Match Me: Hispanic first-gen junior looking for Vocal Performance schools! [WI resident, 3.7 GPA, low income family]

thanks for the suggestions! i would appreciate your insight. i am hopeful about uw madison’s aid but anxious about acceptance. it’s a common school for graduates of my high school to enroll in so there’s competition there

that is my main concern. i definitely have a lot of decisions to make but i’m holding on to hope that i can find a program that will work with what i want to do!

i’ll look into these, thank you!

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That’s encouraging!! Of course, a lot of schools aren’t as generous as Notre Dame, but it sounds like you have a pretty good buffer above the $7 level, that your family could handle.

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First off, I am strongly seconding the suggestion for you to go over to the music majors forum as the people there have a wealth of expertise. Also, paging @compmom.

All colleges I mentioned below were generally because they had a decent to excellent number of students majoring in musical theater, voice performance, etc, which I am using as a proxy for strength within those departments.

Secondly, take a really good look at Wisconsin schools, publics and privates. Your in-state publics are likely going to be amongst your most likely to be affordable options. Additionally, consider privates as the state likely provides additional aid to Wisconsin residents who attend a Wisconsin private. And on a related note, don’t forget to factor in transportation costs. Schools that are within driving distance from home are likely to have much lower transportation costs than those where flights would be more critical.

Wisconsin Schools

  • U. of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Stevens Point, and Whitewater, in addition to the UW campuses already under consideration

  • Viterbo (WI): About 1500 undergrads

  • Carthage (WI): About 2600 undergrads

  • Lawrence (WI): About 1400 undergrads

Next up these are some schools that I think could make it to your currently stated budget. None of the prices quoted include Pell grants for which you are likely eligible, if you got a $7/year NPC from Notre Dame.

Out-of-State Publics

  • Northern Illinois: About 11k undergrads. Sticker of around $26k. If you keep your 3.7 GPA, then you’d get at least $5k in merit/year, bringing the cost down to $21k.

  • Sam Houston State (TX): About 18k undergrads. Sticker of about $31k/year but if you get a modest scholarship, you may be eligible for in-state tuition which would bring the costs down to about $21k/year, plus any scholarships received.

  • Texas State: About 34k undergrads. Sticker of about $35k but if you get a modest scholarship, you may be eligible for in-state tuition which would bring the costs down to about $24k/year, plus any scholarships received.

  • U. of Alabama – Birmingham: About 13k undergrads. Sticker of about $36k/year. If OP does get a 27 ACT, when there would be a $16k/year scholarship, dropping the price down to about $20k/year.

  • U. of Arkansas: About 26k undergrads; about $43k sticker for OOS. You’d be eligible for at least about $14k off of tuition with your GPA, and could compete for some other stackable scholarships.

  • U. of Central Florida: About 59k undergrads. About $35k sticker, but if you can get a sufficient scholarship, you may receive a waiver of OOS fees which means sticker would be less than $19k.

  • U. of Houston (TX): About 38k undergrads; sticker of about $33k but a small merit scholarship might also get you to in-state pricing, which would be about $21k, minus any scholarships.

  • U. of North Texas: About 33k undergrads. Sticker is about $32k but if you get a modest scholarship, you may be eligible for in-state tuition which would bring the sticker down to about $22k/year, plus any scholarships received.

  • Western Carolina: About 10k undergrads. Sticker is about $21k.

  • Western Michigan: About 14k undergrads. Sticker of about $31k. There are a number of scholarships which OP may be eligible for to bring this within the currently stated budget.

Out-of-State Privates

These schools’ net prices seemed as though they had the potential to be affordable.

  • Loyola – New Orleans (LA): About 3300 undergrads

  • Millikin (IL): About 1700 undergrads

  • North Central (IL): About 2400 undergrads

  • Northwestern (IL): About 9k undergrads. A big reach for all.

  • Oberlin (OH): About 3k undergrads

  • Oklahoma City U.: About 1400 undergrads

  • Otterbein (OH): About 2200 undergrads

  • Roosevelt (IL): About 2400 undergrads

  • Samford (AL): About 3700 undergrads

  • Shenandoah (VA): About 2500 undergrads

  • Stetson (FL): About 2600 undergrads

  • U. of Miami (FL): About 13k undergrads

  • Webster (MO): About 2200 undergrads

And below are some other schools that I considered but that I suspect are much less likely to be able to meet the currently stated budget.

