We don’t have experiences that faculty asked a question like, “What it would take to get you to come to our school”. But one of my son’s friends was asked by a school (higher rank but definitely not at top tier) because they knew that musician (very high profile) was getting offers from everywhere. I don’t know if it happened before an acceptance / offer or after that. But the musician didn’t choose the school anyway (it didn’t come in top 3 after all auditions) and decided on another. So, I am pretty sure the musician didn’t discuss about $$$ with the school.
For your daughter, because it is her TOP choice and ONLY auditioned school which means that unlikely she can appeal her top choice school if their offer isn’t enough to compare with other offers (or affordable COAs), I would recommend to send a very clear and honest message NOW that she loves the school and her top one choice but really needs a large scholarship to be able to attend before getting an acceptance. In general, music department head has only so much to push a top applicant(s) for money part but never know.
@Poprocks24 , my S only applied to 3 audition schools. From one, he received an acceptance letter from the school of music, and then a few days later the teacher reached out to him to give him a range of the scholarship he could get him, assuming he gets accepted into university itself. S sent an email thank you with a couple of questions that were answered. We’ve just left it at that for now thinking that we could haggle a bit more once all financial offers are in. I’m thinking universities would have to run numbers themselves in April to see what monies they have left from students who declined their offers.
In general I would agree with @compmom – until she is in, talking about money is premature. Do you know when this school notifies prospective students? Do they offer scholarship awards at the same time, or later?
That said, if this is her “dream choice” but it’s only accessible with a certain amount of scholarship awards, it might be worth trying to dig deeper.
Some schools (like Eastman) have information online about the level of aid they offer. Others promise they will meet full need. Is any of this information available for the school you are considering? You could also search this site to see who else has students who got into the school, and ask them via private message how much the range was.
Finally, I think there is no harm in her writing to the teacher and letting him/her know how excited she would be to attend X school. Then, as an impersonal question, she could ask if there was a range of scholarships that the school offers? I wouldn’t explain the personal situation at this time.
We did this for several of the schools my S considered and got some excellent information. Feel free to PM if you have questions or want to provide additional specifics.
Poprocks24— There are great advices here. My son actually didn’t contact any schools with thank-you notes or questions until he received acceptances. All of his earlier acceptances weren’t his top choices. He did his best so he just wanted to wait to see all results / offers on the table first.
Very interestingly, a question your daughter was asked at a live audition was “almost” exactly same. Is this wording common at music schools? If it is the same school as my son’s friend applied to which is known for small talent scholarship fund in music department but more for larger financial aids, they may be looking for how serious applicant(s) are during live auditions. The wording in their question sounds like your daughter is very qualified to their program but mattering only talent scholarship $$$ (indirectly) because generally music department only judges “talents” during auditions without “financial need information”. But again, my son didn’t get that same question so I don’t know.
I am pretty sure there are many musicians who are up front about money talk directly with music schools. My son wasn’t. But he has no regret because he ended up getting a great offer from his top choice school.
Hmm. Because my D was accepted to her top choice early she only had one other audition. She did write a thank you note to the assistant head of admissions at that school. There had been a glitch in her system schedule and the woman sought her out to personally make sure that everything was going smoothly. She checked in with D several times through out the day just to be sure. There were hundreds of students there that day and we deeply appreciated her attention and her kindness.
Thanks, everyone! I would never even think of mentioning money before she is accepted, but admissions told me they don’t take appeals (which could be just what they say) so I was on the fence. @akapiratequeen would love to message you, but I don’t have 15 posts yet so I can’t. If you are able to message me first please do. Would love your insight.
Thanks!
Starting a string of lasts at Bienen, as her last opera is this weekend. These four years have flown by, and have been accompanied by so much musical and personal growth in her. Enjoy every moment of it people. It’s done in a heartbeat.
The school said that they wouldn’t take appeals??? Is the school “meet-need” school?
From my “short” observations, sometimes school(s) seems offering bigger scholarships to applicants who are very likely attending (or show more commitment) than applicants who might choose another music school.
@JeJeJe no it is not a meet needs school. Hopefully, your observation is true as she did say in her audition that it is her number one school, and when she emailed the thank yous she reiterated that it is her top choice and dream program.
D loved Carnegie-Mellon and so did I. The campus was beautiful and the sun was shining. She had a great lesson with a faculty member she really connected to. The audition itself was onstage which was a first for her and a lot intimidating. I can tell she’s not going to last much longer. Her stress is really showing. She’s so jealous of her violist little sister who is enjoying lots of new rep. We’ve got Manhattan School of Music audition next week with a trial lesson and then we’re done. I’m trying to think of ways to make our trip to NYC extra fun, like a celebration but low budget ‘cause I’m broke.
