Am I reading the Indiana U webpage correctly that there is no prescreen for cello? Only an audition?
Hmmm. You got me curious so I looked too. That seems correct. Same for several instruments on the site.
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I wonder if I should read something into that. Maybe they don’t get a lot of applications?
Probably not the case. Sometimes the faculty for certain studios at certain programs choose to allow more in person auditions. No prescreens have pros and cons of course. Nice to know that you can count on a live (or live remote) audition. But also the pre screen (while a bummer when not passed) avoids an expensive trip when the applicant is not at the appropriate level.
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So passing a prescreen means you are at a level where acceptance is a real possibility? Or prescreens are to just weed out extremely unqualified?
We are so new to this. Thanks for answering my very stupid questions.
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The short answer is yes. However the ratio of students passing prescreens to number of open spots can be quite variable by school or even by studio.
There are so many variables and unknown factors with the music application process. But the two things your musician can control are their choices of programs (in range of their ability) and their preparation for auditions. It all works in the end. But the unknowns are a challenge, especially for us parents who are used to mapping things out. 
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Just wanted to add that in my opinion there are no stupid questions when it comes to planning a course for an aspiring music major.
I would venture to say that most of the “experienced” music parents on this forum started out feeling lost and with many questions. I know I did!
I am grateful for the guidance of amazing private teachers/mentors, for a bit of luck, and most of all for my kid’s incredible passion and dedication.
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It’s been so incredibly helpful following everybody’s journey last year. Looking forward to next year’s thread.
I also found it interesting that, though they don’t tell you until you go in to do the music supplement app, in-state vocalists applying to Jacobs for undergrad do not need to prescreen. They skip straight to the in-person audition round. This has changed in just a few years’ time. My oldest auditioned for the same program 7 years ago and the prescreen was required. My youngest went straight to the in-person round this year.
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Also they now allow dual degree options but won’t tell you online how to go about them.
We are going to visit this June and hopefully can catch some people still on campus to ask questions.
My oldest earned the Jacobs BSOF degree (Bachelors of Science with an Outside Field). Hers was in Voice and History–basically a dual degree with one set of gen eds and all the required coursework to do grad school in either area. My youngest will be headed there in the fall and may add an outside field of musical theatre or dance to her Voice degree. I would be happy to answer questions about that if you have any. Dual Degrees: Admissions: Jacobs School of Music: Indiana University Bloomington
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We were curious how the application process works. Mine wants to apply as early as possible with an automatic admit into their business school and audition for music. Is there a way to indicate a dual degree on the app?
I am not sure about the dual degree specifically. The BSOF degree is only offered by Jacobs however, so your student would have to apply for music and add the outside field in business. I will tell you that a dual degree in Kelley and Jacobs would be super duper intense–5 years may be required. Music ensemble requirements eat up a lot of time.
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What we learned is every school uses prescreens differently. At my son’s safety school, nearly everybody made it through the prescreen, unless they were completely the wrong level (ie someone in Suzuki Book 4 or something). His two “target” level schools accepted a good percentage of students through the prescreen, but definitely cut more. His two “reach” schools – Curtis and Colburn – only passed a really small number of candidates through the prescreens. That is where they made their biggest cuts.
We also found it interesting to hear from some staff at music admission fairs/presentations how they assessed prescreens. In some places, admissions staff did prescreens. In other cases, top level faculty did them. And in other cases junior or adjunct faculty did them.
Note that prescreens also varied by instrument at each school. Some schools use the same general guidelines for all instruments, while others gave a lot of latitude to each instrument department to determine the process, repertoire, and other requirements.
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My D also did a BSOF at IU (voice and theater). It has been awhile ago…so @musicmomtimes3 would be the best source for information. Still I would like to add the following (all learned by making mistakes!):
You should get comfortable calling music admissions. Others can disagree…but when I was the one spending big bucks flying around…I wanted to ask a few questions about the programs. (Please note all contact with teachers and some auditions details were done by my D. If your D does visit IU she should definitely try to get a lesson with a teacher to assess her chances). I did get involved early on in trying to figure out the “alphabet soup” of degrees. If you call…they will understand.