Less Than Optimistic About Price

  • Chapman (CA): About 7900 undergrads

  • DePaul (IL): About 14k undergrads

  • Southern Methodist (TX): About 7100 undergrads

  • Texas Christian: About 11k undergrads

  • U. of Cincinnati (OH): About 30k undergrads

  • U. of North Carolina – Greensboro: About 14k undergrads, about $34k sticker for OOS

  • U. of Tampa (FL): About 9600 undergrads

  • Western Kentucky: About 14k undergrads. Would likely receive at least $5500/year in scholarships, but it has a sticker a little over $39k/year.

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Did you take the SAT? My son is biracial (puertorican/black,) and he won both the Hispanic and African American College Board Recognition Award. There is a list of schools that give merit (some like university of Alabama give full tuition for this award….)

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If you want to do Vocal Performance in Opera check out SUNY Purchase. You will have many opportunities to perform. It is very reasonably priced even for out of state. It is a conservatory so you will NOT be able to double major. For Vocal Performance the audition is what will get you into any school for that.
IU Jacobs also very well know and there might be a chance to do a minor in something else. Cost is more expensive. As an undergrad most likely low chance for performance opportunities beyond choral performances.

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I will piggy back on the IU Jacobs comments by “thisismynameOH” above. I do know they can give decent merit money depending upon your audition, but the OOS cost is high. And I second the lower chance of performing as an undergrad unless you count opera workshops, choirs, studio recitals, individual recitals, and opera choruses. They do have a great option for second majors called the Bachelors of Science with an Outside Field degree (aka BSOF). My oldest daughter earned this degree in Voice with an outside field in History in 2021. The degree covers the courses you would need if you would want to attend grad school in either music or your outside field. It was described to us using a tree analogy. A double major would be 2 separate trees representing 2 sets of gen eds and major classes. The BSOF would be a single tree–one trunk with shared gen eds and 2 branches–one for each set of major classes. I know other kids doing outside fields in computer science, arts administration, film, and musical theatre. The IU Jacobs name is very well known, so that is definitely a plus. Dual Degrees: Admissions: Jacobs School of Music: Indiana University Bloomington.

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I wish I had seen this earlier. I suggest you read the Double Degree Dilemma essay that is pinned at the top of the music major forum. Double Degree Dilemma reposted - College Majors / Music Major - College Confidential Forums

I think this discussion will be much more helpful if you are clear on what you want, and you can pursue more than one option in applications before deciding in the spring of senior year.

Do you want a BM and gen eds/electives in English/Journalism? A BM with a double major (hard in some schools)? A double degree? (5 years). A BA in English/Journalism with music on the side? A BA with double major in music and English?journailsm?

A BM will be pretty immersive in terms of music, and 2/3-3/4 of your classes would be in music. A BA in music would be 1/4-1/3 classes in music and covers theory, musicianship, music history, composition, technology and ethnomusicology. Some BA programs have performance components and others don’t. You could also major in English and continue voice lessons, and extracurricular performance. So, as you can see, it is complicated.

The thing is, if you don’t want a BM, there are cases when you want to avoid schools with BM’s (often listed here as “schools that are good for music”) because the best teachers and opportunities may go to the BM students. Not always, but you need to check it out. Oberlin has a “Musical Studies” BA that gives BA students access to the Conservatory.

Double degree programs are probably possible in some state schools. Oberlin, Bard, Lawrence, Ithaca are often mentioned for double degrees. Bard requires conservatory students to do double degrees.

Can you give an idea of what you are thinking? Sounds like a freestanding conservatory is not a good option for you. Are you also considering musical theater?

BA programs are generally not audition schools (except in the fall) but you can submit a music supplement with video/recording, resume and letters of recommendation related to music, if you feel it is helpful.

One other thing: IMPORTANT…if you apply to local or “outside scholarships,” they are often deducted from your financial aid.

Keep us posted!

West Coast schools: U.of Puget Sound, U. of the Pacific, Santa Clara U.; for warmer weather you could consider Davidson (is it test optional?). Regis in Colorado is Jesuit I believe. We could come up with so many schools but need to know what you are looking for!

