I did this once, but completely changed my track so I wanted some advice.
Demographics
US Citizen
Nevada- do NOT want to stay for college
Magnet Public School
White Female- Italian and Jewish
First Generation Student
Intended Major(s)
I want to go into Music Management, but also looking to generalize to Business
Music Management/Business
Economics (HOD as double ?)
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: 3.93
Weighted HS GPA (incl. weighting system): 4.873 (cap of 4.95)
Class Rank: 14 of 276
ACT/SAT Scores:
Not great at testing (or studying for that matter)
SAT: 1280, taking it again in May and June
took March ACT- waiting to get score
Coursework
Taken:
AP Human Geography- 4
AP World- 4
AP Calculus AB- 3
AP Psychology- 5
AP Lang- 4
Currently Taking:
AP Lit
AP Physics C Mechanics
AP Statistics
AP Seminar
Next Year:
AP Research, Calc BC, Biology, Micro/Macro, Government
Awards
1st in Entrepreneurship Case Study (DECA)
1st in Marketing (FBLA)
2nd in Event Planning (FBLA)
3rd in Business Communications (FBLA)
3rd in Buying and Merchandising (DECA)
6th in Hospitality and Tourism (FBLA)
Extracurriculars (Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience) In School
President of DECA high school chapter (formerly distributive education centers of America)
President of FBLA high school chapter
Nevada FBLA State Vice President of Service
Historian to Vice President of HOSA future health professionals (not part of track but competed in behavioral health/psychology)
Mock Trial attorney
NHS
student ambassador Out of School
Youth Entrepreneurial Success Program (Y.E.S.) which helps students learn how to start a business and provides grants to get start-ups running
on the panel for Nevada Teacher of the Year
volunteer for Calling All Crows which connects music fans to feminist movements in order to build safer live music spaces
volunteer for local library to help run the summer reading program and be a part of the school-age children’s program Professional Work Experience
Ticketing and Hospitality for a holiday Christmas light show event (seasonal)
Usher for Jersey Boys Musical (current)
Essays/LORs/Other
LORs coming from AP physics and AP lit teachers, pretty good
Essays should be strong as well
Cost Constraints / Budget
need aid, net price calculator around 30k ?
Schools
I would love to go to school in Nashville
my tops are Vandy (would ED) and Belmont (completely different I know); Vandy is a long shot for me so any advice would be greatly appreciated!
I would also love to be matched to some schools in major music areas (business related!)
I know a current Belmont student with a profile similar to yours, so I agree it is a good match if it meets your budget.
Are you saying you can afford $30k/year and the Net Price Calculators on each school website are getting you there?
I think it is unlikely that any of the UC schools will be affordable. They are public universities and stingy with aid to out-of-state students. Instead, maybe run the Net Price Calculator at Occidental College in California.
For a potentially more affordable school with a 68% acceptance rate that might be closer to a likely admit/safety, look at Middle Tennessee State, which has a good music business program. Of course, run the Net Price Calculator there, too.
Yes, I believe the 30k is what we can afford to pay, and of course I would apply to scholarships etc. I will look more into Middle Tennessee, thank you!
U of Colorado Denver is strong in this area, and it’s a WUE school so it would likely be within budget. Denver isn’t Nashville, but it has a pretty good music scene. Might be worth a look: Music Business
Belmont is finally hiring / allowing Jewish faculty - but mainly due to a med school. But I don’t know if $30K can work.
I can’t speak to the strength - but when you have budget, go where you can afford - (hopefully Vandy works) - but you need an assurance.
MTSU is a good suggestion - not necessarily as a Jewish student though - these might not either. Why these two (as financial safeties) - they are WUE schools and you are sure to afford. See links below.
Tennessee State (and HBCU but not all are students of color) has a commercial concentration in the business school- is not far from Music Row, and likely will prove more affordable.
But if you want to be in Nashville - you’ve got MTSU as a sure thing but not budget wise. And it’s 30 or so miles from Nashville.
In fact, other than Vandy (if you have $30K as the NPC said and can afford) I don’t see a financial safety - certainly not any UCs and unlikely IU. Miami of Florida is another meets need school (also would have to be TO).
I agree that the UCs should be eliminated from your list as there is no way they will come close to budget (they will be more than $70k/year), apart from UC-Merced which would still be around $19k/year for tuition with WUE, which does not include room & board. But nothing in business or music is eligible for WUE there, so scratch that (source).
But, these are some other California publics you may want to consider include that would run just a bit over $8600/year for tuition via WUE:
Cal State - Chico: This is one of the more residential campuses amongst the Cal States and among the WUE-approved fields are Music Industry and Recording Arts, along with many business fields (source).
Cal State - Northridge: This school is one of the Cal States particularly known for its music program, but others will have to share more about whether it’s more of a commuter school. (WUE info)
Cal Poly - Pomona: This school had the reputation of being more of a commuter school, but I think that has been shifting over the past few years. Within music you could major in industry studies or there’s also business options, all of which are available through WUE (source).
Sonoma State might also be worth looking into, and also has a reputation of being more of a residential experience (WUE info).
In terms of other parts of the country, definitely look into Loyola New Orleans (LA). It has a robust music program and it would probably be fairly easy to combine your interests in business and music.
If you’re interested in being in New York City, run the NPC for Fordham, which would be a likelier admit than NYU and also has a Lincoln Center campus. Also, CUNY City College or CUNY Brooklyn would be extremely likely admits and good music options with tuition a bit over $15k (though remember…living in NYC is expensive).
In Chicago, check out DePaul.
A school that would likely be a financial and academic safety would be U. of Memphis.