@SweetStrings, two of my sons have precollege lessons at MSM (my oldest son is also auditioning there for the conservatory on March 4th–he’s voice. Don’t know what day you are there). Be sure to go visit Riverside Church–it’s that amazing building you can see from MSM. There are often a lot of free or inexpensive concerts given at Riverside Church’s Theatre. MSM also has a ton of free operas, musical theatre shows and instrumental recitals. Be sure to go to a few. They are great. Also, walk over to Grant’s Tomb, which is just across that little park from MSM. It’s the largest mausoleum in The States and there is a ton of history inside. It is really pretty.
I grew up just a few blocks from MSM…if you have time, walk down Broadway to 116th Street and then across the Columbia University campus to Amsterdam Avenue. Turn right and head downtown another few blocks, to Amsterdam Avenue and 113th Street. There you will find the breathtaking Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the fifth-largest cathedral in the world. And, right across the street, the most amazingly authentic and delicious Hungarian Pastry Shop outside of Budapest. Stop by for coffee and a Goose Foot or Bear Claw, and listen to the students arguing about Marx and Kant like it’s Paris in the twenties. Good times.
The Hungarian Pastry Shop!!! So good!!! And the pizza place right next to it (forget the name) is also amazing. Yes, if you have time to walk down to St. John’s, do! It’s another beautiful (HUGE!!!) cathedral. They have a fantastic vertical tour, where you actually are climbing up these tiny staircases onto different levels of St. John’s, until you find yourself up on the roof. It’s amazing! And there usually is a great art installation there. And they have a great choir if you’re there during evensong…
@SweetStrings , you’ll have so much fun (for free/cheap)!!!
Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! I’m so excited. I love yummy food. I have to confess that I’ve been feeling very doubtful lately about my daughter’s chances at all these schools. I hear the other kids practicing at auditions and it gets me scared that she’s just not good enough. Well God answered one of our prayers tonight. She was just accepted to the Aspen Music Festival. She’s beyond excited and I’m so happy for her. I’m thinking this is going to give her the boost of confidence that she needs for this last audition.
OMG… Portals checker extraordinaire that I am just spotted an “official acceptance” for my kid from Mary Pappert School of Music, Duquense University with an INITIAL $27,831 merit GIFT AID. That’s going to be followed by Talent Award (need to figure out how much) PLUS financial #'s from that office. Soooo happy he has this ONE and it’s a TOP CHOICE one. NOW the waiting is not so bad. Wasn’t expecting anything til March 21st so this is a NICE birthday present for me !!!
Since I’m the portals checker, my kid doesn’t know yet. I’m volunteering at the snack shack at his school tomorrow and thinking I’ll go in with Duq Colors balloons and the letter and maybe craft an announcement - It’s official. You’re IN!! He’s always lamenting about how kids with sports scholarships/signings get this big brouhaha at school from the universities. And nothing happens for the Music/dance/arts students… despite it being a school for the performing arts. Well, this Momma is about to make it a BIG deal that he got into one of his top choices with $$$. OK… to be honest, I really feel a need to rub it into his Guidance Counselor’s face since she had him convinced ( and quite depressed) that he wouldn’t get into any of the universities he wanted to get into, with his bottom half of the class academics. As we mamas do, I took her out of the picture and became his GC and biggest advocate. But that’s a whole other story… and long one. Lots of research, visits, lessons, interviews… ALL worked. He got into every single one of the music programs he auditioned for. Somebody needs to educate that GC in knowing that you cannot “market” talented musicians the same as you market one of the students upstairs in the Charter school with a STEM focus. Just not the same. But I digress. I’m just feeling like that someone should be me ! ?
But, this is an acceptance thread and this has been one of the most exciting ones for this Counselor Momma. I’m sure the kid will be excited as well. Planning my Acceptance Announcement strategy. I wish the school was close by so I can go buy some swag. Maybe I’ll wait to see if there’s some in the official letter before letting him know? hmmm… NAH. Can’t keep it to myself for THAT long.
Have any of you done anything “FUN” with their acceptance announcements? Most of your kids probably find out themselves, but my kid checks emails and they didn’t send one. Just wondering if anyone found out before their kids did and how did you tell them?
???Sooooo thrilled that I don’t have to hear Weber’s Clarinet Concertino again, for at least a month or two, as I’m sure it’ll pop up down the road, hopefully to be played with an orchestra. Today, I was treated to the sounds of the jazz saxophone - practicing for jazz ensemble. I didn’t even KNOW he could play that instrument that well as he’s never had any lessons. Thoroughly enjoyed something new. He has a clarinet lesson tomorrow so looking forward to hearing what comes home !! YAY indeed !!!