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thank you so much! i’ll definitely look into these

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i am planning to take it but i am not hopeful that i will qualify for any merit awards regarding the ACT/SAT. i am taking the ACT many more times to (hopefully) improve my score, but i struggle with test taking so it is a struggle.

i’ll look into these, thanks!

thanks for the insight! i’ll look into the BSOF more as it sounds similar to what i’m looking for.

I did read the double degree dilemma thread and got a lot of useful information from there. I related to the “Jennifer” example the most and am now prioritizing the availability of both a BM and BA, preferably a double degree. My understanding of a BFA is that it would be almost impossible to do another major/degree with that, so I have shifted focus away from that. I was previously interested in a BFA in Musical Theatre because I love being in theatre, but singing is my passion and I think I would thrive better in a vocal performance program.
My main reason for wanting a double degree is that I’m nervous about going into the world with only vocal studies under my belt. My parents sacrificed so much to give me opportunities and I don’t want to “waste” it by going for something that won’t provide a stable income. I’m more than willing to work hard to make it work because it’s what I love, but I know things don’t always work out.

I did not know this! I’m not completely sure how financial aid processes or FAFSA works as it’s early in the process, but is it required to report receiving outside scholarships? Why are they deducted? It seems a little weird to me but I probably just don’t understand it yet.

The schools estimate your need and provide the amount that will satisfy that need. Outside scholarships reduce that need, so the college reduces its aid in that amount. Yes you have to report outside scholarships. As I remember you may be allowed an amount to buy a computer, that kind of thing, but it’s been awhile.

I thought a BFA was a lighter load than a BM-? So more possible to study another subject. Help understanding BA vs. BFA vs. BM - College Majors / Music Major - College Confidential Forums

My personal view, based on what I know with a kid with a doctorate in music who has had all kinds of job options throughout, is that it is a wonderful thing to study and practice what you love in undergrad years. Doing another subject, like English, because you love it, or because you want that particular expertise, makes sense, but if it is just as a “financial backup” I don’t think it is a good reason. That’s me.

I know people who have done undergrad music and gone on to med, law or business school, worked in tv, worked in orchestra management, gone on to grad school in Medieval Studies (a singer), and so on. Music majors can do anything anyone with a BA can do. I also know kids who have gone on to grad work in music, including doctorates, and teach, compose or perform. Life is flexible and nothing is written in stone. Studying music or musical theater shows discipline, hard work, and intellectual strength., You can do internships, vplunteer for a non-profit, or help organize things on campus to gain skills in the work world. Summer programs are also very helpful and are often funded.

Okay so my question now is, do you want to sing in opera or musical theater? It seems that most vocal performance programs are opera. There are also musical theater, jazz and contemporary programs.

If you are choosing vocal performance because you think it is less intense than a BFA and easier to do with another subject, I don’t think that is right. Also, for a double degree as opposed to a double major, you will do 5 years and the degrees are arranged so there is room for both.

Do you act and dance as well and like those activities? If you are a “triple threat” then musical theater might be your thing.

So a double degree is great- if you love both subjects. A double major can be done but it’s tough. A major/minor is an option. Or you can do a full BFA. Or you can study English for a BA at a school with a good extracurricular music/muscical theater program.

If cost is an issue, and you don’t have full aid, the double degree is that extra year.

When you know what you are likely to want (and it can be more than one option), we can suggest specific schools. If you choose a BA, again, you need to avoid some of the schools suggested as “good for music” because they might prioritize BM or BFA students, but check for exceptions.

I sent you a PM. Look for the green envelope upper right.

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And feel free to message me. I am happy to give you more details about it. The BSOF really has been a great match for my daughter and her goals. She went on to get her Masters in Voice and is singing professionally while working side jobs related to her History degree to fill in the financial gaps. Best of luck to you in your research!

My daughter is pursuing a 5-year double degree at Bard Conservatory/Bard College in NY - BM in VP + BA in dance (but you can pursue any BA you want). She received an excellent conservatory scholarship (bringing her tuition down to what we might have paid for our state college). I believe that the only college (college, not conservatory) financial aid at Bard is need-based (not merit). It sounds like you would be eligible for need-based financial aid. You may possibly also be eligible for a conservatory scholarship. However, keep in mind that dual- or double-degree programs are typically five years, meaning an extra year of tuition.

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