Thanks for the replies.
I very much liked the eating an elephant analogy. As a homeschooling parent, I’m already in the guidance counselor and principal role, and the non music college admissions requirements run the gamut from the same as a traditional student to utterly absurd. (E.g. Oberlin wants not just a syllabus and textbook for each course, but a book list for every book read and samples for each course. My son laughed “all that proves is that you did a lot of work, not that I did!”)
So music school admissions in some ways seems simpler overall. Do the audition, kid. Hope you practiced. In jazz, especially, it looks like the things you play are all things he’s been playing for years already.
I can do some of the legwork for requirements in music schools/departments/programs too, but I’m not the one going, and not the one who has to live with the choices for those years. My getting invested on the process does not equal him invested.
I really liked hearing how one lady couldn’t verbalize this stuff. That’s my kid, and glad to hear that works itself out.
I am also on my third career (four, if you count homeschooling) so I get that paths change. I’m not one who thinks the purpose/ outcome of a bachelor’s degree should be a clear career goal or well paying job. But I’m also not willing to have him saddle himself with debt for the experience.
My biggest takeaway is to keep plugging away semester by semester. Glad to know that, because that I can do. Take science courses and math for another semester and do leave room for music, and encourage him to do well with what he cares about. Re evaluate each semester. Keep options open this year and it will get less cloudy, probably.
Thanks again!