What GPA and SAT would you need to consider schools like WUSTL and CMU target schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or other schools ranked 20-30.

Assuming not for comp sci or engineering, for a kid from a top private, good ECs, full pay, otherwise unhooked.

What would you major in at CMU?

Chem or bio

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1540 accepted (and attending) CMU for Mechanical Engineering.
4.0 UW
Public high school in affluent suburb.
Asian American male with no hooks.

Did you ask for financial aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3.8 and 1500 from a strong private
Increase from there if from a non descript public.

This poster is correct, for ED

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CMU really depends on the major. Music or other humanities can be MUCH easier admits.

Actually, music (and theater) are both very difficult admits. Music might only accept 1-3 students per vocal part or instrument, and theater only accepts around 10 kids per gender. The audition process is very rigorous, and students have better odds at playing a division 1 sport than getting into a top conservstory program like Carnegie Mellon, Eastman, Julliard, etc.

It is much more difficult to get accepted as a soprano singer or violinist at Carnegie than to get accepted as an engineering student. But, because the program is talent, instrument and audition driven, the acdemic cut offs for SAT and GPA have a little more wiggle room than acceptance into an engineering program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CMU really depends on the major. Music or other humanities can be MUCH easier admits.

Actually, music (and theater) are both very difficult admits. Music might only accept 1-3 students per vocal part or instrument, and theater only accepts around 10 kids per gender. The audition process is very rigorous, and students have better odds at playing a division 1 sport than getting into a top conservstory program like Carnegie Mellon, Eastman, Julliard, etc.

It is much more difficult to get accepted as a soprano singer or violinist at Carnegie than to get accepted as an engineering student. But, because the program is talent, instrument and audition driven, the acdemic cut offs for SAT and GPA have a little more wiggle room than acceptance into an engineering program.

Most music students will not be good enough to be accepted into Carnegie, Eastman, Julliard, Bienen, etc. All those conservatory schools are competing for the same handful of musicians. So while music talent might allow a slightly lower SAT to get into those schools than an engineering student, it is not what it might seem on the surface, and a music entry is not a magical way to game the system to get into a top university.