<p>Regular admissions for state schools have to accept more in state than out of state students. So I’ve always wondered if state school music programs have to accept more in state or does it just seem this way because more in state students apply?</p>
<p>I think it seems that way because an overwhelming number of in-state students apply. I’m applying to three OOS public schools, and in talking with those schools, they necessarily aren’t going to deny a talented OOS student and accept a less-talented in-state one. However, for some states, like Texas, being admitted OOS may prove difficult because of their obligation to admit students at the top 10% (or for some schools 8%) of their high school class. Some state schools actually really like to admit OOS students.</p>
<p>It will depend on the state. In NY, the state schools love out of state students since they can charge them more. The current state funding policy does not provide enough money to cover the costs of the instate students and tuition increases are legislated.</p>
<p>UT Austin seems to have more flexibility for OOS students. The Butler School of Music doesn’t require top 10% class rank for OOS. If an applicant meets their minimum standards (not sure what they are) and has a strong audition, admission chances are good. State schools at least sometimes do try to woo top in-state musicians.</p>
<p>What if the admissions to the school and the music school are separate? So, obviously admissions to the regular school would be more difficult for out of state but would the music school take this into consideration? Or is it solely the audition?</p>
<p>That really depends on the school.</p>
<p>Eg. at University of Michigan, the mix for the LSA college and overall stats are roughly 60/40 instate versus out of state. But the reverse is true for the music school. (Note that OOS cost of attendance is $52,000 this year…)</p>
<p>There, it is possible to be denied at the regular university but accepted for a music degree because each “school” confers its own degree, and a straight music degree still first undergoes academic “clearance” – which is not the same as acceptance to LSA of the college of engineering, etc… At the same time, while talent trumps all, UMich School of Music DOES have GPA cutoffs and generally prefers highly talented/academic admits because those students do still have to be able to handle the rigor of the school overall.</p>
<p>I would expect that top programs have a lot more leeway on this – eg. that state flagships with top tier schools of music would be freer with the IS/OOS designation.</p>
<p>When my son auditioned at Northwestern, this is what they told us at the informational meeting for music students. Basically 3 things might happen, you could get accepted academically to the school if your academic stats were strong before even finding out about the audition, you could get rejected if your academics were not strong enough regardless of audition or they might hold an admission decision until after the audition and decide in consultation with the music faculty. I don’t know, but suspect something similar happens at most schools that are not stand alone conservatories.
Also, in state and OOS admission for music depends a lot on the pool of candidates. When my son auditioned at our in state school he was the sole in state cellist out of 100 cellists auditioning that year.</p>
<p>At my son’s state school, about 40% of the students are out of state students, but I have reasons to believe that is is significantly harder to get in academically as an out of state student. I don’t know specifically about music though as his college is not particularly well known for music. I suspect that for music, the auditions make all the difference in the world, and the music school probably doesn’t either care if a great music student is out of state or in state.</p>