Hey everyone! I am a junior in high school. My GPA is an 88/100 weighted and around and 83 unweighted. I take 3 AP 2 honors and 3 CP courses. I got a 28 on my ACT. My problem is I have no idea what schools to apply to (and would have a good chance of getting in- like what acceptance rates should i be looking at?) ! I live in Pennsylvania and I don’t want to go super far away and I want to major in communications. extra points if they have a music program 
. Any suggestions? I do have a hook- I play the harp. I am ranked 2nd in the state, went to all state orchestra, played at carnegie hall and the kimmel center and have been accepted to the philadelphia international music festival, interlochen, and crane youth music for summer studies. I also participate in 12 orchestras year round. In addition, I am president of Diversity Club and secretary of Philanthropy Club. I also run a lot of fundraisers to raise money and donate money to an organization. Recently I raised around $3,000 and donated it to an organization for womens rights in the middle east. Thanks so much!
Large or small school?
Check out Lawrence University in WI and St. Olaf in MN. Both have great music programs.
Thank you so much! My parents really want me at a small school, but I think I could adjust easily wherever. I move schools a lot anyhow.
Check out Muhlenberg and Sarah Lawrence. Both are near PA (actually Muhlenberg is in PA), have strong music programs, are pretty small and accept kids with stats similar to yours.
Definitely look at Penn State. There are PLENTY of small schools in Pennsylvania that will accept someone of your stats and has programs you are interested in. Arcadia, West Chester, Seton Hill, Moravian, Elizabethtown, York College, and Albright are schools you should look into. There are more where that came from! Use the Super Match tool on the side to narrow it down to Pennsylvania schools that will accept ACT 28 and must have Communications majors and Music majors…
thanks yall!!!
Ithaca College has a great communications school and accepts students with your GPA. And an excellent music program… though you probably wouldn’t be the only harp playing applicant there.
Ask your parents how much they’ll pay each year.
theyll pay anything.
Take a look at Shenandoah University in Virginia. They have a wonderful music program, it is in Northern VA, very close to PA (only two hours to our home in the Harrisburg area, D is looking at their Pharmacy program). The campus is gorgeous, the school is definitely smaller, your stats fit their profile and the entire area around the school is nice and safe. They require auditions for the Conservatory, but your background should make that something you can handle. Tuition and Costs are not bad at all for a private school.
Moravian, Muhlenberg and Elizabethtown are ones mentioned above that I think are worth looking at.
Rowan and Indiana University have great music programs. Muhlenberg is a natural given your talent and grades.
You have good stats but playing the harp could elevate your application quite a bit.
So aim high but have a good selection of choices.
thank y’all so much for all your kind and helpful words! but an 83/100 is only a 2.8 GPA. I focused on music a lot, and moved schools three times and went to a super rigorous private school and did terribly. Could I still get into the schools listed above?
I bet you rigorous private school should have a decent college counseling department. What are they suggesting? Research the schools mentioned above and determine which appeal to you. Bring a list to your college counselor and ask. They’ll be able to give you better advice within the context of your high school, better than what we can give you not knowing that context. Do you have access to Naviance through your school?
I actually switched to a public school the middle of sophomore year. Sorry I should have been more specific! And yes I do!
I suggest an alternative approach - if you love music and are decent, go ahead and audition at a few schools you are interested in. You can Minor in music and still receive a scholarship if you have talent, and can even help with admissions if you’re really good, some programs also have what’s called a Certificate of Music which lets you do even more, plus you can play in ensembles at different levels. I can’t speak for the situation in the state of Penn regarding quality of music programs and who is offering $$, but using your talent and experience in the Arts can be a real boost - plus you can still do something you love to do!
A weighted 88 is fine, a 28 ACT is the 91st percentile and you are highly ranked in an instrument not many people play.
I think you will do fine.
thanks, you guys!!!
thanks, you guys!!!
Temple has a fabulous Music School, and you would qualify for in-state tuition there.