<p>I am a student at Ohio State (3rd year, Film Studies, high gpa). Originally I chose this school for proximity. I want to transfer to a college that has both a really strong music and film program. Specifically, music composition and screenwriting. I will either double major or major/minor. The music program is more important than the film program as music will be the major. Also, the music program should be more of a "new age" program as opposed to a conservatory, ie open to experimental/electronic music.</p>
<p>What schools are strong in both areas? Can be anywhere worldwide. Many schools are exceptional in one area, but average in the other. I realize they are pretty separate fields but they're both in the arts so there's got to be some schools that fit the bill.</p>
<p>Hi circuitrider, why is transferring senior year troublesome? I thought it would be good because I got some credits out of the way already, and I’ve done well so it would improve my chances of getting accepted.</p>
<p>Check out CalArts. (Californian Institute of the Arts) I think it has what you’re looking for, although you may want to apply there for an MFA instead. Cornish College of the Arts. Columbia College Chicago. If you’re female, look into Mills College for undergrad, or, if you’re male for grad school. Although “New Age,” and experimental/electronic are not the same thing.</p>
<p>Hi SpiritManager, I did not mean the new age music genre or movement, but rather the generic meaning: contemporary, modern. Maybe I should have used “progressive” music program instead.</p>
<p>Funny you suggest CalArts, after some research a few months ago, I thought CalArts was the best school for me. I already applied and they rejected me. That’s why I’m here, to see what other schools have strong programs in both areas.</p>
<p>This might be a question for a new thread, but if my undergraduate degree is a BA in Film Studies, is it possible that I can get an MM degree? I want to go to graduate school in the future but for music not film. My understanding is that there is no way I can go to graduate school for composition if my undergrad degree is in anything but music.</p>
<p>You can go to grad school in composition - if you have the portfolio and resume to support an application - it needn’t be with a BM in Composition. But you need to have written music, had your music performed or recorded, possibly won awards or attended significant music festivals. Have you applied for any summer programs? My advice would be to wait for grad school - to build up that portfolio and resume now. Bowling Green has a lot of new music events, workshops, concerts, educational outreach - have you contacted anyone there?
You also might have better luck applying to CalArts for an MFA than you did for undergrad. I still think it sounds like the right kind of place for you. There are a number of electroacoustic based composition departments for MFA graduate study - Mills, CalArts, Brown, Bard, RIT, Stanford, Berkeley among others. You should post these questions on the Music Major forum. There are a number of very knowledgable posters about the electronic & electroacoustic composition world.</p>
<p>I write and record my music (and have done this for many years) but am completely self-taught and have had no formal education. I just can’t imagine getting accepted to a masters program when I don’t have the experience and knowledge that someone with a BFA in music or BM has. But, I know so little about this, I could be totally wrong. I’ve never heard of anyone getting a master’s in music without majoring in music in undergrad. Music is too hard and too competitive for that to really happen. I can see, however, someone with a BM getting into a grad program for screenwriting, as it is a lot easier to teach yourself screenwriting than teach yourself music.</p>
<p>That’s part of the reason I think a bachelor’s degree in music is more weighty than a bachelor’s degree in film and why I want to change tracks. Music composition is a very large academic world compared to the narrow academic world of screenwriting. You can get your doctorate in composition, but the closest you’ll get to getting a doctorate in screenwriting is getting a doctorate in Film Studies, something that does not interest me.</p>
<p>If CalArts rejected me for a BFA, what are the odds they will accept me for an MFA where there are fewer spots and more talented applicants!</p>
<p>“Wesleyan transfer students […] transfer in as sophomores and juniors.”</p>
<p>I’ve seen similar statements on several college sites and always thought it meant, I would transfer INTO the school as a 2nd or 3rd year, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a 2nd or 3rd year at your current school to apply. Correct me if I’m wrong about that. Since I’m changing majors, I expected to be in college for a longer time anyway, so starting as a sophomore or junior is acceptable.</p>
<p>Since you’re entirely self-taught- before applying anywhere else you need to take some classes. There is a composition dept at your own college. That would be the place to start. You could probably still add a music minor -especially if you’re willing to stay a semester or two longer. Music theory. Composition. Sound design. It’s all there and available.</p>
<p>I think the statement, “transferring as sophomores or juniors” means, transferring INTO the sophomore or junior class. I’ve never heard of anyone transferring INTO the senior year of a selective, residential, liberal arts oriented college or university. This is why I asked, as I did in post#2:
<p>I thought colleges had restrictions on the number of courses you need to take at their institution in order for them to grant you a degree? Hence, transfers should happen in sophomore year…</p>
<p>Most colleges require that you take 4 semesters at their school to qualify for a degree. There’s no way I can transfer in as a senior since I don’t have music composition coursework under my belt. If I am changing majors, I will have to be in school for 2 more years anyway.</p>