vanbuff

No one will tell you this until it is too late:
Everyone prepares for "acceptance"--but in very competitive programs and instruments, preparing a backup plan for being "waitlisted" or "rejected" should be done while preparing for admission.

Okay--what's a good backup plan for a high school senior in the event of not being "accepted"? Instead of hitting the panic button and enrolling in a safety school, consider taking a "gap year."

A "gap year" means enrolling as a part time college student and continuing private study to address issues encountered in the audition.

You might also enroll in a performance prep program or College Audition Prep program (like at Indiana University, Bloomingtion). During the gap year, you can check your progress with another sample lesson with the faculty member who you will reaudition for. In a few cases, you may be able to arrange studying with that faculty member.

Now here's the sweet part: when you reaudition, you may still be considered a freshman applicant--with a potential 4 admission slots. Compare this to a transfer student, for whom there may be only one slot. If you get accepted at your top choices, you can transfer academic credits taken part time. If you still just get accepted at a safety school, you can take your credits with you then take a lighter year academically tp devote more time to practice for reauditioning as a transfer student.

This is not quite a win-win strategy, but it sure beats the labor and long odds of trying to transfer from a safety school. Some teachers have a tradition of rarely taking transfers.

Important: Check with the schools about their gap year policy. Eastman, for example, will accept a gap year. But don't take my word for it--ask the question while initially applying to schools and you'll be doubly prepared to succeed!