<p>Team_mom,</p>
<p>actually those kids do have the grades. They're talented, they can do more with less time. Their SATs and grades are in the highest range.</p>
<p>You may be right, but when D was applying for schools, she was strongly recruited by an Ivy, although her stats were not Ivy material, 3.5 and 2100. Maybe they wanted her instrument - she did have an amazing musical resume and had subbed in their orchestra a few times. She wouldn't apply- too much effort and she wanted conservatory. Or maybe if they had, they might have turned her down despite asking her to apply several times.</p>
<p>Well, we'll find out when S applies next year to some Ivies. His academics are significantly higher than hers, although not perfect. I guess technically, he might be considered within their norms, but so many kids with perfect stats get turned down...</p>
<p>Oh shucks, team-mom, now lots of kids are going to dream they can do the same, like my S! ;) He's got higher SATs than accepted average from our school but his GPA clearly doesn't match. Still he applied to two Ivies...just in case. He wasn't called first, though. Your daughter must be a fantastic musician.</p>
<p>There are a number of very multi-talented, multi-faceted students in the noted pre-college programs. </p>
<p>We're personally familiar with a few Juilliard, Manhattan pre-college alums whose overall academics, experiences, interests and musical talents made their undergrad choices difficult.</p>
<p>One chose a conservatory level performance program within a very strong academic institution, and two are recent Ivy graduates with non music degrees, and both continued private instruction with "name" instructors.
I can't say whether they were actually courted by those or other Ivys, but I do know they both went through angst deciding on Ivy versus conservatory paths.</p>
<p>Of the two Ivy grads, one is now entering a Masters program in their academic field, one is pursuing a Masters in Performance, as is the student who chose the performance path initially.</p>
<p>aaviolinist,
My S is also waiting to hear from Carnegie Mellon for university admission. I went to their website last night and it lists April 15 as their admission notification date. I hope it comes earlier than that! It did say that the admission would include almost all scholarship info, but not financial aid info, which would be sent later. But they still want you to decide by May 1st. That will be lot of last minute decisions.
Bassoonmom</p>
<p>My understanding from several college advisors is that if you are close academically and the department really wants you they'll fight to get you in to the University. If you're way off there's nothing they can do. I'd look at the admission fast facts to the school your S is admitted to and see how close he is for a little reassurance or potential disappointment.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>the music was the added plus that got them in, but their stats were on a par with the other admittees>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>I'm not sure this is really all that helpful. MANY of the students who apply to HYPS have music (and some very extensive) experience on their EC list.</p>
<p>In my area, it's not unusual at all that top (generally they've won national/international competitions as high schoolers) violin and piano students will attend Ivies for undergrad then do Masters at Juilliard. I know several of these who are now under management and developing solo careers.</p>
<p>As Vieux, points out there is a significant number of students each year that can and do "do it all". (Vieux, I suspect you are in that category yourself!)</p>
<p>Many students applying the HPS, etc. are musicians, but only a few will send in CD's and music resumes that are impressive enough to make a difference. Again, they are interested in a mix of talented kids in a variety of areas at these schools -- part of the mix is to have a really talented pianist, violinist, etc. So if the kid was on From the Top or went to Aspen in high school and also sends in a great CD, that could make a difference. And a lot of the same kids live in the NE, so may have other connections to these schools, i.e. legacies.
And then it can be tough deciding where to go -- and, from what I've seen over the years, when they get to these schools, including Harvard and Yale, it can be tough to keep up the music -- some do, many (perhaps most) don't.</p>
<p>And the performing opportunities, with a few exceptions (Princeton's Jazz Ensemble, being one), are really not so stellar at all, even at Harvard. Kids used to a very high level of play will find the orchestras/ensembles disappointing at almost all of these schools (direct experience, from a good number of kids we know). </p>
<p>Although there are some unbelievably talented musicians attending the Ivies, etc, many don't participate in the music groups because they have too many other things going on. Other kids, who want to continue at a high level, may have to do their music outside of the college setting.</p>
<p>For soloists only, this is less of an issue. I am talking about those who want to participate in ensembles or other group music making experiences.</p>
<p>It may depend upon what teacher you are able to get at the HYP. I know that there is an extremely good, Gingold-trained teacher (quartet in residence member) at Duke. A violinist we knew in prep went to Duke where he's studying bioengineering. He also played the Tchaikovsky VC with the school orchestra and is making strides on the violin. He may have a hard time deciding what to do for grad school!!</p>
<p>Yes, it can depend on the teacher -- and at Harvard there is access to a lot of fine teachers (though not on the faculty, and you have to pay). But if you are a Harvard student taking a full load, and you are not enrolled in a conservatory teacher's studio where you have talented peers to keep you challenged at the highest level, it will be hard to keep up the music. Not that it can't be done; one Harvard pianist, who studied with Robert Levin, decided not to switch to investment banking like many of his classmates, and went to Yale School of Music, where he is now a TA for undergraduate pianists (who generally don't get to study with the YSM faculty). It is a longshot though for most; there are few YoYoMa's out there.</p>
<p>I would so recommend kids who can do a regular education at a school like Yale or Princeton, do it. I am going to take the plunge and go to a normal school too. It will be hard time wise, but you won't suffer at all by not doing all the music major stuff. Just practice 3-5 hours a day and you'll be fine. You'll have to work really hard but it's only for 4 years. Then you can go to a masters or artist diploma at a conservatory, but don't sell yourself short if you have the ability to go to a real university like harvard. The people you'll meet and the things you'll get to do are too cool to pass up.</p>