We’re currently exploring moving to Michigan in order to qualify for in-state tuition for at least the last couple years, it is a big ouch even with financial aid. But we are working with the other universities he has been accepted to and see what their total costs would be as well.
U Mich may be the number 1 choice but all the colleges applied to would be quite acceptable, without any safety schools.
Probably also a great life lesson for our students that there are big disappointments but life goes on and you find out that everything works out for the best in the long run if you keep your attitude positive and make the best of your opportunities.
It is so very true. Our son missed many opportunities over the years for reasons that seemed unfair and looking back, it always worked out even better in the long run. Also, networking is big in the art fields!!!
Much as we hate any time he spends on social media, he is also in contact with musicians from all over the world and they are sharing notes, arranging to meet for dinner or breakfast if their audition or travel schedules allow, and we’ve been encouraging each other (parents and children both) as the acceptances, rejections, and waitlists start piling up.
At one location, they arranged by text among 5 musicians who would use the hotel’s business room to practice at which hour, which cracked us up back at home when he shared it with us. Some of them are more introverted than others, but if they stay connected with some of the more extraverted artists in other universities, well, who knows what the future brings?
Also, I tell my son and his male friends that the better they get at handling rejection well, the better their odds at having a good dating life. It hurts a tiny fraction less each time.
We just got the email with zero merit, too. I don’t know where S’ head is at. I think he is very confused and this didn’t help, but we told him we would make it work if this ends up being his choice. His top three have left him dangling in some way, which makes this process even more difficult. He may end up choosing something else entirely.
We had a similar experience w/merit at Michigan a few years back. My kid had a really positive experience with a music teacher there too who gave strong indicators they had very limited funds available for UG vocal at that time too.
Hang in there, it takes a minute to let some schools go but things will sort out.
Ugh!
This is all so crappy and hard! My son was super disappointed when he got no merit offers (or any aid for that matter) from Frost. And he had applied and been accepted EA, which lead us to believe he would get something- especially because it seems like that was the case in years past. But 90,000 a year??? Nope!!
College is just too expensive period. Kids and parents shouldn’t have to worry about going into debt over education.
I know it will all work out for everyone- but it doesn’t make it less frustrating and upsetting…
I’m so sorry about all of these ups and downs. In the interest of being transparent, we did receive an excellent merit offer with a University grant. But we also received an even “excellenter” (lol) offer from a competing school. The cost is on the table for us now, but it still stings. I will share the $$ soon, but I’d like to wait until we sort some things out first, in case anything changes. This phase of the process is no joke. I can’t believe I’m missing the time when passing pre-screens was my biggest stressor!
Late coming back to this thread but good to see everyone’s updates. Wednesday morning, my son received the email letting him know of the merit, grant, summary/total. We are in-state so no complaints. I loved the suggestion (above) of using a spreadsheet to be transparent in negotiation for a higher amount but part of me feels like that could pose a risk of souring someone. I did make a spreadsheet and we went over the three schools, the offers, and what this means for four years, i.e. student loans, “value” (education received vs the cost), and so on.
I also spoke directly with a financial aid person at Oberlin about the FAFSA mess. Based on what she said and what I’ve read elsewhere, “mess” is an understatement. It’s a full-on cluster.
Michigan is likely the choice for my son, but we’re not 100% there yet. MSU was his original top pick but he wasn’t even admitted to the music program. So while I know people here are (rightfully) upset with the low/lack of merit, to be accepted into two other top music programs and not MSU was a gut punch. No ill-will toward the prof (he’s awesome) or school (my son was admitted to the school part as a regular student), but I have to imagine that there just wasn’t enough space and/or perhaps some other nuance(s).
Amen to “nope” on $90,000/yr. I had a wonderful conversation with the conservatory admissions lead at Oberlin and we both agreed that, broadly speaking, the process is broken. My daughter is at Hope College (Holland, MI) and that school is working to change the paradigm, but it’s going to take a while.
For the most part, no one ends up paying the “sticker price” for a school. So why say that Oberlin is $89,000/yr? I know why, sort of. But it’s just wrong. Most schools give a merit (grades) chop right off the top. When my daughter looked at another small school in Michigan, I swear they just made stuff up to give discounts to get you to go there. “You’re wearing a blue shirt today? That’s another $1,000 off”.
My son submitted his appeal for additional merit tonight. He had a good conversation with the professor yesterday. He is 99% ready to commit, money is his only hesitation. Hopefully they can improve his scholarship offer so that he can officially commit.
is there a separate smtd portal that’s different from enrollment connect? i can’t seem to find anything that says we have a scholarship (except on his financial aid page) or a place to appeal. this screenshot you sent looks nothing like our enrollment connect- so wondering if we’re looking in the wrong place!
Does anyone know how orientation works for SMTD? From what I understand there is a virtual portion of orientation and then a one day on campus orientation but I don’t know if it’s specific to SMT exactly or it’s fits for anyone. And I was curious if students stay in dorms or not every school is different and we didn’t get to go to anything like this for my daughter because she was An incoming freshman in the summer of 2020.
I think the orientation is toward the end of April, in person and virtual. Students stay in dorms/on-campus usually through the first two years. My son just committed!
Sign-ups for orientation are at the end of April and, from what I understand, can only be done once your enrollment deposit has been processed and you’ve received an email regarding orientation. @sbirdhr2 and I are in the same boat, and likely won’t be committing until the end of April! Should be plenty of time to find a date that will work with your schedule.
Yes, they matched his scholarship amount from Indiana.
We were told they would not look at appeals until a few delays before the deadline except in a few cases. I guess we were one of those cases. We did not expect to find out this soon!
I am curious how many of the kids have chose SMTD from this group. If your student has committed to Michigan, please respond with your student’s expected Major/studio.
My son is committed and will be studying Euphonium performance.
I don’t know where S’ head is at. I think he is very confused and this didn’t help, but we told him we would make it work if this ends up being his choice. His top three have left him dangling in some way, which makes this process even more difficult. He may end up choosing something else entirely. 
