How much do my grades and test scores matter for a music major?
If you’re planning on majoring in the performing arts in college, do good grades and test scores in high school really matter?
In short, YES–good grades always matter for college admission!
How much do they matter? That answer is a bit more complicated, and depends on the school.
Academic Requirements Vary by Institution
Performing arts programs often have a reputation for prioritizing talent over academic performance, but this is not always the case. While it’s true that a stellar audition or portfolio can weigh heavily in your favor, many schools still require a solid academic record.
Conservatories and Specialized Arts Schools: These institutions may place a higher emphasis on your artistic ability. Highly selective schools like The Juilliard School or the Curtis Institute of Music might weigh your audition or portfolio more heavily than your GPA or SAT scores. (You’ve got to NAIL your audition at these schools.) However, this doesn’t mean academics are irrelevant. Admissions committees at these schools still expect students to meet certain academic standards, and a strong academic background can distinguish you from other talented applicants.
Universities with Performing Arts Programs: Traditional universities that offer performing arts majors will often have more stringent academic requirements. For example, schools like New York University (Tisch School of the Arts) or the University of Southern California (Thornton School of Music) consider both your academic performance and your artistic talent. Good grades and test scores can enhance your overall application and demonstrate your ability to manage the rigors of college coursework alongside intensive arts training.
Liberal Arts Schools with Conservatories or strong performing arts programs: You’ll definitely want a solid academic record for these kinds of schools. Typically, liberal arts schools like Lawrence University, Oberlin College, and St. Olaf will require you to take many classes outside of your music or art, and they will want to see that you can handle college-level coursework outside of the practice room or studio.
The Role of Academic Performance
Demonstrating Discipline: Good grades reflect your dedication, discipline, and time management skills. Performing arts programs are demanding, and maintaining a strong academic record suggests that you can balance multiple responsibilities and stay committed to your goals.
Meeting Minimum Requirements: Many colleges have minimum GPA and test score requirements for all applicants, regardless of their intended major. Falling below these thresholds could mean your application isn’t even reviewed, no matter how impressive your audition or portfolio might be.
Scholarships and Financial Aid: Strong academic performance can make you eligible for merit-based scholarships and financial aid. Many schools offer scholarships that consider both artistic talent and academic achievement, providing more opportunities to fund your education.
Holistic Admissions Process
Many colleges use a holistic admissions process, considering various aspects of your application to get a complete picture of who you are as a student and artist. This means they look beyond just grades and test scores to include your artistic work, personal essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities.
A Big Thing to Remember About All of This
There are only so many things you can control about this process. Within the arts, many factors in an admission decision will have nothing to do with you, like how many actual studio spots in your instrument/voice are open for incoming freshmen, how many other students are auditioning for those spots, the artistic quality of those other musicians, what instruments the ensembles really need that year, etc. Sometimes it’s impossible to know exactly what combination of ACT score, GPA, extracurricular list, and audition scores will get you into a particular score–each year could be wildly different based on changing institutional priorities.
Focus on what you CAN control: your own academic performance in high school, how much you practice and prepare for your own auditions, and how much of an effort you put into getting to know the faculty and admissions reps at the schools you’re really interested in. By keeping your grades up and challenging yourself with honors and AP courses, you might end up with a higher chance of admission and/or more academic scholarship money. By developing relationships early on with college faculty that teach your instrument, you’ll be at the forefront of their mind when they’re making admission decisions. By focusing on building a balanced college list that includes schools that are the right FIT for YOU instead of only going for the name-brand, highly competitive schools, you’re more likely to have more options when it comes to decision time.
As always, reach out to the admissions counselors at the schools you’re considering to learn more about academic requirements for admission as well as any tidbits you can gather about what will help you stand out in your audition.
In conclusion, while your talent and passion for the performing arts are crucial for admission into a performing arts program, good grades and test scores also play a significant role. They not only meet the necessary academic requirements but also reflect your overall dedication and potential for success in a rigorous college environment. Balancing academic excellence with artistic development will help you stand out as a well-rounded candidate, ready to thrive in a college performing arts program.
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