We are beyond thrilled because it was his top choice. I have to admit, I kept thinking it may be a long shot. Now that he's been accepted I'm really concerned about the cost. He was offered a merit scholarship, but it only covers about half. Of course, we're thankful, but it's still a pretty big chunk to figure out financially. Are there any parents of students or potential students that could point me in the right direction for more scholarships, work study opportunities, etc? I do want to make his dream a reality but am stressing the bill.
↧
S just received his acceptance info for Eastman!
↧
Prospective berklee (college of music) students? what are they looking for?
Hey all! I'm a freshman in high school but I don't think it's too early at this point to start thinking about this and looking into it, especially when applying to a selective school like Berklee.
Berklee College of Music is my dream college and I'm just looking for some advice, really.
What are the things Berklee seeks in it's students? What are the kinds of things they're expecting from you, in terms of grades, SAT/ACT scores, extra curricular activities, audition, transcript, level of musical experience (I'm a singer) and knowledge, etc etc.
I just want to get a general idea of what I need to do in order to give myself the highest chances of getting in, and I know the sooner I start to look into this stuff the better off I'll most likely be. I'd really love some feedback from people currently attending or who have attended the college.
P.S I'd really like to major in songwriting, any thoughts or advice on this specific major as well?
↧
↧
anyone surfing here because their student is having regrets that they aren't following music
He graduates in about 6 weeks and has 3 acceptances and 2 that will come out on Thursday. -If he gets in- it won't be financially practical since we are full pay everywhere. The State Flagship is the most likely choice.
Last spring he was considering music and we toured some well known schools. Indiana and Cincinnati. He changed his mind in the fall and applied everywhere as a business major.
Now he is having regret. powerful singer, great results in the HS musical. He has good stats. A- average with 5 AP classes and 33 ACT. I know some of it goes to his head and he started to have regrets.
He definitely says music now- which he could pursue at the state flagship. His HS choir said she has connections there but would could the scenario even look like?
At this point, I think he should go at start with a music minor and then pursue a major if his interest stays strong.
any other comments or support???
↧
Bard Conservatory vs Oberlin Conservatory for composition?
I’d like as much help as possible --I need to make a big decision. I have been given the opportunity to study composition as a dual degree student at both Bard and Oberlin. While the financial situation at Bard would be somewhat better, both schools have been very generous (thus, I hope to be able to take into account more qualitative data). In terms of deciding upon an intended academic major, I have very little clarity; originally environmental studies seemed interesting, then I thought perhaps psychology, and now I’m seriously considering film studies/production. With just a basic understanding of the curriculums of these various programs, I’d assume the lattermost would create the most seamless pairing with comp --but, I imagine this depends on the school. I would really appreciate any thoughts/opinions on this matter! I’ll list some general criteria/questions below.
1. How Integrated are the conservatories with their respective colleges? I know, of course, that all Bard students are dual degree, but does that really mean the two schools are more closely related? I understand that some Obies complain about separation b/w the CAS and CON, but does this divide exist for Dual Degree students? I must admit I haven’t really decided what level of integration attracts me.
2. If I decided I wanted to drop my academic Major…? I don’t think this would be possible at Bard (Idk though), and at Oberlin I would be concerned about losing a large portion of my merit aid from the college.
3. Overall style/direction of the conservatories (specifically the composition departments)?
4. Experiences with Staff? I interviewed with Stephen Hartke and Elizabeth Ogonek at Oberlin and Joan Tower and George Tsontakis at Bard. While I have no doubt that both departments and the staff within them are brilliant/renowned, I wonder if working with composers who are older (bard) would be better/worse than the alternative. Composers at the tail end of their careers, while they are more conscious of leaving a legacy through their teaching, do they not also approach new styles with hesitancy?
5. What are alumni doing? Typical Grad schools students get into?
6. How accessible are ensembles for comp students? I’m a pianist/percussionist (although most of my piano background is in jazz).
7. Performance opportunities for my music?
8. Piano lessons / lessons on any instrument? Would these be with students or faculty?
9. Perception of student body? While Oberlin strikes me as (overall) more academically driven, both seem very artsy and chill --a vibe I enjoy. That said, I wouldn’t want this “vibe” to be the byproduct of disengaged, jaded artists that are more interested in cigs than academic/social involvement. (that’s kind of the image of Bard students that cc and other sources have created for me --I’d love to be told otherwise!).
10. Location? Both are in the middle of nowhere; both have sucky winters; both are relatively adjacent to small towns that seem economically dependent upon the student body. Any distinctions, positive or negative?
11. Intramural soccer? I’ve played competitively for the majority of my life. While I’m aware that athletics aren’t big at either school, are there still some opportunities for leisurely participation?
12. Comparison of the academic departments I mentioned? I’m under the impression that Film is stronger at Bard, although I know Ed Helms went through Oberlin.
Thanks so much for reading all of this! I never thought it would become so lengthy. I’d really appreciate any information you have to offer, and I apologize for any inaccuracies in the “assumptions” I have made.
↧
SUNY Fredonia vs. Potsdam (Crane) for Music Composition
Looking for feedback regarding either of these programs or a comparison of the two from anyone who might have first hand knowledge.
