Any luck negotiating with MSM?

<p>My son's been offered a nice chunk of change at Eastman but he'd probably prefer to go to Manhattan, where he was offered diddly squat. Has anyone had any luck going from zero to something with them?</p>

<p>Here’s something fun… S did get a small scholarship from MSM. It is only guaranteed for the one year. Then they review it to determine if you get again next year. If he gets a lower score on his jury than he got on his audition, he could lose the scholarship. We don’t even know what his audition score was. If in any year he gets a lower score on his jury than the year before, he could lose his scholarship. This is in addition to if he doesn’t keep up his grades. Now, I am hoping that this is something that they only really apply in the instance where a kid is really under-performing, but technically, they could enforce it if he scored a point lower on his jury a year later. All the other scholarships S got were for four years as long as he kept up his grades. We appealed the amount, but not expecting much.</p>

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<p>This is probably defined under the term “artisitic progress” as opposed to “academic progress”. One of the standard criteria in BM and many BA performance disciplines is the annual performance jury, and a major criteria for passing is “making satisfactory artistic progress”. </p>

<p>Now if they are going to quantify it, using an audition score as the initial benchmark, then I would insist on knowing that score (and the subcategories that comprise it). </p>

<p>Usually this type of detail is found within an institutions undergrad handbook, or similarly named document detailing all the specific administrative, financial housing policies, as well as the individual degree requirements across all majors.</p>

<p>While it is quite probable that it would only be enforced in the case of a severely under performing student, it is nebulous enough to believe that it COULD be applied in the one point less than example.</p>

<p>This is a case of CYA beforehand, and if you cannot find the info within the undergrad handbook documentation then I would take pains to get an official written set of specific parameters policy for this scholarship.</p>

<p>Talent scholarships can have an academic component attached, but it is usually identical to the GPA requirements “satisfactory academic” for the major. Where this differs can be in some of those nebulous awards that combine both music and academic criteria, where you may not necessarily know how much is being awarded for scholastic achievement, and how much for talent. These types tend to tie the award to the minimum academic standards for continuation in the major program.</p>

<p>Know your scholarship guidelines before you decide, and if they are unclear, get them clarifed.</p>

<p>And while unrelated, I cannot stress this enough: the devil here is in the details. That’s what the undergrad handbook is for. Have your students become familiar with it, and I urge that they read ALL the applicable procedures for financial aid, housing, academic probation/dismissal, continuation of scholarships, substance abuse issues, judicial procedures, degree plans and degree requirements, change of major, etc. Far too many are bitten on the bottom when they least expect it. Do not rely on your advisor to know everything, especially at large publics or in cross discipline pursuits. It isn’t high school. The info is there, and the colleges take the position that ignorance of a procedure, deadline or policy is not an excuse.</p>

<p>MSM was son’s first choice about 3 years ago.
He was given a scholarship for about 25% off tuition, but it was renewable for 4 years.
It did require ‘satisfactory progress’ but nothing very specific.
All offers son received had similar wording.</p>

<p>Son ended up going elsewhere so he didn’t ask for a higher amount from MSM.</p>

<p>Well I received a 5K scholarship and after a quick email to my studio teacher and director of financial aid, they quickly tripled it to 15K. I just stated my interest in MSM, gave them my financial aid offers from 3 other schools, and told them I’d rather go to MSM if I got comparable financial aid.</p>

<p>Excellent news! We just basically did the same thing, so I hope it turns out as well for us. We asked them to give us enough to have the cost of attending be the same as the other school, rather than asking for the same dollar amount in scholarship.</p>

<p>Congratulations!!! That’s great news!!! And good luck bassmom!!</p>

<p>Bsndavid, that’s very impressive. MSM also increased my daughter’s scholarship, but it’s still a very small amount, and I think we will have to rule out the school for that reason, unfortunately. I don’t know if one can go back and make a second appeal.</p>

<p>they told me that they could only increase anything if your audition score is high enough.
meaning that your audition score was high enough for acceptance but not for scholarship.</p>