@Racingfan53 glad you had a good experience at UNT. My son is a freshman there in voice and loves it.
Admitted student days: Have you found them to be helpful for music students? Or are we better off trying to arrange something on our own through the music school itself?
@Racingfan53 My D was also at UNT yesterday. She echoed some of your comments and added there were a ton of people there, but overall enjoyed the experience. Good luck to you!
Both of the admitted students days my son is planning on attending are specifically for the music students . I believe at Duquesne they have special ones for each of their 9 schools - Music Showcase for admitted students. He doesn’t want to go to any that are just general because just like on those general tours, Music students often don’t get to hear much about their department much less get to see it . We stopped doing general tours early on in the search and started attending / arranging music department specific ones which were MUCH better !
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Both of the admitted students days my son is planning on attending are specifically for the music students . I believe at Duquesne they have special ones for each of their 9 schools - “Music Showcase” for admitted students. Same at Tell School of Music… it’s specific to the department. He doesn’t want to go to any that are just general because just like on those general tours, Music students often don’t get to hear much about their department much less get to see it . We stopped doing general tours early on in the search and started attending / arranging music department specific ones which were MUCH better !
I imagine the admitted student days within the department WOULD be helpful. On one of his auditions he got a tour of the university and had lunch with only music students (5 of them). Since these are going to be the folks he spends the bulk of his time with, he found it to be very helpful talking with them, getting his questions answered and seeing the school from music students’ perspective. I imagine the admitted students day would be more of the same on a larger scale. The schedule for the day shows some ensemble sit ins, jam sessions , special breakouts by major, faculty chats etc which I think will be VERY useful.
I wasn’t done editing and got a call so didn’t let me finish. Sorry for double post.
Interesting update. Sent in a video audition for a state school Friday because we couldn’t make either audition day they had offered. Sent in prescreens from October because we haven’t had time to record anything new. D got a call last night (Sat evening) from head of the department who then gave the school a hard sell. She asked D where else she had auditioned and D told her; then she proceeded to discuss perks of the program and the path D could take (don’t want to get too specific here other than to say D would have some advantages and be able to bypass some basic requirements to do more advanced work).
It was an unexpected but lovely outreach from a CA school that made D feel wanted and appreciated. She was invited for lessons and master classes and we will see how the schedule plays out. I thought it was a wonderful gesture on her part.
Best wishes to all who audition this week!
Interesting update indeed !! There’s no ?button on here so had to reply to say I more than liked !! ? My son’s top choice school is one such school… where he felt VERY wanted and appreciated AND the options given for double major of Performance & Music Industry work right into what he wants to do. It’s not our state school but one of neighboring PA flagships school. It IS a wonderful gesture when they reach out like that or go out of there way to make the student feel wanted and appreciated !! Certainly adds a twist to the decision making process, that’s for sure. AND WOW on the quick response !! ??
There are definitely some hidden gems in the state school’s music schools !! Sounds like your D found one of those. !!
Just curious… they accept videos even if you’re in State? or are you waaaaaaay on the other side of the state?
@BenniesMom1 - We are not on the other side of the state- interestingly, this state school (D applied to a few) is the most academically rigorous and is also the closest to us, and they were the most understanding of D’s jam packed travel schedule. The window of time the state schools gave us was about two weeks from notice to audition date; needless to say, D was already totally full. Like many students out there, she had no idea what to expect when sending out prescreens. We booked all the travel as the audition requests came in. The other state schools were not as understanding, accepting her to their programs but still insisting she needed sight reading and theory tests and all that- very ironic. I am considering contacting them to let them know what has transpired over the weekend, but not sure. D may want to see what happens of the next few weeks (as do I).
