Music schools for students without private vocal education?

College Majors Music Majors
1

I am a junior in high school who wants to major in music. I would like to explore the field more before I commit to a specific music degree (like Comp or VP). I have no private music education and didn’t start my music education until ninth grade. The majority of my education is with a public school choir director, whom I meet with privately. I will likely need financial assistance, and my parents are not willing to pay for any of my education.

Schools I have looked at and will apply ot:

Ithaca College(Yes, I know this one is expensive, but it is a dream.)

SUNY Potsdam (Crane)

Udel (OOS. i am looking to get away from home (upstate New York not far from Ithaca)

SUNY Oneonta (I’ve heard really good things about this school)

Rowan U. (NJ, good music program)

Syracuse(expensive too, but in a city that I like)

Hougton U (In NY, good music program, opportunities)

Alfred University (Close to NYC without the extra cost, also a good music school)

Bard college (good music school, possibility of grad school there if I want)

Geneva U (PA, seemed nice)

Colleges I have contemplated but took off the list

NYU (Expensive as all get out and low chance of getting in)

SUNY New Paltz (not a good music program)

Furman (Way to far down south)

Cedarville(required bible study courses; I am not religious)

Berklee(expensive and who knows if i can get in, though Boston sounds like a good idea)

Belmont(in nashville which I like, but a little far South than I would like, and expensive)

Any advice on the schools above? How is the experience? Is my impression of some of these schools not right?

1 Like
2

A few thoughts:

(1) You might want to explore whether it’s possible to enter any of the schools as “music undecided” or whether you need to audition in a specific major. I don’t know about composition, but I expect many of these schools see incoming VP students who have not had any/much private instruction, so you aren’t behind starting in 9th grade.

(2) Your limiting factor is $. I would recommend reaching out to potential teachers at these schools. You might be able to do a trial lesson (but let the teachers know if you can’t afford to pay—they might do a lesson anyway). Be honest with the teachers/schools about your needs and ask if they will be affordable. In general the SUNYs will likely be the most affordable.

(3) When thinking about music at SUNYs, Crane is amazing. I’ve also heard great things about Fredonia.

(4) Ask your choir director where they would recommend you go. Have you participated in any NYSSMA activities? People you meet through that might have ideas also.

Hopefully others with knowledge of VP and NY chime in!

2 Likes
3

If your parents won’t pay for any of your education, how can you attend college? Do they not have money ? You will need to do a chance me and find out about their finances.

If they are unwilling to pay but can pay, you will have no options short of a full ride. If they have financial need, you could apply for a need based scholarship.

Your list is likely unrealistic if they’re not paying anything.

2 Likes
4

This is a major point.

I once had a guitar teacher who had started at a school that he could not afford, gotten half way though a bachelor’s degree, and ran out of money. He had taken on substantial debt, but did not have a degree and could not afford to finish his degree.

He transferred to an in-state public university that was close enough to home that he could live at home, with significant merit aid. He completed his degree. However, he would have been way, way better off if he had started at the more affordable university. He was having to give a huge number of guitar lessons to pay off his debt for a school that he never graduated from.

I would encourage you not to start any degree program unless you have a realistic way to afford to complete the degree.

Paying for a four year degree without any help from your parents can be tough. It is not obvious to me how this would even be possible unless you somehow get a great deal of aid from the school.

At the risk of asking a difficult pair of questions: What do you expect to do after getting a bachelor’s degree in music? Why do you want to get a bachelor’s degree in music?

I have worked in high tech my entire career (with a degree in mathematics). I have been surprised how often I have been at a music event and seen someone I knew from high tech get up on stage and play. In one case a colleague played so well that I then spent the next month learning to play the same piece (it was something by Turlough O’Carolan). There are lots of people who have degrees in other fields and work in other fields but who play music, and often play music quite well.

Would your parents pay if you were majoring in something else other than music?

1 Like
5

SUNY Purchase has a great music program. VP is Opera but there are composition programs as well. As stated the SUNY programs tend to be affordable and there are great scholarships available.

3 Likes
6

There are ways to attend college if your parents won’t or can’t pay. This is certainly the problem with the higher education system and definitely music programs in general. If you are poor you can be excluded.

