What are some performing arts colleges?

Question

Okay so here's my story:

I'm 17. I've been singing since i was 8 years old, 9 years in chorus, been in LA Operas & LA phil performances. I'm an upcoming senior & am looking for a good college |:

I don't have a really great GPA, it's around 3.3-3.6 cumulative, but i've got a TON of extra curriculars & a good resume. & I get good grades in my electives (Drama, french, english, dance). Do I have a good chance of getting into a private school regardless of my GPA & SAT scores?

Also, what colleges should i consider? I'm looking into San francisco conservatory, USC + Juilliard, but I want to look at all options. I'm looking for either a vocal performance or opera major.

Any advice helps thanks :D

Answer 1

I know the East Coast far better - so here goes.  Juilliard is not the ONLY great school - by a long shot.  I would most definitely recommend a school in a major city, with all the fine performance venues such a place has to offer - and the faculty is then FAR more likely to be performing artist themselves.  So - NYC - besides Juilliard, take a serious look at Manhattan School of Music.  Perhaps NYU.  Eastman - in Rochester (Ok, it's not NYC - but it's Eastman . . . ).  Hartford has Hartt College - a very fine school - but it's in *Hartford* (Ithaca is also a great school - but it's in *Ithaca* - truly the middle of noplace.)  Move up the coast to Boston - you have New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, Boston University (with its Tanglewood connection).  Harvard (and Yale in CT) are better known for their graduate schools.

OK -going south.  Philadelphia - Temple University, Academy of Vocal Arts, Curtis, University of the Arts.  

There are MANY other fine colleges and conservatories around the US - but I *know* the above - some of my degrees, and those of family members and colleagues, are from them.  You DID say *private* - so I am skipping places like SUNY Purchase, although it has an excellent opera department.  

You DO know that you are going to get a whole bunch of responses from people who say "I went to East Overshoe State College of Mining and Animal Husbandry, and THEIR music department is JUST AS GOOD as Juilliard!!!"  Yeah, right.  Loyalty is nice, but it is often blind, deaf, and dumb.  So really check out thoroughly all the school that people suggest - and as I said, my big rule is - if it's performing arts, go where the ACTION is - and the best teachers are - which 99 times out of 100, is in a metropolis.

You sound well-prepared, intelligent, and serious -which is *refreshing* here, lemme tell you!  I wish you MUCH luck!

Answer 2

Sounds like you'd be a shoo-in for any performing arts college you tried for.  

I'd say keep looking, check www.collegeboard.com to try and search for a college based on your major.

Other then that, look into the Spotlight awards for scholarship money!

Good luckkkkk :)