<p>I'm applying to Ithaca's School of Music, in the Performance/Music Education program. I had written an essay about my struggles and anxieties about being a music student, and some peak music experiences I've had, but cut it down to 932 words and made it less pessimistic. I wanted to use this as my common app essay, but Ithaca's supplement says "Briefly present the reason(s) you selected your specific academic program. How did you become interested? Please upload an additional sheet if necessary." </p>
<p>Is this another essay? Or should I use my music-centered essay for this and other arts supplements, and write an essay unrelated to music for the common app? I'm only applying to music programs, but I know I have to get into the college as well as the music program.</p>
<p>I won’t speak directly to the common app, as son’s apps were prior to widespread use of electronic submission, and the schools that he applied to, like Ithaca, required both academic and audition acceptance, and separate apps for academic admission and musical acceptance. He was a dual path, perf/ed major. </p>
<p>Some points that are addressed in the typical music ed interview process that you may want to incorporate into your essay:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/949738-about-admissions-interview.html?highlight=interview[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/949738-about-admissions-interview.html?highlight=interview</a>
There are a series of links within, two specifically for music ed, but it would behoove you to read through them all from a background info perspective.</p>
<p>Now, is there a separate supplemental application for the Ithaca music application, or is it a generic arts supplement essay? Can you get your hands on the Ithaca applications from their website and compare them to the common app? If there are wide differences, I would suggest you use Ithaca’s forms. Read the detail on Ithaca’s site and make sure that they do not recommend using their own rather than the common app for music admissions.</p>
<p>As I said, my inexperience with the common app may lead to you not understand what I’m asking. You may want to repost this in the music major forum [Music</a> Major - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/]Music”>Music Major - College Confidential Forums), where there are a number of posters with application and acceptance to Ithaca in a music discipline who might have more recent insights than mine. </p>
<p>I’d also suggest you spend some time there for audition tips and other discipline specific advice.</p>
<p>I just pulled Ithaca’s music admissions page [Undergraduate</a> Admission Requirements - Admission - Ithaca College](<a href=“School of Music, Theatre, and Dance | Ithaca College”>School of Music, Theatre, and Dance | Ithaca College) </p>
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<p>This in my mind presents a dilemma. If you will later fill out an additional Ithaca music supplementary app, you may run the risk of having used you best essays on the common app. I’d recommend trying to get additional detail directly from the music department at Ithaca. Speak with an admissions counselor. I would still try and repost within the music major forum for guidance as well. </p>
<p>I would also suggest you look at EACH of your school’s music admission webpages, and see if you will run into similar issues with others.</p>