↧
↧
Send your No's early!
Quick reminder to all of those kiddos and parents sitting on letters. If you know a school is a no, notify them now. You could help another kiddo come off wait-list before putting a deposit down on another school. I know many of us have kiddos or are a kiddo sitting on a wait-list they hope to come off of.
↧
University of Kentucky for Vocal Performance
My D is a senior and is planning to apply to several of the well-known voice programs (Mannes, Michigan, USC, Miami Frost, etc). We just recently heard that the University of Kentucky has an excellent music school with a particularly good program in voice/opera. This school was not on our radar at all but we are hoping to learn more. Do any of you know anything about UK? Has anyone visited or had lessons there? Anyone gone through auditions there? Thanks so much for any information.
↧
Making the Wise Choice
So we have all the information. This is another debt/return discussion, and I will apologize in advance for the length.
S has 4 choices on the table to study bass. Purchase, (in state public), Wm. Paterson, New School and NEC. He declined his spot/scholarship at Hartt a while ago, so they could make the offer to someone else before April 1. We aren't factoring in Eastman, although he remains on the waitlist. (They are only taking 1 jazz bass this year, so the chances of getting off the list are slim.)
We discussed at the beginning of the process that if he got into any of the expensive schools without merit, that amounted to a rejection and would not be feasible financially. For a bit of background, we are poster children for the Great Recession; job loss followed by long term unemployment, savings wiped out to keep afloat and pay for a cross-country move for work, with a house we no longer lived in that wouldn't sell in the housing crash and ended up foreclosed. We have landed on our feet, fortunately, but can't afford to tap into what retirement we have managed to build back up, nor do we have home equity to tap as we have been renting since the foreclosure. We have a younger son graduating in '18.
We have been frugal, and did build up some savings over the past 5 years. Those savings, combined with current income/reduced spending makes us able to pay for Purchase or Wm. Paterson, (where he got the max talent scholarship, making it slightly less expensive than Purchase), for 4 years with minimal student loans, which we would help pay. Both schools are also within commuting distance should anything unforeseen change our circumstances, and both are an easy trip into NYC.
New School offered a 1/2 tuition scholarship. NEC less than that, but packaged in work study and additional Perkins loans. The direct costs minus aid for both come in at almost double that of Purchase/Paterson. He loves both schools. NEC would be his top choice if costs weren't a factor, with New School being a close second. He would have to max out student loans, and we would have to take out PLUS loans to get him through the 4 years at either. We COULD. But don't think maybe we should.
S has had lessons and visits with the teachers at Purchase and Paterson, and likes both very much. He is being incredibly mature and absolutely un-spoiled about the whole thing. I'm the one who is struggling with it. Would the higher level of playing, the rigor, the connections, the immersive experiences at NEC/NS make the risks acceptable? My head says no. My heart says what this kid has accomplished in the 2 1/2 years since he first touched a double bass is extraordinary and he should go wherever the opportunities are the greatest.
I spent half the day yesterday over on the Financial Aid/Scholarships forum, reading all the "you can't afford this school" responses. I think I know what we have to do. But I thought I'd post this and maybe get some sympathy and/or reassurance. :) And maybe make some folks going through the same thing feel not alone. Thanks.
↧
Graduate Music Programs
My S is graduating from South Carolina in May and has applied to Yale, CIM, Maryland, UGA, Rice and UT-Austin. So far he's received audition invites to all but UT (believe it was an application issue but they are last on his list anyway) and Yale (waiting to hear back).
I should mention he plays Bass Trombone and is focused on orchestral music. Don't have time to search through all the threads on here, but any comments/advice/input on the aforementioned programs are much appreciated.
↧
↧
Ithaca vs Crane Music Education and Vocal Performance
I have visited and taken lessons at both schools, and I liked both teachers about equally. Ithaca creates better performers while crane has a better reputation for producing wonderful music educators. Ithaca has a much cuter and more vibrant town, and is a better school in general than SUNY Potsdam (which is important to me, as I've worked very hard in school throughout high school). Crane is so so much cheaper, which is a huge factor. Ithaca is closer to home, which is important to me as well.
Can't decide between the two schools. I'm struggling because I can see myself at both.
Also, I want to go to grad school as well, which is why money is such a big factor.
↧
Was the April 1st Decision Day an April Fool's?
Hi everyone. My high school senior son is a jazz drummer and we are waiting to have all school decisions in hand. I am new to all this. I began listening to jazz when my son started playing it. When I took marimba lessons in college, my teacher told me I had no inner rhythm after a month of lessons so I turned in my mallets. All that to say that I don't know much about the world of music, music schools, the process of admissions, etc. prior to our embarking on this endeavor.
He's been accepted to MSM, Oberlin, NEC, and UNT. We are waiting on Frost and the New School as well as on scholarship info from UNT. MSM is where he wants to go but they offered no money. I could borrow to make MSM happen but I am of the mind that the quarter of a million price tag and the fact that I have another child who will go to college in three years makes that idea seem financially unwise.
