<p>The only other school that possibly does something like Curtis is Colburn (and I’m not sure about all the instruments there). Colburn is quite small like Curtis and has very few spots (and is a better deal financially for students). Relatively few students reject a Colburn offer.</p>
<p>Even excellent schools like CIM and NEC have yields around 30 to 35%, so they accept approximately three times as many students as usually attend. Juilliard has an exceptionally high yield (can’t remember the exact number, but it is somewhere between 70 and 85%, and probably surpassed only by Curtis and Colburn although I suspect that Rice’s Shepherd may be close). </p>
<p>Although Indiana seems much more reluctant to promise or guarantee particular studios than many other schools and therefore can be quite a gamble, most students seem very happy with their studio there and their overall experience.</p>
<p>At my son’s school, no guarantee is given concerning studio assignment until late August when the assignments are announced. After my son heard that he was unofficially accepted, he asked his first choice teacher if he could be in his studio; he was told he could be. Otherwise, he would not have committed as readily to the school; for a performance major, studio teacher is incredibly important.</p>