Schools that offer music and have low GPA requirements?

[mark387]

I chose to practice my bass more than study during high school. I never thought about going to college for music or anything, so grades weren't important to me.

Now those grades are keeping me out of the music school I want to attend. Are there any colleges that offer music classes that also don't have very high GPA requirements? I would like to eventually transfer to a better music school once my grades are brought up, but I would like to go to a school that actually offers music classes, not just general education classes. Or am I doomed to enroll in a community college first?

[grifff]

How low are we talking?

[mark387]

Oh whoops, I misread your post.

If your asking how low the school will accept. The lower the better.
If you asking how low my GPA was, it was 1.9. Then I brought my GPA up a little by dropping out and finishing high school somewhere else. I got all B's in the last four classes I had to take, but it still isn't high enough.

Are there any?

[tzadik]

University of Maine at Augusta has a decent music program for jazz/non-classical pursuits, and accepts anything with a pulse. Email me if you want more info.

[mark387]

I'm looking for something like that with a classical oriented music department.

[doberman]

Honestly in my experiences if your playing is enough that a faculty member shows interest in having you as a music student things like low GPA can be worked around. I know more than a few people that go to school with their lower credentials than what the school says they generally accept. I wouldn't let it stop you from applying anywhere, though it could definitely be a factor...the thing is you never know, I think the audition is the most important part. Unfortunately in a case like yours what could happen is that say you and one other student play at a similar level in your auditions, the school can only accept one of you and then something like GPA would become more important.

Look, the bottom line is this, you can't change your GPA but what you can do is practice as much as you can now and during your audition show the school that you do have potential and can be a good addition to the program. Have community college as a back up, it wouldn't be the end of the world, and then try again later on. I think you already know this though.

[mark387]

Maybe I should have posted this in the orchestral audition section. I didn't know that they discuss college audtions in there too.

[mark387]

doberman- what schools are these?

[doberman]

Depending on your skill level it could be anything, I only have first hand experience with Peabody Conservatory which on paper has high standards, but when I got here I found plenty of people who got in without the requirements of a higher GPA. But around here, there is also Towson University which has a large music program and something like that could be an option. What kind of program are you looking for specifically? Any particular schools?

Did you have a conservatory in mind or university with music program? I think that could change things on how important your GPA is. I'm just a student, not an educator, but it seems like at a conservatory the audition is really the primary thing.