We are, of course, grateful for the interest and the opportunities. The quick response was wonderful; makes me wonder who even screens the prescreens because this department head called D right away. I expect the process depends on the number of applicants. Thanks for the extra like! Congrats to your son as well 
And yet another interesting twist to this “journey” into college… My son was “waitlisted” at Rowan University’s Music School (actually I think it’s a department, not a school of music… hmm) which he was disappointed about but was like… whatever ! It was the first school he visited and he really loved the Music Program a lot cause he’ll get to play a LOT and get right into it since they don’t have graduate students taking up the seats. He liked the clarinet instructor who did a Master class for our state’s Youth Symphony Orchestra’s clarinetists, which is why he went looking over there to begin with… following the instructor. Momma liked it cause they had hinted at a full ride (from the Music department) since he was a versatile musician who plays the Contra Bass clarinet which they haven’t had anyone good enough to play (along with the soprano clarinet) in several years. My son is “all about that bass” and LOVES playing the Contrabass in his school’s Wind Ensemble. Momma also likes it also cause it’s the closest to home!!? Anyhoo, apparently he was not academically admissible ( I assume… since he was accepted into the Music Program) enough to get in for Fall 2020 and was waitlisted and offered a spot for Spring 2021…Uhmmmm No Thanks…So we had forgotten all about them. Apparently, the folks in the music department hadn’t forgotten about HIM!. Surprise Surprise!! He got an email from Dr Higgins, the director of bands (also in charge of scholarships) that was sent at almost midnight yesterday (shout-out to educators burning the midnight oil on a Sunday night ! - For me that give the school a bonus point), that said he went to Admissions and can now confirm that my son’s status is changed to ADMITTED for Fall 2020 as a Clarinet Performance major. What??? I’ll have to double check but I think they were #3 on his list before the waitlisting? Anyhoo, this certainly puts a wrench in the decision making process, full-ride notwithstanding. I thought the waiting was stressful (Still waiting on “official acceptance” into his tie for #1 school), but I can see that making a final decision is going to be more stressful.
Speaking of decisions, he WITHDREW his application from one of the schools he was accepted into which had given him a merit scholarship (he never really wanted to go there… it was just a “practice” school) and he got a letter from them Saturday with an increased financial aid package!!! I was like… huh… didn’t you withdraw your application child? Confirmed that he had but they still sent him an increased financial aid package. Go figure. So, IF this was a school he was interested in attending (he’s 100% not !) could he then un-withdraw his withdrawal? Just curious. I find this whole admissions process truly fascinating. Someday I will write a book about this. ?
So sad about the tragedy last night in Nashville. Having just been there a couple of weeks ago for D’s audition at Blair, we are especially upset for all the residents of the town we loved so much. Taking a moment to think of those affected ???
Daughter’s final audition was last Friday, and it feels good to be done. Her seven auditions were spread over a few months, so it wasn’t too stressful. I know she’s happy to not have to play those pieces anymore and can work on something new. We’re supposed to hear from the final few within the next couple weeks, so we won’t have to wait much longer. Enjoying the lull in the action for now. Well, except for checking the mail, email, and portals.
@musicfamily : Awesome that you’re done with auditions. I know exactly what you mean by not having to play those pieces anymore. When we got done, I think not only us, but our S’s teacher (and her family - kids and husband - she has her studio in her home), heaved a collective sigh of relief. After all the practice, the recording, the lessons and the lessons, and late night frustration, we didn’t have to listen to “the Dvorak” any more !!!
@gram22 Same here. Teacher does lessons in his home and I’m sure they’ll enjoy hearing something else.
I have what may be a weird question: Have any of you received an invitation to a “campus day” (or whatever a particular school calls this) to a school that hasn’t yet accepted your kid? We are awaiting word on three schools, all of which have said late March is when they send out acceptance notifications. One of these schools has sent us an invite to their "School X Experience Day, " which looks very similar in scope to the “Campus/Experience Day” invites we received from the schools that have already accepted my kid (and which were sent a few days to a couple weeks after acceptances). Just wondering if anyone else has had this experience? Thanks!
@MomOfSingers Is it a university where you’ve already received acceptance but not yet for the music school? In that case, yes, the university will send invites to all accepted. If it’s a stand alone conservatory, no idea.
@MomOfSingers My DS has gotten invited to Accepted students days for Universities where he hasn’t been accepted, but he HAS been accepted to the Music schools - or passed the audition. I believe the invite actually came FROM the Music School as opposed to from the university so that might be a bit different.
@BenniesMom1 and @musicfamily --that’s the weird thing. No, he only applied to the conservatory, and at this particular school, there is nothing at all even sent to the university (not even test scores). My kid has no relationship with the University and the invitation came from the conservatory. (The conservatory acts as its own entity. ) I guess time will tell! We accepted the invite, though. I’ll let you all know what’s what, once I know what’s what!
@MomOfSingers Maybe it’s a sign of things to come!
That would be so nice!
D had Mannes yesterday afternoon. Seemed to go well, but it was the first audition (including BM) where there was no information session. 10 minutes to sing then leave. Ironically, it was the only place where she had a lot of questions - especially regarding availability and cost of apartments. She is contacting friends but I would be interested in hearing from anyone who might have relevant information, especially regarding housing in and around NYC, the commute, etc… Again she is a MM student, so dorm/dining hall informal won’t help.