<p>I agree with compmom-- apply to a range of schools and programs, and evaluate the options. personally, I don’t think you have to base your college major on what you plan to do for a career. Even if you go to a conservatory, and then decide not to pursue music professionally, you will have learned valuable skills of dedication, persistence and focus that will serve you throughout your life. But, given your strong scholastic bent, you will likely pick a program, even if it is a conservatory, that has a strong academic component to it as well, so you will get a good education for whatever you pursue post-grad.</p>
<p>btw, your being in the top 10% of your class is more important than your GPA per se.</p>
<p>also, I am saying this as the parent of a student who is pursuing a BFA in acting…She had a diverse application list: several auditioned BFA programs and a range of BA programs with good theatre departments. This way, there were no “what ifs” come spring of senior year…</p>