hi everyone! this is my first post but i’m looking for some help as a first generation student:)
Demographics
Mexican, US / WI citizen
Junior (female), and I will be first generation!
Private Catholic high school that emphasizes college prep
Low-income family
Intended Major(s)
I am interested in studying Vocal Performance! I’m looking for programs that are well-known/respected with great faculty and networking, but also lots of performance opportunities (musicals, operas, etc). I also want flexibility to be able to double major (dual-degree? maybe minor??) in another major such as Journalism or English.
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: 3.7
Weighted HS GPA: not sure
Class Rank: not sure
ACT/SAT Scores: I’m not satisfied with my ACT score (taken it twice so far) so I am planning to continue retaking until I reach at least a 27
Coursework
AP Modern World History, AP US History, AP Lang, DE Sociology, 5 honors classes, 4 years of French
Next year I’m planning on taking AP Psych, DE French 5, DE Government, and DE English Lit. My level of math will be Trigonometry/Pre Calc
Electives: Choir (3 years, planning on 4), Mock Trial, Acting, and Yearbook
Awards
Recent acceptance into competitive State Honors Choir for the upcoming school year
Recent qualification for State Solo & Ensemble (both my classical/MT pieces)
Extracurriculars
Audition-entry show choir ensemble (through school)
English Scholars program
National Honors Society member
100+ community volunteer hours
Book Club, French Club, Mock Trial team, Student Council
Campus Ministry Instagram co-manager
Fine Arts (my school) Instagram manager
Performed in 4 musicals for my school so far. Glinda in The Wizard of Oz and featured singer in two revue shows
UW-Madison’s Badger Precollege Summer Music Clinic: attended last summer, planning to attend this summer
2.5 years at my job (restaurant)
Essays/LORs/Other
not done yet
Cost Constraints / Budget
I’m guessing below $50-60k?? I will also be mass applying for scholarships (so schools with lots of aid are ideal) and I will almost definitely qualify for financial aid
Schools
this is what i need help with… i would prefer a warmer state (i’m sick of wisconsin winters) but unsure how to navigate the search, especially because i’m first gen so my parents can only help as much as they can. if i have to stay in-state my top choice is UW-Madison! i’ll be applying early action there
Places I’ve been looking: ASU, Syracuse U, Belmont, UC schools, maybe Texas or Florida?? i need help, a strong music program is preferred
Religious Affiliation: This isn’t my main priority, but I am Roman Catholic and very strong in my faith. I haven’t found many Catholic schools that fit my criteria, so I would love if the schools had an active Catholic ministry group that I could get involved with:)
California UC’s are around $74K/year and give little to no financial aid (need-based or merit) to OOS students. I would scratch them off the list if you and your family cannot be full pay.
Obvious ones would be Lawrence (WI) and St Olaf (MN). Yes, not in the South, but St Olaf is one of your top possibilities for meet-need colleges with nationally known vocal performance opportunities.
A very hard admit would be Vanderbilt- typically they like very high test scores (33+) but for voice their criteria are a bit different and Blair is in the South.
Does this mean $50-60k for all four years (or $12.5-15k per year) or $50-60k per year? Although it seems like most low income families may find it difficult to afford $12.5-15k per year net price after financial aid and scholarships.
oh wow! i knew they were expensive but disappointed about the aid part. the main reason i listed UC schools is because i have a lot of family in CA so thought it might be an easier transition. thanks for the insight!!
thanks for this! i actually toured Lawrence recently and am in contact with the head of their conservatory for some questions i had. i’m not sure if it’s the best fit but we’ll see. i’ll look into St. Olaf and Vanderbilt!
I’m not s music parent but may talk about the auditions, etc. IU has a great rep. U Miami meets need - maybe have your folks run the net price calculator.
There are many schools that will come under $50K full price - an FSU for example - but your test score may or may not limit your possibilties.
There’s definitely schools in your budget, without aid.
There’s another thread now - where a student got wonderful aid at Muhlenberg and Ithaca - not sure if need or otherwise.
thanks for the suggestions! i still have some more research to do but it will all come down to what’s offered to me. i toured UWM recently because i have a friend in their MT program but they have very limited options for double majoring with vocal performance. i’ll look into the others you mentioned!
What is the amount they are able to pay, which is what will be your target net price after any financial aid grants or scholarships?
Try going to each college’s web site to find its net price calculator to get an estimate of what you and your family are likely to have to pay for each college if you are admitted and attend.
Run the Net Price Calculator on Lawrence, U Wisconsin Madison, St Olaf, Vanderbilt, Indiana University. These should show you how different the aid policy is at different colleges.
In California, there’s Pitzer, Occidental, Santa Clara.
The best scholarships come from the colleges themselves so running the NPC will tell you, roughly, how much your family will be expected to pay (“net price”).
(St Olaf is not a conservatory so a lot of students double major in music and sth else, but there are vaying levels of musical intensity and music scholarships that can be added to need aid.)
I think this would be an excellent first step because shopping for affordable colleges is different if you are looking for need based aid vs. looking for merit vs. you just have a high budget.
I do think considering having some in state publics in the mix is a good idea. My freshman is in a vocal program that doesn’t get talked about as much as others and her teacher just disclosed that their vocal acceptance rate after prescreens was 8% this year. Auditioned vocal is pretty competitive everywhere.
So UW Madison has Bucky’s Promise for lower income students. I know quite a bit about this program and I will message you later when I have more time about specifics. UW Milwaukee and UW Stevens Point also have good vocal faculty and I know people who started there that launched to bigger grad programs and are working professionally.
I actually have more thoughts as someone who has been through the process through the midwest perspective but these worlds are small, I will definitely message you directly when I have more time!
I can tell you that will be the case at most schools. My son started as a vocal performance major this year and thought he would be able to fit in other electives. I can tell you he had 18 credits as a VP major and a super busy schedule with zero room that first year or two.
For a warm-weather Catholic U, you could look at LMU Vocal Studies Concentration - Loyola Marymount University They don’t guarantee full-need-met aid, but they give both need-based and merit aid, so they might end up closing the gap for you. As with all other schools, run the Net Price Calculator and see what’s projected. Seconding Loyola New Orleans as another to consider.
U of Richmond meets need and also gives performing arts scholarships. They have a strong music department and also have cross-registration with VCUArts. And double-majors are well-supported.
noted, i will definitely be discussing this more in depth with my parents. we have talked about it before so that’s where my numbers came from but i’m not sure of any specifics.
that’s helpful, i completely forgot about those calculators! i remember once my mom told me that she filled it out for notre dame out of curiosity and it came out to $7 thanks for the reminder!
thanks for the reminder!