This will be helpful to many! I didn’t quite understand this on our search last year…my son wanted minimal academics and happened to commit to a school with ALOT of core requirements…how ironic? Anyway he lucked out bc the academic rigor at his school is not challenging but his music classes are super challenging so it worked out nicely for him!
4 Likes
This is so helpful as my S weighs his decisions. He’s slightly regretful for not applying to more schools with a strong conservatory as well as a difficult academic program. We’ve talked about how that may have been a tough road for him, while he is a strong student he’s not an overachieving student outside of music, so those schools may be too much for undergrad and can be considered as a great Masters option. But the schools he has acceptances for are excellent music schools/conservatories that will also allow him to explore other academic options outside of music if he chooses too without being overwhelmed. IU is one of these schools and it is high on his list for the reasons you listed so it is good to hear your D feels similar!
1 Like
This was my experience way back in the day (2000 grad from Lawrence University). While the double degree program at the school is extremely well-supported and popular, my studio teacher made it clear that double degree students were expected to focus less on music. He wanted me to take half-credit lessons (only 30 minutes a week of private lesson time) and limit myself to one large ensemble. I wanted to do as much music as my peers who were not in a double degree, so I dropped my non-music degree option.
This is an anecdote, of course, but for some students any suggestion that they do less in music feels like it is setting them back compared to their peers.
Do any of you have a student who is now thinking twice about the music major? My ds applied only to universities where he could in theory double major in music and something else in the humanities (not sure what yet). He has been admitted to the schools of music at Wisconsin, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, with good scholarship money at several of these. He also applied to the Arts faculty at McGill as well as the music faculty there. He hasn’t yet heard from music at McGill, but has been admitted to Arts, which just closed the BA in music program. But he’s so excited about the possibility of going to school in Montreal that now he’s thinking of jettisoning the music major altogether, which would be a shame because he’s really quite good at it. Any of the other schools are highly supportive of double majors. Any thoughts from other parents?
One way to deal with this is to be a “sounding board”. Let him voice his doubts and maybe even think through different scenarios at different schools. I understand that it can be concerning for a parent to see a kid…maybe…give up too soon…especially when the family has dedicated a lot of time and money. But, in my limited experience, it is better to discuss it, look into the alternatives, play out different scenarios with you kid…and not shut it down. He will need to own the decision in the end. It’s much better that way. (I remember my kid calling me NYC during the second year of YAP audition after grad school and saying…I don’t want to do this anymore…and thought…great…after all the time and money…lol. Not my best day. But I did tell her she could do whatever she wanted. And…it wasn’t that dire in the end…she just needed a pivot in how she was approaching music and is happier for it.)
Good luck…not an easy situation…but better now when he’s at home…then frantic calls in the first semester of college. He may pick music in the end (it is a terribly stressful time…and maybe he just needs to time to think it all through with a supportive parent).
1 Like
Just heard from Carnegie Mellon! It was a no (which wasn’t surprising to me). They sent it via the Acceptd portal.
5 Likes
Thanks bridgenail. It is definitely up to him–we won’t stand in his way. Just looking for tips on how to think about it. And yours is a great one: listening to him and letting him work it out for himself. Thanks again!
D20 (MM Voice) was officially accepted to USC today - one of her top choices. Of her 9 auditions, this is only her 2nd acceptance (other being CU Boulder), and we’re still waiting on the other 7 - though the last audition was just this past Friday.
USC and CU Boulder are both indicating that she should have financial aid packages in hand by the end of March, but USC has a decision/deposit due date of 4/15! I am not even sure she’ll have decisions/offers from all other schools by then. CU Boulder has asked for a decision “as soon as possible”, but at least at this point has not issued a decision date.
Historically (for UG in 2020) the decision date was typically 5/1 - though with all the COVID stuff I recall many schools extending that date. Has anyone else noticed earlier-than-usual decision dates?
5 Likes
First- congrats!!
Could it be a typo?? A ton of schools are pushing deadline from 5/1 to 5/15 because of FAFSA delay- so it’s very possible they meant 5/15 not 4/15
2 Likes
MM has always been 04/15. We had the same quick turn around. I think we had the financials from the final school on 04/01. You don’t have to give an early response to your CU Boulder…besides letting them know they are still in the mix (or not…if that’s the case).
Then you have to find your kid somewhere to live…quickly…as student housing isn’t usually the preference for grad students. I remember “sweating” over that.
1 Like
Stony Brook acceptance just rolled in too (she’s happy as these were her top two choices), although they let her know aid right in her acceptance letter. And their date is also 4/15.
Thanks @bridgenail for the context. We’ve been exploring housing options but now she wants to line up sample lessons at both schools to assess fit. Seems a bit tight in terms of turn around but she’s over the moon to have these options.
Hoping for a compelling package from USC later this month! 
5 Likes
Yes from CIM -MM
10 Likes
What discipline/studio? My daughter is there now for undergrad/Voice. Congratulations!
Violin…Not sure about the studio.
Thank you!!
Just realized it’s for grad not undergrad! So I guess that’s totally different!
Just a generalization, but USC tends to prioritize grad students over undergrad with respect to allocation of merit money. Hopefully that is in your favor! 
Edited to Add: I don’t want to panic any undergrad’s regarding USC…again a generalization based on a number of students we have known who were accepted. Everything is variable of course.
1 Like
My son has been waiting on his decision and scholarship info to University of Delaware. Today, he received a very nice email from the percussion head that he was receiving a scholarship from the SOM. His portal should be updated in a week or so
14 Likes
CONGRATS! 
Got excited when I saw your post because it’s the last school we’re waiting to hear from and DS’s first choice, but no change on the portal. UG decisions must not have been released yet.
Hoping for an official music decision from UGA today (and fingers crossed for scholarship $). And we’re making plans to visit St. Olaf and Lawrence first week of April. And non-music decisions are starting to come in, just to make his decision extra tough…so far waitlists at Macalester and Kenyon…and an acceptance at Grinnell! Which will be easy to slot in on the way to St. Olaf, so that’s handy. Anyone know anything about music at Grinnell? I’d like for him to have one serious non-music school contender so that he’s really thinking things through from all angles…he’s open to that, but he definitely wants it to be somewhere where he could still play in strong ensembles and have a good teacher who could keep him moving forward musically.
8 Likes