Yes, my DD is also at Jacobs. She is a sophomore there right now. She received about a 50% reduction in tuition fees from both academic merit, music scholarships and Huttons honors scholarships. But from what I have read on the Jacobs FB page, those scholarships are far less common, with many not having received anything. It also may depend on what instrument as departments vary as to how much they can give. My DD there is a pianist.
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On the thread about music and where kids end up, I mention orchestra because that is a common thing music students shoot for, especially ‘orchestral’ instruments (as opposed to instruments with heavy solo emphasis, like violin, cello, Flute and clarinet to a certain extent). Getting into a high level orchestra obviously offers stablity, with good pay and benefits, and also with the ability to teach. Those jobs are not easy to come by, the number of full time orchestras in that league is relatively small. Small ensembles, chamber music or chamber orchestras, are out there, at various levels, and that is true for wind instruments and string instruments.
lot of kids go into music, then end up in areas around music, like arts administration, booking agents, facility administrators, presenters, etc. Others end up doing something else (lot of professionals in business and medicine and the like did music at one point, end up being supporters of music, donating to music groups, lending out instruments they bought, etc).
I am saying this because there is no one path, and I in no way want anyone to think I am saying “orchestra is the goal or the be all”. The path kind of works itself out as they progress. My son is home for Christmas for a few days, we were talking about this , what his perspective is in several years later. Being a violinist, much of the training is aimed at solo work, in a sense training next generation soloists , it is how they teach violin. He made the point that no matter what you do, that you need to have the high playing skills, that to get into an orchestra or an ensemble or even do gig work/freelance you have to be up there in skills. Those develop at different times, but eventually to make it in music you need to have that great technique; not perfect, my son was talking about someone he knows who finished second in one of the huge violin competitions, and he took 2nd , not because he was perfect, but because he played brilliantly, musically and technically with a few slips, and that added up.
Goals change too. My son having gone to pre college already knew that he wasn’t interested in soloist work, for example, and he had a teacher UG who had been a successful chamber musician, who while not necessarily perfect as a teacher for my son, he understood ensemble playing and emphasized things that helped him. But not every kid will know that and every day that could change, it is the nature of the beast.
As one poster just said, it is a leap of faith. There is a lot of luck in music, being in the right place at the right time, it is something you can’t control. A teacher you wanted to study with isn’t available, you study with someone else who turned out to be gold, and you wonder had you studied with the first choice, what would have happened? And the answer is you don’t know, and you can’t obsess about it. If you study music then find yourself drawn to a different path, likely you won’t regret studying music based on the number of people I talked to who did diverge. The old poem 'the road less travelled", which people assume means take the less common path, in reality is that as people we look at any path we choose and in the end, say “I took the road less travelled and it was great” a lot of the time. You kind of have to assume whatever path you take, that it was the right one, and use it to its fullest when on it and have the confidence and thick skin to work through it. That doesn’t mean not being realistic, if you are let’s say a violinist, and the only programs you can get into are non auditioned programs, where you don’t get into any competitive programs, if your expectations are a high level career likely it isn’t going to happen. Obviously as someone pointed out the top level music programs tend to be expensive, and if you can’t afford to go if accepted , but can get into a decent music school that you can afford because of aid and so forth, that doesn’t mean you can’t make it to a high level, because the playing level was there and it will come down to the teacher but also the student, that they do the work and have the desire and focus.
Music is so darn hard because there are so many factors, so many possible paths, and none of them are guaranteed. If your goal is to become an orchestra musician there are programs who focus on that, teachers who focus on getting kids ready to audition, that may increase your chances of making it into a decent orchestra down the road, but it is no guarantee either.
As a parent it is hard because few if any of us a)know much about that world and b) really even know how to read what our kid wants, we struggle because of course we want them to make it, if music is their passion, and we don’t want to see them going through the struggles, we wish we could guarantee them a smooth ride, but there is real life, finances are a big one, and then seeing how nebulous the path can be, see our kids doubt themselves, lose faith at times, wrestle with giving up, it is hard for us, because they are our kids:). All we can do is support them the best we can, be a sounding board, be a sympathetic listener, and also know to stay out of it unless asked. Especially for kids when they reach their 20’s, it is important that it be as much about them as possible, it needs to be their decision and all we can do is say we will support them and listen, however much or little we can do with that. If they choose to abandon music after working through it, we have to have confidence that they made the right decision for themselves and not to view it as ‘lost effort’ (or at the very least, not tell them that).
Obviously, all just my opinion as someone having lived through the process and having a kid who is in the process of making a career, but every kid, every path is different:)
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For those waiting to hear from Eastman for voice, my daughter got her audition invitation this morning.
So, for the record, vocal peformance, mezzo-soprano, so far has passed:
Eastman
IU Jacobs
Oberlin
CIM
UNT
Still waiting on:
CMU
Juilliard
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I can’t believe we are on the other side of this! Seems so long ago. I’m reading your posts here and cheering you all on! Pre-screens are only the beginning. This time next year, your students will be through the first semester wherever they land!
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Do audition results come out by instrument with the schools like pre screening did?
For us, IU released in waves (we heard about a month after the audition) and I feel like UMich may have released by instrument. The reason I remember it this way is because my daughter and friend auditioned at both places for the same studio. Each heard approximately a month after their respective auditions at IU, but heard at the same time for UMich. UMich had stated everyone should hear by March 15th, but we knew by February and I do remember other instruments on here hearing even before that. I cannot remember for Eastman, but Michigan State just released everything all at once.
