There are a lot of very talented arts folks attending the schools you have listed.
Definitely do not arrange and perform any school songs.
Supplements can include letters of recommendation in addition to the usual required ones. For one of my kids, the music supplement LORâs were key to admission. The letter writers should describe their own backgrounds and professional roles.
I am unclear on your music activities. You wrote that you won a national piano award, and that can be listed in the Common App. It sounds like you are multi-talented and a recording might help. Do you participate in music outside of school? We lack info on whether a supplement is helpful for you.
Schools are very individual in what they accept with an application, in our experience. You might be able to submit a letter from someone you have done research with, for instance. Ask. Some even accept videos (Tufts I believe).
If you like New York, and non-traditional programs, check out NYU Gallatin as well.
Thanks for this! Though, I wasnât aware that the dual degree program was with Julliard, thatâs super cool though! I would definitely send a Piano supplemental as thatâs what Iâm best at, but with how competitive it seems, I donât even know if I could make that.
I know that many auditions have become self-tape auditions now, though wouldnât being in a big city help with accessibility to callbacks?
Are you thinking of being a performer? Then you should consider a program with a true acting component (BFA acting/MT) which is a very different audition and application program. Music vs acting are very different programs. Acting/MT programs are very intense, my older one just graduated from one and there is no time for a second major. Fordham does have a BA acting program that is a little less competitive than most but it is very intense. Acting, music and environmental science are very very different paths.
I would not worry about call backs for NYC based productions. If you are lucky enough to get one while you are still a college student you would figure it out.
Wait, if you are LGBTQ+ donât forget that Fordham is Catholic.
The arts is the biggest part of my life, though in my application I only displayed the Environmental Science part of me. I do musicals both in school and out of school, usually getting lead roles, I am part of statewide selective choral groups. Piano is my real strong suit though. I donât know how to quantify my abilities though, because Iâve never really gotten involved in the abrsm system.
I looked it up, and it doesnât seem too bad there, it seems like they have 2 support groups, and that the campus is welcoming enough.
You should do a supplement then. It may be kind of hybrid which is fine. Do you have a video of musical performances? So you have musical theater, piano and chorus. You might benefit from posting on the excellent music major forum here on CC as well as the musical theater forum. You donât need to quantify your abilities
I just saw that NYU is on your list. I live in Cambridge and my music kid went to Harvard so thought I would ask about that! You have a lot of good schools. I think your main decision would be on what degree to pursue. It sounds like you donât want a BM, BFA or double degree. You can do a BA or BS in your chosen science and still do a lot of extracurricular music and/or musical theater.
Have you considered Bard?
Look at Northwestern if you would consider another reach school. You can double major in music and environmental science. Nearly all the music majors we know are carrying double majors. It will be very competitive entry but it would check your boxes.
DePaul would be a good safety and you would see merit $.
I would look into muhlenberg, Skidmore and Vassar as safety/matches for you. They all have excellent theater programs that are BAs and would give you performance opportunities. I donât know about their environmental science departments
I think some people get annoyed when established CCâers see through BS or answer truthfully, âactually, no, you are not really competitive for âŠâ. But in your case, you are the real deal and all of us want to support you.
As an undergrad interested in music and musical theater, I donât think you need to be in NYC. And for environmental science and with your other interests, being outside the city might actually be a plus! To me, you seem like a good candidate for a top LAC.
In that case, I think you really need to change the subject line to reflect this ambition to be in NYC. âPlant Loverâ doesnât begin to describe the direction I see this thread taking.
You donât even need to double major. You can pick a school with thriving extracurricular music and musical theater, and continue lessons as well. Many schools fund and give credit for lessons (and some credit for performing at some). I repeat that I donât think you need to be in NYC for undergrad in order to continue your interests.
Very few do the Columbia/Juilliard double degree by the way. Very intense.
I donât see the fit. Some of the best environmental science programs are at Bowdoin, Bates and Colby. Can you visualize the OP going to college in Maine? I canât. Swarthmore has a very small, very hot house intensive, Theater program, but, again. I donât see her being happy in such a setting. Sheâd essentially be performing for the same small group of people (and one professor) for four years.
Her best bet would be Amherst which would give her access to the more frequent UMass try-outs. But then, why not just apply to UMass directly?
There are very fine STEM and Theater programs at Vassar and Wesleyan, but I shudder at the idea that she didnât realize that the term âliberal artsâ implies the study of science also. Sheâs a legacy at Emory. Câmon.
I visited Fordham with D19. They are totally open-minded about LGBTQ. I wouldnât let this stop OP from applying.
I would check the feasibility of doing double major at Fordham in two unrelated fields. My daughter ruled it out for this reason. They have a large core with many required courses. We actually had one prof tell us that they discouraged double majors because itâs too hard to fit it all in.