Getting admitted to a music conservatory

compmom
Mon, 29 Nov 2010 08:06:20 +0000

It really is worrisome that your wife has told your daughter she will have to give up music if she does not get into a prestigious conservatory. Is music simply a road to prestige? I would ask your wife to try to understand the importance of music to your daughter, and to many other students like her, no matter what path she takes in life. Does your daughter love playing the violin, regardless of what school it takes her to?

Your daughter is younger than most college applicants, and yet already has a BS. Clearly this is an unusual situation, with a student possessing unusual academic talent, but also one that may have involved incredible stress and pressure. Doing a college program at such a young age, regardless of intelligence or drive, can be very difficult.

I would ask more about the background to the current situation. Did your daughter live at home while doing the BS? Has she been able to “have a life,” meaning friends and fun and relaxation, as well as meaningful work?

Does your wife agree with the BM goal, or is she more on board with an MD degree?

There are a lot of factors behind this situation, that might even require some counseling for your daughter ( and perhaps also your wife). She may have had stresses that were not necessarily age-appropriate, and may need to go backward and then catch up.