<p>Rice is extremely hard to get into both for violin and for academics - you have to be very strong in both. IU has a lot of very good teacher and is much less difficult to get into academically. U. Maryland has James Stern who is supposed to be a wonderful teacher. It is medium hard academically and musically - perhaps a good safety? There are some good violin teachers at U. Wisconsin. Oberlin is terrific, but very liberal.</p>