@BenniesMom1 Congrats! So thrilled for you! And great job momma being his best advocate! My S went to a huge public HS and I definitely stepped up as GC and momager as well.
My two cents: tell him to open the portal and check for himself. There’s nothing like seeing that letter and knowing you — not your mom, much as you love her — did it!! Take a video of him checking the portal and bust out the swag and balloons after he sees the good news. He’ll get to see those $$ on paper and really take it in.
@SweetStrings, my son is returning to Aspen. It is a ton of fun! Message me with any questions. Congrats to your daughter! Level of play is insane so you know she’s doing something right.
@BenniesMom1 WOW! Congrats to both of you! Sounds like he’s well on his way and now just has to pick from all those acceptances!
So true about the GC. Ours is nice enough, but she really doesnt have any experience dealing with students in music programs…from what I can tell. We had a meeting a few weeks ago and it became clear to me that she wasnt well informed. It’s ok, though, i have always been my D’s advocate and will continue that as long as needed.
@songbirdmama bittersweet, I’m sure, but from what I read about your D here, this is just the beginning for her. Has she made any decisions about summer and grad school?
My daughters College counselor was extremely supportive as far as time deadlines, essay proofing, handholding and cheerleading but also did not have a ton of experience with students in music programs. I thought that her teachers would be more helpful than they with recommendations for schools. College Confidential was so helpful. I don’t think we could have done it without CC. But really it felt like everyone contributed in someway. Applying to music programs is a completely different experience.
@BenniesMom1 I would ask him if he has checked the portal, and if not, as seems likely, suggest that he do it. He needs to find out for himself. Then follow his lead as to how to act.
@compmom and @akapiratequeen … the plan IS to let him read the letter himself BEFORE he gets to the balloons and swag, if any, which will be with me in the kitchen/snack shack. He works (student aides) in the school’s front office. I’ve already alerted the Office administrator and she will send him to the copier (or whichever way she figures) where there will be a copy of the letter. I’m in the snack shack making my Mac n Cheese. He comes in there to help when the bell rings, which is where he will find me. I KNOW my kid… and am pretty sure he’ll be looking to TELL me his news. He RARELY checks the portal, so telling him to check it is a dead give away and will ruin the effect reading the letter himself will have. Maybe I’ll wait til he gets it in the mail? NAH… who knows when THAT will be. Plus I’ve already let the office know and they’re all SUPER excited for him, have been following him on the journey, know his stress level each week and have heard his “after auditions” stories, so I think that’ll be a perfect place and way for him to find out. The administrator even told me this morning that she can see the sparkle back in his eyes now that he’d DONE with auditions and how he’s been worried about all his music acceptances but not being officially accepted into the university yet. So, the news is not coming from me. I’m in the shack doing my thing. ?Hopefully someone will record his reaction in the office, which has a glass window so I can spy from the shack. HA. The more I think about it, the more I think that will be the perfect place for him to hear it. The Dean’s Secretary actually wrote one of his recommendations cause he’s aided/worked there for the last two years.
@Pl1277 It is a beginning as well as an ending, to be sure. She still has three auditions upcoming in early March, so her wait is ongoing.
@Musicmom2two Totally agree regarding how useful this forum is for music applicants. D went to a large public high school. Good music, but the guidance counselors knew next to nothing about the process. They discouraged her from applying to several schools where she was ultimately accepted, basing their judgement on how successful their high school had been in the past (eg: very few U Michigan or Northwestern acceptances without near perfect SAT’s). Her private teacher was instrumental in helping her decision process, as was this forum. We are very grateful for all the advice senior members have shared over the years, and hope to be able to give back to the community.
@BenniesMom1 Congratulations! I haven’t posted much here because my D ‘20 got in early at Puget Sound, so we’ve been done with the process since mid-December. But I’m so pleased to know that there’s hope for these bottom half students who are talented musicians. I have a percussionist ‘22 who just hasn’t hit his stride academically yet. ?
Congratulations @BenniesMom1 !!! You should receive a physical letter in the mail soon. My D’s letter arrived in the mail 2 days after it was available in the portal.
@SweetStrings, I’m glad to hear that you and your D had a good experience at Carnegie Mellon. My older D graduated from there in 2016 with a dual major (Vocal Performance and Music Ed), and she just loves CMU! Anyway, you mentioned a trial lesson at MSM in conjunction with your D’s audition visit. Do you have any advice as to how to go about that? My younger D has her audition at MSM on March 4 for BM Violin Performance. We plan to travel to NYC on March 3 and then to Bloomington, IN on March 5 for an audition at IU/Jacobs on March 6.
Has anyone ever experienced getting accepted to the Music School within a university but being rejected by the University itself? My son auditioned at Shepherd but the standards for Rice University itself are so high - (ie the average SAT score there is apparently 1530). My thought was that, because they don’t officially require any specific SAT score, they probably make exceptions for specific skills (music, sports teams) but I really don’t know!
@IronCitEE thanks for sharing how much your older daughter liked CMU. We were going in blind, it was a last minute application at the urging of a music teacher. D is so glad she applied. For trial lessons we typically email the professor directly simply stating we’re going to be in town for the audition and can we get a lesson? Be prepared to pay a pretty penny. So, try emailing her top two teacher choices. Being so close to auditions you need to act quickly or they may be too busy. We’re going to be at MSM on the 3rd. Good luck with the quick trip to IU afterwards.
@SweetStrings, thank you for your advice about trial lessons. I was incorrectly under the impression that teachers wouldn’t want to do that in conjunction with an audition visit. Now I’m thinking it might be too late, but I’ll talk to my D about it. Safe travels and good luck!
Debbie Downer here. Has anyone started to double think sending their kid far away due to the Coronavirus threat? I’m wondering if sending D to a school that is just a 3 hour car ride would be a better option than the school that requires a flight. UGHH!!
@3gigglinggirls While I think the current concern about Covid-19 is premature, it is a good wake up to the reality of being far from your kiddos. We initially thought Philly to Chicago wasn’t a big deal because it’s “just a 2 hr flight”, but when you add travel to and from airports, early arrivals for security purposes, availability and cost of flights, it did limit the number of times we saw D in the last 4 years. It was especially tough when she was sick last fall and ended up in the ER. She did have to manage a lot that she would have relied on us to do if we were closer. Was that a bad thing? I don’t think so. It was uncomfortable but growth is generally painful. She is now very well equipped for life -learned how to fend for herself and create a new support system, and we learned to trust her judgements and instincts. I would have LOVED to have been able to see all her performances, and hang out for a mother-daughter weekend of brunch, tea and shopping, and to have nursed her in when she was sick, or broke up with her high school boyfriend. However, for me (and this is highly personal) the separation was necessary for her to become fully independent. Not because of any lack on her part, but because of MY tendency to hover too much. I learned to let her do her thing out of necessity, and it turns out, she is thriving. This is just our experience and what works for one family might not work for others. Virus aside, it is worth some deep thought.