I could be wrong…but I think that there is a possibility that a degree with Kelly would fall outside a Jacobs BSOF (but I’m unsure…and my kid did the degree…lol). I always thought of the Jacobs BSOF as a type of double major…meaning 2 concentrations within the same or similar schools (music and arts). I would guess that a degree from Kelly and Jacobs could be a double degree…and in that way take 5 years. There just may not be enough basic requirements overlapping to make a BSOF possible bx the 2 schools. Again I could be wrong. But you should definitely figure that out before going on a visit.
I remember my first visit to a music school at a big U…assuming that if I just sat down and talked with them…there would be a way for my D to do VP and MT. There was NO way that was possible! Silly me…kind of made a fool of myself.
And truth be told, I thought the BSOF would be no big deal…and yea…it took some intervention by the acadmic advisor and some nail biting on my part to get her through in 4 years!
Kelly and Jacobs would be 2 intense degrees. Jacobs has ensemble requirements which take a lot of time. And Kelly is known for being tough academically (meaning lots of time studying). But she should try for what she wants…and figure it out along the way. That’s what we did. And it all worked out…even with a few stumbles here and there.
EDIT: I do think she may have to apply to both schools separately. That would be a great questions for music admissions.
Another EDIT: I did see Kelly listed in the general info on BSOF…so maybe…
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I know you can cross schools for a BSOF but not all combinations are recommended. My daughter did Voice and History. I know a current voice major with an outside field in computer science and another student in voice and arts administration. I do remember being told that outside fields in lab sciences can be very tricky though due to lab times and music ensembles conflicting. As far as Jacobs and Kelley, I think they work together better than they used to. Recently they combined to begin offering an Entrepreneurship Certificate that combines music and business classes. Certificate in Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship & Careers: Degrees & Programs: Jacobs School of Music: Indiana University Bloomington
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Cool for Entrepreneurship! Thx. I was spinning in circles there! I guess I know there can be limits and/or cautions…just wasn’t sure how they were handled now.
We received a response from Indiana. Apparently you apply into music school and add a second degree after the first semester.
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And I have no idea if it is true or not, but “the grapevine” recommends applying as a BM major and then switching to a BSOF freshman or sophomore year even if a student knows that is what he or she wants to do from the very beginning. For music students, almost all scholarships come from Jacobs, not the general IU campus. It is said that scholarships for those applying for BM degrees are more generous. You can take that or leave it, but that is the “talk”. Though if doing a true dual degree a student would be applying BM anyway and just adding another entire degree later.
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Another element is that not all teachers are excited about dual degree/concentration students. Some may feel that if they are giving you a coveted spot in their studio that you should give the majority of your concentration to music.
In high school, kids are often rewarded for a variety of interests. In “some” colleges, you will be rewarded for your concentration in one area (as time is limited). If you will split your interest (and your talented studio mates do not), it can be difficult to keep up. Note if you are talented in high school, you may be able to keep up. Selective music schools are different. The talent levels of all students are high…and they are going for maximum growth in those 4 years.
Still your D should be true to herself in picking a school and program. You and she may just wanted to tread a little “gently” on the dual degree initially with a teacher to gauge the reaction. If you or she doesn’t like that idea that’s fine. My D declared the BSOF from the start…and would have had no intention of sugar coating it. I just think that since you have been asking good questions…it’s worth it for @musicmomtimes3 and me (and others) to give you a little “peek behind the curtain” at selective music schools on dual degrees/concentrations…so you may not be surprised at a visit. The more you know going in…the easier it is to handle some reactions…and think through what you like and don’t like in a school/teacher.
BTW…this is NOT unique to IU. It happens at other schools too.
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