Curtis Institute of Music
Philadelphia, PA · private nonprofit
Official site ↗Admissions
| Admit rate | 7% |
| Applicants | — |
| Middle-50% SAT | —–— |
| Middle-50% ACT | —–— |
| Avg GPA | — |
| Test policy | — |
| Avg net price / yr | — |
| Grad rate | 95% |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | — |
| Source | scorecard_bulk · 2025 |
Application requirements
- •Personal profile: Name, address, demographics, citizenship.
- •Family: Parent/guardian education and occupation (used for first-gen context).
- •Education: Current school, GPA/rank if reported, courses & grades, planned senior courses.
- •Testing: SAT/ACT scores (self-reported); many schools are test-optional or test-blind — check per school.
- •Activities: Up to 10 activities with role, hours/week, weeks/year.
- •Personal essay: One 250–650 word essay from the Common App prompts.
- •Recommendations: Counselor recommendation + typically 1–2 teacher recommendations.
- •School supplements: Per-school essays and questions (the 'Why us', short-answer, etc.).
Supplemental essays
Answer 1 of 3 — max null words each.
- If you could design your own performance project, unrestricted by resources or logistics, what would it be and why?
- How do you balance respecting tradition with discovering and expressing your own artistic voice as a performer or composer?
- Where do you see your artistic life 10 years after graduation, and how will Curtis prepare you to achieve that vision?
- If you were accepted, what unique perspective or contribution would you bring to the Curtis community? Is there something you would like the admissions committee to know about that may not come across in your application?
- As a young artist, tell us about a time you questioned or challenged a commonly held belief. What prompted it and what was the outcome?
- What is one of the most memorable musical experiences you have had and why?
Copied verbatim from the school's official admissions page (2025-26 cycle).