<p>I thought I'd post this here as well, since you all can sometimes be a bigger help to me than the rest of CC.</p>
<p>This reminds me of a great interchange from the movie Broadcast News:</p>
<p>William Hurt’s character: What do you do when your dreams exceed your expectations?
Albert Brooks’ character: Keep it to yourself.</p>
<p>But seriously, big congrats. </p>
<p>I think only you can make this decision. But I do know the current freshman class at USC’s popular music program are very talented and quite happy, many of them doing phenomenal things in the LA music scene outside school as well as within the program. I also know that this year there were 500 submissions resulting in roughly 50 auditions and something like 25 acceptances. So that’s the level of people you will be with there–even tougher now than the Clive Davis program at NYU (although they are completely different programs).</p>
<p>Best of luck deciding!</p>
<p>Thank you for your input, jazz/shreddermom. I’ll keep that in mind!</p>
<p>Jeez, and I totally messed up the quote!!! Correction:</p>
<p>Tom Grunnick:
What do you do when your real life exceeds your dreams?</p>
<p>Aaron Altman:
Keep it to yourself.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>speaking of quotes… I recently read one, I think it was somewhere here at CC but I can’t find it. </p>
<p>It was a variation on: If life hands you lemons, make lemonaide</p>
<p>more like: it isn’t what you’re given, it’s what you do with it</p>
<p>Anyone know what the real quote is?</p>
<p>Congratulations on your successful applications! It might be a nice thing if you notify the schools you decide not to attend earlier than May 1, so that perhaps someone can get off a waitlist there.</p>
<p>Excellent suggestion from stradmom. The “making the decision” subhead within here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/901390-2010-collective-experience.html?highlight=2010[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/901390-2010-collective-experience.html?highlight=2010</a> has some links to prior threads that might help you sort through the process.</p>
<p>You have a variety of optoins and some are quite different. What do you want to accomplish? Who would you study with? Who would you collaborate with? When you can answer those questions and perhaps re-visit (or visit for the first time) with the music departments you will be able to answer your own questions. </p>
<p>You are in a different position now that you are accepted. Visit or call the schools. Talk to the professors. Ask questions. Talk to other students. They want you now instead of the other way around and they will accomodate you in addressing your conerns while you make your decision. Good luck. You have excellent choices.</p>
<p>Congrats, 27, this is quite a feat. Now for the really hard work … where do you see yourself and how will you take advantage of the opportunities? I would also factor scholarships and special privileges into the list for consideration, as you may get more opportunity at the school that best matches your fundamental strengths. If you are a power house vocalist with experience with outstanding private teachers so far, then I would go to LA or NY or network and collaborate. Between those 2, you’ll have to dig into yourself to see what you want out of it. Good luck and keep us posted!</p>
<p>Congrats, 27. Those programs have different nuances – have you or will you attend any admitted student programs? Talked to any students? What interests you the most, contemporary performance aspect or production? (Eg. were you an artist/performer category at Clive Davis?) I could be wrong, but did you previously mention scoring as well? If so, have a listen to the profs at each who’ve produced film scores (can’t recall the name of the one at Clive Davis, but obviously that experience is helpful in terms of that type of work.) At the same time, can’t beat USC for location if that’s a future interest.
How much engineering do you want – eg. how far do you want to go on the tech side? (Eg. Frost is super strong in that area…but in different ways, all of them are; just different emphasis from what I could tell – and that was 2 yrs ago touring with my son.)</p>
<p>Get a course sequence/curriculum from each program. Read through the calendar and picture yourself in each sequence. You should be able to get a feel.
Eg. my son did that, and discovered that the program he’s now in had more composition, which is what he was after…although now he’s actually taking more of the engineering courses than he’d originally planned (by permission.) So make sure whichever one you choose has a broad enough, deep enough curriculum in your favorite areas of exploration…because your focus will sharpen (as well as expand, in some cases 
== Kudos and good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>PS - Just noticed you said Music Business for Frost so ignore my engineering comment.</p>
<p>PPSS – How are your situated on the money front? Eg. is one of the schools substantially less expensive for you? You will want to avoid high debtloads. USC is a “meets need” school if you have high need; NYU is most definitely NOT a “meets need” school. So if there is a clear leader in this regard it may help you narrow your choices considerably.</p>
<p>Thank you all for this most valuable input. Now for the monster post explaining my current stance:</p>
<p>All of this being said, I’ve pretty much determined that I’m probably not going to attend UMiami or The New School… USC, NYU, and Berklee have much more of what I’m looking for. Basically, yes, I’m a performer (trained classically and in Musical Theatre, but at heart a contemporary powerhouse vocalist, if you will) with great interest in gaining a relatively broad knowledge of the music business, production, and recording industry. I’m also interested in honing my music journalism skills in case I need a solid job before the music career money kicks in. Ultimately, I could really end up in any part of the music industry. As of now, I want to study to be a professional music artist. You know, performing/writing/producing albums, touring, starting a product line, etc… OR a more behind-the-scenes person doing something really innovative. Call me crazy, but I’m thinking something along the lines of a multimedia rock opera. I embrace my own ambition, training for the best but still preparing for the “just in case.”</p>