1 Like
7

There are ways -yes. We know nothing about the student. But full ride merit or need based aid but in most cases it’s unlikely - but as we learn about grades/SATs and finances, we can know more. Much of the student’s list, like UDel or Rowan, etc, short of a miracle are not possible. Purchase is not possible - even with NY Aid. Who will pay for living expenses ??

1 Like
8

They are also not willing to drive me anywhere. I plan on taking out loans, but they don’t have much confidence in my musical abilities. I have participated in NYSSMA once, but my parents don’t even let me participate in choir anymore!! Do you have any cheaper out-of-state options in mind? I have been looking at mainly BA degrees, which are very broad.

9

private loans. They do have money, they just believe that it is not their job to pay for college.

10

Answer to your last question, no. At this point I don;t think it is their business what I major in if they are not the ones paying for it. I am still exploring the field but would like to give private lessons. I dread teaching at k-12 public schools, so I don’t want a teaching degree. I am also interested in songwriting and composition, as well as journalism, and library sciences.

11

I have a 3.8 GPA and am # 15 in a class of 105, which is very large in my area. Please do not assume that one cannot get private loans that will be paid back over time. Living expenses are often included in these loans as they are considered part of your education.

12

You will not be able to borrow that much without them co-signing. Why would a lender lend tens or hundreds of thousands to an 18-20 year old with no credit history.

And if you could borrow, it would almost certainly be a financial death sentence, wrecking you for many years. It would make zero sense. It would be thinking with your heart, not your head.

You might need to start at a CC and live home.

Do you have a test score ?

1 Like
13

If you were a Massachusetts resident, I would wonder what sort of merit aid you could get for U.Mass Lowell, which has a very good music program. This is a very good GPA for U.Mass Lowell.

Given multiple SUNY’s on the list, I wonder if you are in-state and of so what sort of merit aid you are likely to get from them.

14

@DadTwoGirls seems to be a NYS resident.

SUNYs have programs for low income which is why I asked if the parents have $. Seems as if they do.

15

Are you able to commute to any SUNY colleges? Are you TAP eligible?

Will your parents complete the FAFSA financial aid application form?

16

no i don’t, none of this year’s dates worked well for my parent’s schedule, so they couldn’t take me and my school is too small to hold their own tests.

17

I am in NYS and have considerable estimates of merit aid ass well as financial aid.

18

I would be living on campus as my parents cannot afford another four years of me being in their house, emotionally, and financially

19

yes they will fill out the form or maybe co-sign a loa, they just don’t want to pay for it themselves.

20

If they co-sign a loan, who exactly would be paying? You won’t be able to earn enough to pay - so of course they are paying. That’s why they are being asked to co-sign, because when you can’t pay, they’re on the hook.

You need to explore all NY State programs - like Excelsior - but room and board is still $12K, sometimes $20K. And if they’re not low income, then you can’t get Excelsior.

Either way, there is money to be paid - and many schools require an audition - so that might limit the # of schools you can attend.

I’m not trying to be rude but you need a financial plan and the one with you taking on loans in full to cover whatever is not via merit or need aid is unlikely not a plan unless that amounts to $5500, which is what the government provides in first year loan. And don’t forget, loans have fees - so you don’t get what you borrow; they skim off the top. And private loans will have interest start on day one, even if deferred.

I understand your desire to go far from home but it doesn’t seem realistic. I don’t know your stats (gpa/test) but perhaps a school like Troy in Alabama would work for you.

Something to look into but make sure it’s not just for in-state students.

Not trying to be difficult to you but also trying to give you a dose of reality. College costs - and those who have parents unwilling to pay, that can pay some - have a harder time - and could potentially set themselves up for a ruinous financial future.

Is the military an optiion - and then you can study on the GI bill, etc.?

This is Troy U. Prairie View, an HBCU in Texas, also has an full ride auto merit. If we knew your GPA/Test score and courses taken, we could help more. And the 3.8, is it weighted or unweighted?

The Scholars PLUS Award

  • Students with a 33-36 ACT/1450-1600 RSAT and a 3.7 GPA will receive tuition, full housing, and meal plan

  • Covers up to 16 hours per semester