lorelei2702

That bad, huh? It must be awful for a parent to think paying Boston apartment rents is a preferable option! I made the decision when we took the audition tour this year to not clutter my brain with all the visuals until we knew where there would be acceptances. Now, of course, I need to know more, but all of it is superfluous to the educational decision. When he decides I will find out what I need to know.

Bassdad: The waitlist thing is always a problem. It comes to an issue of pride. Even though it is with a very fine school, with an excellent musical reputation, the fact is that they did not choose him as a high priority, for whatever reason, and even if they issue a subsequent offer of admission, it will never be as much fun, as much of an accomplishment. There would be a feeling of second class citizenship. [My daughter was deferred by a very fine school several years ago, even though she was NMS, because she had one term of a C in a course which she dropped, retook with a good teacher and earned an A. Subsequently, the music school used their admit to get her in regular admission and gave her ALL the money they had, their highest offer. She could not get past the fact that the school itself did not want her, and she chose another school.] So I know that kids think about this, especially in a field where performance ego is so important. He might revisit, try to re-engage his enthusiasm that he felt at the time of the auditions, and it might be okay, but maybe not; and we understand how he would feel.

Does anyone know when those waitlists tend to open? Probably it would be most tempting if it happened really fast or if it happend quite late, when he is away from his high school friends with whom he has already processed this. Meanwhile he has some other options when are really good, and he is currently sorting out the teacher situations.

juliatorgo

I am starting this thread for all who are interested in discussing thoughts or concerns about studying a classical instrument in universities and conservatories. This was a discussion originally begun in the Parents forum in this thread: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...ead.php?t=8555

juliatorgo

The NEC dorms are indeed quite bad but they are survivable- a really close friend of mine (another soprano, of course) is now finishing up her first year at NEC and she lived in the dorms there so if you have any specific questions, I could forward them on to her and report back. You could also think of some excuse for your children not to live in them their first year, provided you find alternate housing. It's complex but it can be done. I have a picture of the dorms if that would be helpful to any of you. The bathrooms are questionable but again, it's all managable.

I started a thread for Music Majors under College Majors>Arts Majors (as noted by dancersmom above). You can access the thread from this link: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...745#post659745

operamom

Does anyone have current information about the vocal performance program at Oberlin Conservatory? We are hearing conflicted reports about the teachers who are there now. S was admitted to both the college and the conservatory with good scholarships, and three people have called him about joining their studios. Are there any current students (or parents of students) who can tell us how they like their voice teachers and who would be willing to email us and answer our questions? We would be so grateful. We want to visit (All Roads Lead to Oberlin...) early next week.

lorelei2702

Brava, Julia!

lorelei2702

When all the voice (or other area teachers) are chasing your child down the hall (figuratively), there are two (perhaps) reasons to be wary: your child is much better than everyone else there and/or the faculty does not get along with each other (very internally competitive-always a danger with voice faculty!!!!) IMHO, the best teachers do not pursue students. They express friendliness, encouragement, enthusiasm, they offer help or to answer questions, but they DO NOT approach students with "I have room in my studio for you". It is unprofessional. It puts the student in a position of turning someone down, and there is inevitably a feeling of rejection. Feelings are hurt, egos are bruised, etc. Beware!

shennie

Bassdad - Son was accepted to 2 schools a few years ago with no teacher assignments to either. (Neither school was Oberlin.) The school he most wanted to attend also had the teacher he most wanted to study with. We were not going to commit to that school, however, until we knew with whom he would study. Son had had 2 lessons with this teacher previously and I had also met the teacher both of these times. So I got on the phone, and in the most tactful way possible, told the teacher that my son was very interested in studying with him and I did not feeling comfortable sending in the deposit unless I knew who his teacher would be. (My son's second choice teacher was at the other school where he had been accepted.) The teacher I spoke with said he would love to have my son in his studio, he needed to speak to some people and he would get back to us. My son received a call the next day from the teacher telling him that he would be placed in his studio.

So, I think that if your daughter is very interested in one of the teachers at Oberlin, it is worth making a call. It is possible the teacher will tell you that they can't place until June, but it may turn out for you the way it turned out for my son. I don't think you have anything to lose. Email me if you want more details.

sopranosmom

operamom -- My D looked very seriously at Oberlin last year at this time (she did not go). However, I do know about a few of the teachers there. Please email me privately if you have questions.

BassDad

Shennie,

That sounds reasonable. We will be going out there for a visit next week over daughter's spring break. We hope to have a sample lesson with both teachers involved and, if necessary, have a live discussion along the lines you suggest. We would be happy with one of the teachers involved but know nothing about the other. Who knows, it may turn out that we would be even happier with the second one.

sopranosmom

BassDad -- I forgot to direct my message to you, too. I know a bit about the Oberlin teachers from investigating last year. Please email me if you'd like.

juliatorgo

Hi, all. I just found out that I was waitlisted at NEC. I don't think that it has hit me yet. I just feel very numb at this point.

Does anyone have any experience with getting off of waitlists at conservatories? I called NEC and they wouldn't tell me how many people were waitlisted this year (as they don't even know how many of them will choose to remain on the waitlist and said that telling me how many waitlist offers they sent out would be misleading), but they did say that they tend to accept mostly male voices off of the waitlist. I'm a soprano and they said that I have a chance but it's very slim. Last year they only accepted 4 people from the waitlist. How do I make myself a more desirable waitlistee? Any suggestions would be very welcome. I do plan to write them a letter expressing how much I want to go there but is there anything else that I can do? Thanks in advance!

thumper1

Yes Lorelei...the DORM (singular...there is only one) is that bad at NEC....at least we all thought it was. The dining hall was also awful (in our opinions). Survivable...yes. NICE...NO!!

marcyr

<<When all the voice (or other area teachers) are chasing your child down the hall (figuratively), there are two (perhaps) reasons to be wary: your child is much better than everyone else there and/or the faculty does not get along with each other (very internally competitive-always a danger with voice faculty!!!!) >>

Lorelei, you nailed it in one with this comment. Back when my son interviewed at NYU, the composition prof. he spoke with (for a very long time - DS felt bad that she kept him into someone else's interview time) literally chased him down the hall as he was leaving, giving him her business card on which she had written her home and cell phone numbers. She said that, as far as she was concerned, he was accepted, and that he should call her if he had any questions or there was anything she could do to help him. DS thought it was very flattering but somewhat alarming that she was so impressed with him and his music when he wasn't all that impressed himself. As it turned out, NYU wouldn't let him double-major within the same department (music composition and music education are both run out of the Education dept.), so he turned the music comp. acceptance down and went elsewhere. When DS visited Oberlin he had the opportunity to interview with two of the music composition profs. Prof. A badmouthed Prof. B, and vice versa, and when DS got home he told me that he was worried about getting caught in the middle of their private war, and pulled his application. You have to wonder if the professors have any idea how their behavior can affect potential students?

BassDad

I concur with thumper. "Survivable" is just about right. The room/board charge for 2005-6 is $10,650 and the dorms are open for about 215 days a year, resulting in a per diem cost of just about $50 per occupant. If we assume half goes for food and half for housing, we come up with a monthly rental cost of $1500 for about 150 square feet of space with a shared bathroom.

sopranosmom

BassDad - I misunderstood -- thought you were the father of a 'bass' -- i.e. vocalist -- I don't have any info on the instrumental teachers at Oberlin. GOOD LUCK!