My main reason for posting is to ask if this is normal - to not hear by April 1st from Frost and the New School? I can tell from MezzoMama's acceptance thread (god bless her for doing that thread) that Frost and the New School have sent out decisions in other departments - could it be that drummers just haven't heard yet? I have the same question about UNT and scholarships - that seems like it would all go out the same day for instruments. So much guess work here!
Thanks to any who have thoughts. I feel like I am struggling with many issues about this. My son is much calmer. And he seems ok with just being happy with the validation from MSM - though he would love to study with the teacher there and be in NYC.
My best to all of you and good luck with the process.
↧
Affording Berklee
I have a student who was accepted to Berklee with no merit award and REALLY wants to be in Boston and be part of the Berklee community. Can anyone tell me if they had any success appealing an award there, or coming up with creative ways to afford their school. For instance, living off campus and taking several Berklee online classes at a third the price, work study, etc.
You can post or pm me.
Thanks.
↧
What to do for the schools you will NOT be attending
My daughter is replying to all of the schools she will not be attending so that it releases the spot to someone else. I remember my older daughter had postcards that you checked and returned with a deposit. You had the option of checking, "will not be attending". My d has checked the schools websites after logging in to her portals and cannot find a way to officially decline. Is there something we are missing?
She is writing emails to the head of the departments to let them know she will not be accepting their offer but I was wondering if there is something more official she should do so that they are confident she won't be changing her mind.
Any info would be appreciated.
↧
↧
IU/Jacobs School of Music finacial aid
I checked my financial aid amounts on my IU account this weekend. It said that this was my "initial" financial award. Does anyone know if it is updated later with scholarship info?
↧
Yale School of Music 2016
Starting a thread for this year as the only other one I could find had posts from 2009. Open to anything related to the Grafuate School of Music at Yale,
My S (music performance, U of South Carolina) plays bass trombone and will be auditioning in late February for 2016-17 MM program....welcome any thoughts, comments, tips etc
↧
About Berklee Housing/Meals/Operations
An update on my daughter at Berklee. She just finished her first year.
The classes at Berklee are stunning.
The operations and housing/meal policies at Berklee are horrendous.
The communications at Berklee are horrendous. (The blackout they had in Boston last spring confirmed this in spades. Parents were reduced to scanning inaccurate news reports for information. Students had no idea what was going on during their exam week.) Students get most of their information via an unsanctioned facebook group. (Thank goodness for that!)
The dorm/meal plan options at Berklee are horrendous. If you live at 150, the closest dorm to campus, you MUST be on their full meal plan. I thought that was just for freshman year. No, it is for every year you live there. The cafeteria is JUST an all you can eat cafeteria. You MUST use it. (My daughter hates the food. It is ALL carbohydrates. If there is protein, it is covered in carbohydrates. There is a small salad bar.) You can't take any food or drink out, except in a small container that you can pay an extra $5 for (but no liquids). You can't use meal plan money to buy groceries or anything else. You can try to use it at a small cafe for lunch with tremendous lines, but most students won't be able to because of time constraints. (Furthermore, I was told by a full-time employee who worked there (and he made sure that I knew he was a full-time employee) that this policy was never going to change. It was useless for me to write to anyone about it even to suggest future changes.)
People complain that schools spend money on climbing walls and then raise tuition. Berklee doesn't even have a gym.
You go to Berklee for one reason. Music.
It was the only school my daughter applied to... It would NOT have been my choice.
Looks like it will be an apartment next year for her despite my concerns. I didn't want her to have the double whammy of a new apartment and demanding classes her first year. And next summer we were looking at a possible internship so I didn't want to worry about subletting for her second year.
But at this point, I'll do ANYTHING to distance myself as FAR as I can from the operations at Berklee.
↧
Summer Program
I was wondering if there are any good classical voice/audition preparation summer programs in the west? USC had one but cancelled due to low enrollment. If not, could someone recommend a really good one anywhere? Thanks.
↧
↧
University of Michigan vs. BU vs. Carnegie Mellon
I was admitted to the piano performance programs at the University of Michigan and Boston University. I am currently on the priority waitlist at Carnegie Mellon and I'm hoping to get off of that waitlist.
Assuming I'm admitted to all three, which one has the best piano program/overall music program. Thanks!
↧
Thoughts on Frost School?
I'd love to hear from those with experience at The Frost School in Miami. How is the school culture? Are music students generally serious students? Do they integrate into the university? Is it a total party school? My D received a very nice offer for VP via a recorded audition but we have not visited nor have we had contact with a professor there. She was also accepted at her dream school (Michigan) but with very little money. Frost would be about half the price so I feel that it is worth serious consideration. Thank you so much for any information!
↧
Best Music College
I am a current high school student struggling to see what music college is the best fit for me. I have been accepted to Eastman, New England Conservatory, Berklee, Frost schools of Music, and Rutgers. My primary instrument is Jazz Trumpet and I want to get a Music Ed degree. I've talked to a lot of music people and almost all of them said get a Music Ed degree first. However, NEC doesn't have one, but I still wouldn't mind getting a Jazz Performance degree. It's not the end of the wolrd for me if I don't get a Music Ed Degree. If anyone can help and give some advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You
↧