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I'm a junior in high school, and I want to study Music Education. Can I get into NYU?

GPA: About a 90 (Unweighted APs and IBs). I tend to do much better in music, language and arts classes, and worse in math and history. Not terrible, I'd say mid 80's, but not great, either.
AP's\IB's, and averages so far, unweighted: IB English, 92; AP\IB US, 81; AP Spanish, 92; IB Theatre, 92.
PSAT: Verbal - 57; Math - 67, Writing - 74
Index 198, 95th Percentile
SAT II's, which I'm probably retaking: Verbal - 610; Math IC - 690, Writing - 750.

EC's:

Since 9th grade: GSA, Comedy Troupe (writing and performance comedy group), NYSSMA (I don't know how much NYSSMA is looked at, if it's looked at at all, but I got 24\28 Level IV 9th grade, 96\100 Level VI 10th grade)

Since 10th grade: Book Club, Peer Mediation, Buddy Program, ITS (International Thespian Society, 10th Grade Rep), Starting this year I was also one of the two student representatives on the district's Human Development Committee.

Since 11th Grade: Spanish Honor Society, Tri-M, Leadership Group, Chamber Choir, Caroling Choir, President of both the Book Club and Comedy Troupe. In a few weeks I'm having a workshop at a local library for beginning actors in grades 6-9. It's a pretty big deal, it's in local newspapers and stuff, but I don't know how big of a deal it would be to colleges.

There are other various things that I did for a year and decided I didn't like, like the art and literary magazine, Hebrew Culture Club (which I liked, but it disbanded), Students Against Drug Abuse, a Spanish poetry contest which I may actually do again this year, etc. Also, over the summer I've been going to a creative and performing arts camp, and someone said I should put that down too. What do you think? Would it help?

I got a Who's Who Among American High School Students award or something, it said it was for the top 5% of students in the nation...what do you guys know about this? Is it as good as it sounds, and is it impressive, or is it something that like 75% of people at NYU receive?

Another thing about the EC's...I don't know if it looks like it, but I'm not resume padding with them...I genuinely enjoy these things, and as you can see from how long I've been doing most of them, I'm pretty committed to them.


Community Service: Breast Cancer Walk since 10th grade, about 30 or so hours at a local nursing home, volunteering at a local festival twice a year for four hours each (I've been doing this since I was six), community theatre for, like, forever, I don't even remember when I started.

Assuming I get a pretty good SAT score (1300+), my grades stay pretty much as they are now (I'm working on improving them though...), and I keep up my EC's (I'm running for and have a good shot at president of GSA and VP of ITS next year), what do you think? Please tell me what you think, and (specifically) what you think I should improve. Thanks a lot!

~~Melanie

By the way, if one of the acronyms or anything else is unclear, just post that it is and I'll explain what it means.

By Leelastar (Leelastar) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 09:39 am: Edit

your stats so far look really good, so keep it up. when you take the actual SAT's, shoot for at least a 1200. i was accepted as a vocal music education ED, and like you, i had a ton of extracurriculars, AP's and a good gpa. my combined SAT was a 1400. your audition is weighted a lot for music ed too. you have to pass both academically and musically. do you plan on auditioning with voice, piano, or another instrument?

By Blinkeve1826 (Blinkeve1826) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 11:42 pm: Edit

I will be auditioning with voice. I have been talking to my chorus teachers a lot about this lately...I don't have much piano experience, and I know that's important to know at least a little beforehand to keep up with things, so my teacher gave me a really good book that I'm using to teach myself. Even though I haven't had private training--these are my teacher's words, incidentally--I've received good musical training from school...and music theory [and music in general] has always come naturally to me...I also have perfect pitch, which doesn't hurt. [I hope that doesn't sound like I'm bragging. I'm sorry if it does.] Oh, and would it hurt at all that I'm an alto, or would that help me for any reason?

[thanks for replying, by the way...more opinions wouldn't hurt ]

By Leelastar (Leelastar) on Monday, January 12, 2004 - 10:32 pm: Edit

well, the audition calls for 2 songs of contrasting styles and tempos. most people sing two classical pieces, but i did an up tempo aria in italian and a musical theatre ballad, so sing whatever you feel comfortable with. you alto-ness definitely wont hurt you, it's your voice that they want. they might ask you a couple of theory questions and play pitches for you to sing back. if you have good pitch, then you're set. good luck!

By Blinkeve1826 (Blinkeve1826) on Sunday, January 18, 2004 - 01:38 am: Edit

Leela, thanks a lot, your comments made me feel a lot better. Another question (for anyone) would be, how hard is Gallatin to get into? I would think a school of individualized study would be really hard to get into, but I've heard that's not the case at all, that's it's easier to get into. I'd be happy with Steinhardt or Gallatin...I guess my question is, which is easier to get into, how is it easier, etc...any replies to that or the original question would be helpful, thanks

By Musicislife (Musicislife) on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 12:04 am: Edit

Blinkeve~

i hear that the who's who thing is a bunch of crap and really means nothing. I got one too and i am maybe in the top 1/3 of my class not top 5% by any means. and its agood thing to be an alto. the world needs more altos.

By Bigtmushett (Bigtmushett) on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 06:58 pm: Edit

Yea, who's who is a scam designed to get you to buy a book with your name in it. It's pretty worthless

By Wo4567 (Wo4567) on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 10:50 pm: Edit

look into Ithaca for music ed they've got one of the best programs in the country