It really depends on the school/studio. I stalked these boards for the previous year we auditioned and made a timeline of approximate notifications for prescreens and auditions. It was quite helpful and held fairly true in most cases.
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SMTD in-person audition sign up hit maximum number of attendees, anyone hit this? Any experience how to solve it? Send email and ask for adding more slots?
Yes- email and let them know.
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I know it is impossible not to worry so I won’t tell you not to worry! BUT- your D has passed many prescreens and Rice is a major reach for everyone. They also have a very robust grad program, so it may be as simple as they are taking very few violists this year.
My S22 applied to only three music schools (one was CMU). I was sweating it! But he knew what he wanted and it worked out. It will work out for your D. She will have options, especially given all that she has passed through to auditions so far!
It’s a good idea to look for some late programs to ease your mind, but it does look like she’s in a good position.
Breathe!
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Right about this time as the prescreen passes start rolling in (Yay!), the worry shifts to “how are we going to afford all of these audition trips?” It is more than a little overwhelming, though I get the sense we have experienced travel agent parents on this thread.
A few years ago, my son took 6 live auditions (all involving flights and lodging) on what we dubbed: the Super Low Budget Whirlwind Tour. My kid is one of the most frugal people I know, so these tips might not work for everyone. But some ideas of what worked for him:
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Mine did his auditions without a parent. This was by his choice, partly to save money and it also made him feel more confident and grown up. This saved so much on airfare and lodging expenses. I had all travel details planned carefully so flights, ground transportation and lodging were relatively stress free for him. I know this might be more stressful for some, but it might work for some less complicated trips for some kids.
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Trips were very short to limit lodging expenses and time away from school. Generally he would fly in the afternoon before his audition and fly out right after the audition. He always had time to explore the school, city and meet with students and had a good sense of fit. Even with a 24 hour turnaround.
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Consider alternatives to hotels. My son went to a performing arts HS and was lucky enough to know students at a couple places that were a year or two older. He slept on a dorm floor once, and a friend’s couch another time. No frills, but the benefit was really seeing what it was like to be a student there.
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While this can be stressful, schedule 2 auditions in one weekend in close proximity.
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Schedule auditions at schools that might drop off the list as late as possible. If you are lucky, you might get a good offer including financials before the end of the audition period. Then you can cancel the last audition.
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Of course now there is also the option of remote auditions. This was not really common at the time my son auditioned for the programs he was targeting.
I remember so clearly my anxiety level rising with every upcoming audition weekend. Worrying about weather and flight delays and if he could stay healthy through that much travel.
It all worked out fine, and even the little snafus made for amusing stories when he was through.
Your kids are talented and resilient They will grow so much over these next few months.
Our job is to support them and stay calm. At least on the outside. 
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Good points above. My D wouldn’t have wanted to travel alone. So we both traveled together. We did some things, however, that are NOT recommended…but were required by my wallet! At one audition, we flew in, rode the “school” bus from the airport to the school (no rental car and my excuse was…you’ll learn how this works for students), found the music school and auditioned all in the same day. We missed all the activities as her audition was the last one by choice. Checked out the quaint town in the evening, were given tickets to the opera (stayed for half as we were exhausted and had an early morning flight) got on the bus the next morning and headed home. It was not ideal…but it worked (accepted).
Good luck…and just do your best…including virtual/recorded auditions when necessary. Students do get acceptances this way.
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Just want to say that many hotels require you to be 21 to check in and none that we found let 17 year olds check in. I think there are places that let 18 year olds do so alone, but not sure which ones do.
This was a surprise for us past summer where airline cancellation stranded my kid alone at an airport and we couldn’t find a single hotel that would allow him to stay there. So if you are sending a kid traveling alone, beware of restrictions.
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I was able to book him through Airbnb via my login and explain to the host that this was my 17 year old coming to town overnight for an audition at School XYZ.
Hosts were very understanding.
I did hear of some parents booking at hotels with remote key access for their 17 year olds. But I was always fearful that somehow they would decide to check his ID and he would end up sleeping on a park bench in the snow with his head on his oboe case.
What me? Worry?
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My son (jazz piano) passed the prescreen for UCLA. Still waiting to hear from Northwestern.
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In case anyone else is booking a hotel in Ann Arbor for U MI SMTD rates seemed to be best at the DoubleTree by Hilton Ann Arbor North. Nearly lost it booking a one-way ticket on a not-tiny airplane to get there. Settled for a small-ish plane but a first class ticket for my S to board early with his tenor sax (seat is near an alleged closet) while his parents fly 13 rows behind him. Had to buy in two transactions.
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we didn’t but there’s still no time of day - son’s audition feels scheduled/not scheduled
anyone know if he CAN set a time?
It feels so good to get some things booked, doesn’t it?!
Got the first audition flights and hotels booked yesterday. Yay! 
I’m going with to that one. Now to decide if I’m tagging along to Oberlin too… Anyone know how the audition day is there? Will there be tours and things like that to keep parents busy at all?
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Just booked our Oberlin audition trip. Looks like there’s plenty to keep parents busy on this schedule.
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Did U Mich give you audition time? We got a day but that’s it.
Same! just the day, a Friday. This is one reason why we’ll rent a car in Mich. and drive to Chicago, for a DePaul visit/audition two days later. Too many variables otherwise…
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