly I don’t know what 4.25 GPA means, so I will have to find out. Much has changed since I went to college for a BFA in the Ice Ages, so I apologize if I am sounding a little ignorant about these things. My decision to pursue a BFA seemed much easier in retrospect, mainly because painting was the only thing I felt I had some level of competence in. Not so for my child, who excels in many different areas and has many interests, but a passion for music and performing. This is all very helpful though. It just makes me realize that I have to do a lot more research and have more questions I need answered.

I want to thank you all who have chimed in with input and I will research your ideas and suggestions for sure, some of which I hadn’t heard of or considered. We’ve been looking mostly in Virginia and in the South, mainly because that was what we’re most familiar with. But I think northward is definitely worth exploring. I just assumed they’d all (meaning New York, New England, Illinois etc.)would be out of our budget. Thanks again- I am sure I will have more questions when I know more about what to ask!

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I honestly don’t know! :joy:I definitely need more clarity on this and need to sit down with the school counselor to find out.

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Thank you! I will look into this.

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In the end, and I get the audition matters stuff - but many schools have minimal academic requirements. So I think - first off, where does the student want to be geographically.

Salisbury, as an example - no clue about the program - but full COA (tuition, room and board) is $38.1K this year (and they have merit based on grades). So that’s what I mean - an assured - not in for performance but if you get in, you don’t have to worry about a scholarship.

Looks like SUNY Purchase - lots of performing arts - is about $40K - OOS.

Sure - you can go for a Muhlenberg or Ithaca type and hope to get in and then hope to get to $45K - and no issues - but I’m just looking - where is assured (if you get in).

WVU will be mid 40s b4 merit and it can get to high 20s with GPA and has your major.

Indiana may be universally regarded - and let’s say you get accepted by the program - but getting to $45K is unlikely. Not impossible but unlikely.

So apply to the schools you want, that make sense for the student if there’s a possibility to hit cost - but make sure you have some no matter what that will hit cost. Maybe find some non audition schools as well.

Not dismissing other feedback - to talk to their teacher/coaches but it would stink to get in somewhere and find out you can’t afford it, etc. is all I’m saying.

I’m sure many can hit your budget full pay. That’s just a quick sample of three. But it probably makes sense to supplement your wish list with some of these.

Best of luck.

Music Major | Salisbury University

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I have clarity on this now. The 4.25 is actually 4.3 and that is the weighted GPA. 4.0 is unweighted on a scale of 4 being highest. They have had straight A+’s ever since I can remember—since the beginning of middle school at least. And our contribution would be probably $45k per year on the high end if we are to retire somewhat comfortably.

It almost seems like there would be more opportunity for scholarships if they were to pursue an academic degree than a BM or BFA but I don’t want to crush their spirit. Also I can’t fully judge that until they get their audition material together. It just seems like an uphill battle for a kid who has not been privileged to take private lessons out of the crib or had access to a good performing arts program in childhood.

SAT’s will be taken in spring. I do have another question though - are ACTs absolutely required/expected, or just an extra/nice to have?

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@INFJ my not music performance major kid is also a very talented musician. They wanted to continue to study their instrument and play in a college orchestra. But they also wanted a college with strong STEM departments because that was of interest too.

Many colleges have music ensembles for those who aren’t music majors. In some metro areas, there are fabulous church choirs also, and they aren’t all classical music. There are colleges with musical productions open to all students. William and Mary was suggested upstream. But there are others. And there are civic theater groups in a lot of places too.

At one point, my kid considered minoring in music, but decided not to. Music continued to be a huge part of their life in college…played in the college orchestra and took private lessons.

Why does your student want to major in performance? What do they hope to do with that degree.

I am going to suggest you read the double degree dilemma @compmom can likely post the link to that. This is a must read for your kid! Both of mine read it (an older iteration of this) and found it very helpful. You and your musician should both read this.

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In the Read Me section of the music major forum

Please start here: Double Degree Dilemma essay (written by David Lane)
(Even if you do not think you are interested in a double degree!) This essay will give you important information on how to study music: what different offerings are available and how to understand what is right for you / your child.

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My music kid got into some great conservatories but went to a selective college with generous financial aid, for a BA in music. They later got a doctorate in music and are still in the field. Along with the financial advantages, the BA offered breadth for a kid with many interests, all of which have enriched their music career. If your son goes the BA route, he can submit a music supplement with recording/video, music (and music and MT, or whatever) resume and letters of recommendation related to music. The video can be quite short. My kid cued the best 3 minutes.

One of my kids also had amazing financial aid for dance, at an artsy LAC.

For songwriting at a conservatory, Miami Frost came to mind for sure. For songwriting, contemporary voice, MT, and varied interests, in a BA program, there are lots of schools, and your son might have access to some pretty selective ones. Look at little Ivies and Colleges that Change Lives for instance.

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