Academics vs. Talent

<p>Regarding Vanbluff's Peabody comments, Peabody used to say on their website (maybe still does) that following audition and acceptance by the music faculty, admission was assured as long as grades and test scores met Peabody's standards. If a student was wanted by the music faculty, but had grades or scores lower than the minimum, the grades/scores would be reviewed by an academic dean before a final decision was made. </p>

<p>We know a student whose SAT was quite low - below Peabody's stated minimum, but grades and high school course work fine. He was offered admission. I assume they went through the stated process and the complete academic picture of the student was found acceptable.</p>

<p>I think some of my son's scholarships may also have been the results of strong academics/good scores, etc. even at the conservatories. </p>

<p>The way I look at it, being a good student can only enhance a musician's application/audition. It won't supercede the audition, but it can provide the tipping point.</p>

<p>Allmusic --</p>

<p>Where is your son going to go?</p>

<p>I haven't been trying to be deliberately cagey, but my son requested that I not write about him on a public board (the fact that he puts his own life out there is his business, apparently!). As a result, I have respected his privacy, and haven't posted where he applied or was accepted.</p>

<p>I have communicated by PM with some people and have let them know. If you are curious, shoot me a PM and I will tell you!</p>

<p>Allmusic, Your son and my daughter must be from the same mold!!!! You however abide by his wishes better than I do. I figure if it helps her and I'm not giving out who or where she it's OK. She has kinda gotton used to me and I know her absolute boundries.</p>

<p>I've told my S2 that I'm spending way too much money on him for him to suddenly get shy. ;) Every once in awhile, I do try to reign it in. (Besides, as I remind him, this site has helped get him where he is! He owes at least a bit in return.)</p>

<p>Don't mean to take off topic, but I had to reply to the last couple of posts as my son is furious that I am posting here (especially with info that could give away who he is as I did in another thread -- "bragging" to his great embarrassment after a friend saw it and characterized it that way). I tried to remove it but didn't realize you can't edit except for immediately after posting. </p>

<p>So I have learned my lesson and may still post but only on topics that don't directly relate to him.</p>

<p>And I apologize if anything I posted appeared that way! Of course we are all proud parents.</p>

<p>Bad mom.</p>

<p>You aren't a bad mom at all. Truth be told, I would love to talk more personally here about some of my son's achievements, but he is also very modest, and really doesn't want me to do that. And he isn't an iota shy or introverted, just humble!</p>

<p>
[quote]
that I'm spending way too much money on him for him to suddenly get shy.

[/quote]
<br>
Accidentally left out the middle of my sentence. Should say - spending way too much money on trying to make him famous ...</p>

<p>No, he is not really shy either, but he is a bit introverted. But mostly, regardless of personality, attributes, or achievements, the fact remains ... it's always embarassing when Mom talks about you. To anyone. Anywhere. Any time.</p>

<p>I'm in your camp, Binx. My S is also quite introverted - could be called shy - until he plays the violin. Then he's a tiger. He doesn't like to be discussed either, but he, like me, has found the information we've been able to get from the wisdom of the others on this site to be a gold mine and worth some exposure.</p>

<p>The thing my son's academic performance did was give him the options of applying to a university conservatory program as well as stand alone conservatories. Because he met the academic requirements, he was able to do both. In the end, however, his acceptance to the music programs was based solely on his audition.</p>

<p>Does anyone have a sense of how the grades vrs. audition thing plays out in the BU music dept. admissions?</p>

<p>I sent you a PM...but basically the audition is what gets students accepted into the music program at BU.</p>