On the admission portal Oberlin states that they require mid-year grades and to “please let your school counselor know that we will expect them to send us a trans with mid-year grades when they become available.”
That said, my D applied for the dual degree and the requirement may only be for the college, not the conservatory.
USC Thornton sent S an application status update kind of email dated Jan 21 that asked for midterm grades.
Nervously waiting for final grades here… S had an English paper that’s 30% of his grade due at 11 Fri night and check-in for his 1st audition at 7:30 the next morning (2nd audition was in the afternoon). He was writing frantically on the plane and at the hotel, and then had trouble turning it in from the hotel. Hoping the teacher will be understanding. He’s applying for many dual degree programs, and we’re already seeing why everyone says those are tough to do. Prescreens + music apps/extra essays + auditions + keeping grades up is… a lot.
Yes, dual degree sounds rough. Only one of our colleges, Rice, asked about mid-year grades so far. I’m not sure if the others need them, but no one has reached out. My kid’s grades are fine, and I’m hoping that being a music “only” major, that whether or not he has all As plays no part in admission decisions.
Yes - for Grad. Hope all is well.
Thanks! He did get that email and I’m not sure he saw that part! Good thing I’m on CC to get the low down 
Neither Oberlin nor Peabody asked for mid-year grades when my son applied, and he was accepted to both (not dual degree at either school).
I am going to say it again. I know several kids who did conservatory prep, went to an Ivy or MIT or top LAC for music or for something else, and are still in a music career in their mid-30’s, many with doctorates in music. I just object to generalizations especially when they diminish commitment to music among those who take a BA route.
It is important to say this only in the sense that applicants interested in music need to know there are many options: BM, BA in music, double degree, double major, and BA in something else with continued lessons and performance. The two BA options do not necessarily mean dropping music as a career.
By the same token, the conservatory prep kids who go to top academic schools are not necessarily dropping music as a career either.
Since my dd is only a 9th grader, I am just reading along and trying to learn so I can offer the best possible guidance. If a student pursues a BA vs a BM, does that impact their chances if they decide to pursue grad school in music? Just wondering how far ahead they need to think/plan.
Not necessarily. I can send you a PM.
Do you know when Michigan audition times will be released?
For this Friday’s auditions at U Mich, we got an email on Thursday last week with details.
Has anyone changed the rep they submitted before audition day? Particularly trying to find out if it’s possible for U Mich? Student emailed the SMTD admissions to ask process but didn’t hear back yet and audition is coming up.
I know some schools have a way on a portal, and others say, just let us know, but we can’t find anything on U Mich.
Thanks!
We have the same question!
I’m going to private message you.
D25 (OOS) got accepted in U of Wisconsin Madison School of Music Voice. I don’t see any scholarship though! But happy to have options.
Congrats! Did your student receive something specific from the school of music? Mine (also OOS, BME) got a general admissions acceptance but he just auditioned last weekend.
I am going to be careful here , and it depends on the school of course. With Standalone conservatories, if they ask for grades (I don’t remember them asking for senior year grades at the places my son applied), they I think only will care if the kid goes off the ledge ie they see like Ds and F’s. This could include conservatories within a larger university like Peabody (it obviously could be different with a dual degree, which I cannot comment on).
Music schools in universities: Again, I suspect that unless the kids grades have really plummeted, like it looks like they did nothing senior year, that if the kids grades slip a bit it won’t matter. It is much the same thing with grades for kids going into a BM program, I am pretty certain they don’t hold music performance kids to the same standards they do with academic admits. I suspect same thing for senior grades as well, as long as the kid doesn’t fall of the cliff, as long as their grades are reasonably good, in the B range, they will be fine with admissions to the university side. I have seen kids at some schools that are academically strong, where the kid wasn’t exactly stellar with his grades but is really talented and they got in, so how much the music school wants the kid could I think override poorer academics.
That said, I am saying that to alleviate some of the stress on parents or kids, not to give carte blanche to fall of the cliff senior year, do your best to keep your grades decent rather than count on an exemption. Among other things, I can’t speak for every school and every situation. One of the reasons I say this is because the big thing is still going to be your music school audition, and if trying to maintain a top level GPA is taking time away from music prep, the effort has to be put into the music because to be blunt, the music school isn’t going to be any less picky if you have a 4.0.
I don’t think so (and here I am talking in music performance), if the kid wants to get an MM, they can do so with either a BA or BM. The key to gaining admissions is going to be the audition and the teacher, no different than UG. As long as the BA program has grounding in music theory and solfege and the student gets top level teaching on the instrument, it shouldn’t make a difference. The BA over the BM has more broad academic courses, which some kids like because the BM is so focused, and they may not have the same experience with orchestra or chamber music from what I can tell.
As I have talked about, there are kids who get a ba or a bs undergrad then in grad school get an MM, and I am talking top level programs. As long as they have a good teacher UG and have any requirements for music theory and ear training at a level acceptable, and they audition well, it won’t matter IME.
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That said, some kids with a BA might not be self focused enough to make sure they keep up with their music performance, either because of time or simply because in a BM music is kind of there 24/7 in intensity (just my thoughts, not gospel), and for that kid getting a BM makes more sense because of who they are, other kids might be more stimulated with the BA program.
My daughter was accepted into Northeastern for Music industry as part of the NYC Scholars program. I see that it’s located at the Marymount Manhattan campus (I know that they merged last year) - anyone have any further intel about this particular program or experience with the Music Industry major at NE in general? Considering it against similar programs at IU, Ithaca, CCM, Berklee, Oberlin & Syracuse.