Undergraduate Artistic & Academic Preparation

Artistic Background

Admission to SMTD is highly selective. Most students who receive an offer of admission have extensive backgrounds in their intended areas of study and have taken full advantage of the training opportunities available to them. These can include: private lessons, youth orchestras, bands, and/or choirs, regional or national arts competitions, community and professional theatre or dance companies, and state solo & ensemble competitions.

Academic Guidelines

As a University program, prospective SMTD students must meet minimum academic guidelines before an audition or interview will be granted. Academics are a part of the qualifications for admission along with your artistic background.  Dual degree applicants will be reviewed concurrently, but independently, for both degrees.

The requirements below apply only to the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Each school or college at U-M has its own specific academic prerequisites.

We look for first year applicants to achieve the following:

• Graduation from an accredited high school.
• GPA of 3.0 or better (calculated using unweighted grades in all subjects taken from 9th–11th grade).
  • 12th grade course grades will be evaluated when made available to U-M and may impact academic eligibility for enrollment.
  • Special note: courses taken pass/fail due to the Covid-19 pandemic will not be counted negatively in our evaluations of academic preparedness.
• If you are a homeschooled or online high school student, you should submit records of your schooling progress, including any transcripts from brick-and-mortar schools or colleges in which you are dual-enrolled, results from the SAT or ACT, and results from at least two AP exam results or official transcripts for dual enrollment work completed in an accredited college or university.
• General high school curriculum requirements demonstrated on an official transcript:
  • Academic: Four years of English, plus a minimum of 12 other year-long courses selected from social studies, foreign languages, sciences, mathematics or any combination of these subjects. Two years of foreign language study is strongly recommended.
  • Performing Arts: Credits in music, theatre, and/or dance demonstrating experience and potential ability to succeed in the professional curriculum.
• Effective for the 2025 application cycle, beginning with the application for the winter 2025 term (if applicable), U-M will be test-optional. Prospective students have the choice to submit standardized test scores (ACT/SAT), if they desire, as part of their application. For those who take the ACT or SAT, minimum score recommendations are:
  • ACT of 24 or better
  • SAT of 1180 or better
  • The Bachelor of Science in Sound Engineering requires a GPA of 3.5, an SAT math sub score of 630 or better, or an ACT math sub score of 28 or better.
  • U-M does not require the essay portion of the SAT or ACT.
  • Please direct all questions about standardized testing policies to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Admission as a transfer student from another accredited college or university is based in general on the high school and university academic preparation plus the following:

• Cumulative collegiate GPA of 3.0 or better
  • Special note: courses taken pass/fail due to the Covid-19 pandemic will not be counted negatively in our evaluations of academic preparedness.
• Evidence of ability and preparation to successfully pursue courses in academic fields that constitute a part of the desired curriculum
• Evidence that the student is in good standing at the previous school or schools
• Transfer applicants to Musical Theatre are advised to fulfill additional prerequisites, view information on the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre degree page.