<p>You will definitely want to visit before now and next May - and for many schools you will be required to, as an interview is required if you pass the prescreen. (For some, not all.) In the meantime I recommend you start researching the professors at the schools of interest to you. Any program which only as 2-3 composition professors will only enroll 4 or fewer students - perhaps accepting up to 6. Larger programs like Indiana, UMKC, Michigan might accept up to 15. USC used to enroll 8 entering freshmen. Bard Conservatory where my son attended has never accepted more than 3 and usually fewer, and might enroll only one.</p>
<p>I’m not sure why CIM seems like a dream school to you - the composition professors have nothing in common with the Bang on a Can aesthetic. What is it you’ve read that was so appealing? I’d be interested to know how you’re evaluating what you’re reading on the websites.</p>
<p>My son started visiting schools spring of Junior year, and emailing the professors at schools of interest. He had meetings with the chairs of the composition departments beginning in the fall of senior year and throughout the application period. He had to audition on an instrument for two schools, and submit a recording for another. He had to interview with the composition departments at three of the four schools he applied to - the fourth school admitted him without an interview but he had already met with the head of the department previously. He did visit one school only after he was admitted, but he had met with the composition professor separately.</p>
<p>You will want to get accepted to more than one school, as you need significant aid! You have no real way of knowing at this point which school will give you the best offer. You may get accepted somewhere, but not be able to attend for financial reasons. So you’ll need choices next May 1st. This may seem daunting now, both in terms of time and the money involved in traveling to schools for auditions, preparing portfolios and prescreen tapes etc. However, you need merit money and financial aid - and this is the only way to get it. So think of it as one of the best investments you could possibly make.</p>