I have decided that this is my top school in my college apps. I am applying to the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University under Early Decision. I am particularly interested in the Music Composition field at Blair and I already have my music portfolio and materials ready to go. I also know that I am going to apply to this particular school as soon as possible, just because I am so anxious for it. I was interested in knowing, if you know, how competitive the Composition major is for undergraduates applying to Blair. What can I do to prepare for this?
I have experience composing for my school, specifically for the orchestra and Big Band, and also other ensembles such as the Left Coast Ensemble settled in the Bay Area. I completed my junior year with a 4.57 GPA Weighted, with many extracurricular activities related to music. My SAT is currently at a 1120, kind of a bad test taker, but I also have a rigorous course-load for my high school class. I am also versatile at over 20 instruments including Saxophone and Bassoon. I have also studied with composer Anthony Davis, who currently teaches at UC San Diego. My portfolio consists of 7 small works for quartets, 5 classical and 2 jazz, 1 arrangement for a string ensemble, and also 2 larger works, 1 orchestral, 1 big band. I hope this information helps.
Hello there! Composition major here. So great to hear you’re interested!
ED is a great way to boost your chances at Vandy, even at Blair. Composition is a very competitive program (generally we have anywhere between 2-5 majors join us every year depending on how many are admitted and what the department is looking for, and there can be anywhere from 50-60 applications, so about a 5-10% acceptance rate). You seem academically qualified from a GPA standpoint, but I would bring up those test scores. We’re not as test score sensitive as the college of arts and sciences or engineering, as long as you’re talented enough to be admitted, but a 1120 is quite low and would probably raise concerns about your ability to survive the rigorous coursework. Aim to make it a 1300 and you have a realistic chance, pending a wonderful portfolio and a solid interview.
Hope to see you at Blair for the audition weekend later this year! GOOD LUCK!
p.s. please feel free to PM me for more specifics if you’re interested!
Senior2016M Thank you for replying back! It really means a lot to finally get some help for my specific situation! Okay, so I’m not being allowed to PM anybody yet so I think it would be okay to post here. I wanted to ask you a few questions about Blair. First off, how is the Composition program here? Do you think it was beneficial learning here and what was the social life like at Vandy? I have a lot of concerns from my family about the amount of racism that occurs in Tennessee, and since you have studied here, would you be able to give me some insight about that as well? Also, were yo involved in any performance opportunities as a Composition major here? I am thinking about getting into the Big Band here if I am accepted. And one more thing, there are many other music schools that are most known for their music programs, such as Juilliard, USC, Oberlin, NYU, and NEC. What made you want to choose Vanderbilt over the others? What drew you over here that you didn’t find at these other types of schools, if you applied to any others?