<p>All in all, I’m leaning toward NYU because of the opportunities to study with the best of the best in business, production, history, critique, hit songwriting, rock photography, and just being an overall creative force in the music industry. It’s also the school where I could see myself fitting in the most and enjoying my surroundings the most. It’s totally up my alley, more than any other school. LA and Boston are great cities, but anyone who knows me can tell that my head and heart already live in NY, NY. The only main thing that’s concerning with NYU is the fact that there is no performance curriculum in ReMu. This is a huge downside, especially because Steinhardt isn’t exactly renowned for its music program. I’d have to really dig deep to find the kind of voice instructor I need. Does anyone know how I could go about doing this?</p>
<p>On the other hand, Berklee’s curriculum is absolutely perfect for me, and I feel like I’d fit in relatively well there too. However, it’s not in New York, it’s not the best school for a well-rounded “college experience,” and I’ve heard that there’s very little dorm space available, even for freshmen. I’m not quite prepared to go straight out of high school and into an apartment. Also, my intellectual potential is of great importance, so I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to study at a school where “the board of admissions (BOA) prefers grades of C+ and higher in English, math, history, and science.” It’s still very much in the running though, because aside from these concerns, it’s pretty much ideal.</p>
<p>I feel like USC is a good compromise between the vast differences of NYU and Berklee, and the weather is much nicer. However, I just don’t see myself fitting in as well at USC, and it’s still… not in New York. </p>
<p>I feel that it would be good to mention now that, while incoming scholarship decisions may have an impact on my choice, money isn’t so much of a problem that it would prevent me from going to any of these schools.</p>
<p>What do you all think I should do?</p>
<p>For many, the issue with NYU very simply boils down to money. Plain and simple, the forum is full of past threads on the topic. Again, the mantra is do not go into (serious) debt for a music degree.</p>
<p>Like I mentioned before, money isn’t a big problem. I really don’t want to sound snooty or whatever, but seriously, guys. It’s not a problem. My parents are well-off.</p>
<p>You should keep in mind that the type of students you will meet, network with and perform with at Thornton (and popular music is very much a performance degree) are different from the students of USC in general. </p>
<p>Although it’s a great university, my son would not have chosen USC if it weren’t for what Thornton offered specifically - he was also admitted to NYU and saw himself as much more of an “NYU type” kid (not into football or frats, more urban/indie/artsy, outside the box, liberal, etc.) He has definitely found his kindred spirits within Thornton, USC’s Film School and Roski (the Fine Art School). </p>
<p>Having said that, LA certainly isn’t NYC. Not even a little. They are apples and oranges. But being in LA has given my son tons of performance and session opportunities he might not have had elsewhere. He was also admitted to Berklee, but it was never at the top of the list for various reasons (so many musicians at so many different levels, not well-rounded, not in a “music capital”). For him it was always LA or NYC. </p>
<p>He also LOVES his private lessons.</p>
<p>Since the programs are so different, I really suggest you get copies of the curriculums and study the music course listings. See what you will actually be taking, both requirements and available music electives. I believe both USC and NYU have sample 4-year-plans you can look at. Have them email these to you. Speak to the directors of the programs. Ask lots of questions. Visit again, if you can.</p>
<p>Hopefully raddad will add some scoop here as his son’s now in his second year. I know that the popular music department has held showcases of its singer/songwriters where record label heavyweights come hear them perform, and that many music legends have come to teach master classes and speak for the popular music forum. </p>
<p>I don’t know that we’ve had a Clive Davis/Recorded Music parent or student here yet. Hopefully someone!</p>
<p>I was reading you comments, and I am in the same dilemma. I have been accepted to USC-Thornton, and Jacobs-IU. (Piano Performance)I am trying to figure out where I fit. LA or Bloomington! SO different from each other. </p>
<p>I am stressing over this decision too. How do you determine which is the best program?</p>
<p>Read through some of the links I referenced. Apply the same criteria you used initially when you chose schools to apply to. Temper that with your reactions to trial lessons, interaction with faculty, any ensemble or major performances you witnessed or sat in on. Compare out of pocket expense, financial packages, locale and logistics.</p>
<p>And all things being equal, go with what your gut tells you.</p>
<p>27dreams, regardless of your parents being well off, if you were offered scholarships at at least one of these places, you may be treated as a scholar, which has special privileges, that’s why that could be a factor. If you didn’t, and they can be hard to come by, then you just have to chose between some great schools and be treated like all the other very talented kids.</p>
<p>Thanks, all. I know for a fact that I won’t be getting any scholarship money from Berkleee or NYU, and USC told me I wasn’t being considered for their two big scholarships…</p>
<p>I think I’m going to try to contact some people at NYU regarding lesson & performance opportunities and maybe go up there over spring break to meet with some potential voice instructors and/or teachers in the ReMu program. It’s the only school where I haven’t actually met any of the faculty in my major (no audition, portfolio instead). If that doesn’t work out in the best way possible, hopefully I’ll have a better idea of where to go from there based on the research I’m doing now. Anything else I should consider?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>My son and I did not end up touring USC because he decided he didn’t want to be in LA so I have no means of comparison, but we did tour Clive Davis and met with faculty and I have to say that when I read your comments, 27, that’s the program that came immediately to mind. (For the parents of happy students at Thornton, it may have been USC that comes to mind, FWIW, so take that into account 
)</p>
<p>– Not so much for the performance aspect but for the curricular combination for “producer/artists.” I’m certain you could find a voice instructor somewhere in NYC if you didn’t find a fit, and the additional MT opportunities at Tisch I’m sure have not escaped you. You would definitely benefit from a direct visit, I think.</p>
<p>I have nothing against LA or the west coast, but if I had a powerhouse voice, a capability to songwrite and a proclivity to produce, I’d personally have a hard time passing up on Tisch/Clive Davis/New York. But I love New York ;)</p>