<p>I'm going to be a highschool senior in the fall and plan on applying to colleges as a cello performance major, however I am so lost on how to go about searching for the right colleges for me and really what's realistic. Perhaps if I give you all an idea of the strong points in my application and the repetoire I'lll be using you could give me an idea of my "chances of getting in" and maybe some pointers on searching and evaluating schools?</p>
<p>strong points: 3.4 gpa taking toughest classes available, have been a member of several selective local orchestras, annually compete in russian speaking/writing competitions, member of local youth court, 4s on two ap exams </p>
<p>Bard College
Sarah Lawrence College
Temple University
DePaul University
Roosevelt University
New England Conservatory
SUNY Purchase
Ithaca College
University of North Carolina School of the Arts</p>
<p>The audition is everything. You should be fine academically, except possibly at Bard. NEC requires a prescreen CD/DVD, as may some of the other, before granting an audition date, due mid-fall (either November 1 or December 1). Good luck.</p>
<p>Bard is selective, academically and musically. Here’s a couple of links that may help clarify. N8Ma is a Bard music admissions “person” (I can’t recall the title). </p>
<p>Couple of general comments on how to proceed:</p>
<p>1)Check the schools website for audition requirements. While these generally are usually pretty standard from what I have seen, you should see how your repertoire stacks up against their requirements. In the violin world I have seen references to specific etudes on the level of let’s say Dont or Spohr, or wanting a romantic concerto with a piece of solo bach. It is at least a guide to see if you are in the ballpark…'</p>
<p>2)Talk to your teachers, show them the requirements and see where you stand, and if you hopefully get feedback from people on here or from people who know the schools, bring that to your teacher(s) as well, to help in evaluating a course of action. </p>
<p>I can tell you Bard has the reputation of being tough, both in performance and dual degrees…</p>
<p>If you are thinking of applying there, my one thought would be to treat it like going into what it is, a very difficult program (similar if not same level as NEC) and figuring out what may make them want to take you after an audition. One thing I have learned in music is that to get into the high level programs you almost have to going into obsessive/compulsive land with it:).</p>
<p>Just to follow up my earlier post, I’ll agree with what musicprnt has suggested. </p>
<p>Without knowing your level of experiences and ability, comments on rep are best left to the institutional parameters in conjunction with your instructor. </p>
<p>The list of schools represents a nice range of programs, from the extremely competitive to very solid programs with excellent faculty and peers. Purchase also has a prescreen requirement in addition to NEC as mentioned by lorelei2702, but check ALL the specific schools’ websites for program specific parameters and dates.</p>
<p>All but Sarah Lawrence are audition based admits, and some do weigh academics differently, but you should be fine in this regard. Are you aware that the program at Sarah Lawrence is a BA as opposed to a BM degree, and is a non-audition based admit? </p>
<p>From my reading of the website, audition is NOT required for admittance to the music major, and auditions are for ensemble placement only? Are you considering this as a musical safety? There are strong faculty at SL, but you may want to consider size of the program, and peer quality across all instruments. If you are unaware that the focus will be different than a BM pursuit, please remember to compare apples to apples and look deeply when investigating potential programs.</p>
<p>Plenty of info here, and people are willing to assist.</p>
<p>Back from my days long ago, Sarah Lawrence isn’t the typical BA; you receive a BA and there are no core requirements or requirements for a major. You take 3 major classes a year, with subsets–i.e., a music third could include lessons, theory and composition. I transferred there from U. Mich liberal arts specifically because I could do as much music as I wanted without being in a conservatory (I didn’t consider myself conservatory material.)Proximity to NYC also is a plus–I went into the city for private piano lessons every week because I preferred the teacher at that time. I was there when Dorothy Delay would come on Sundays to teach–Schlomo Mintz used practice rooms there. The wonderful clarinetist David Krakauer also spent most of his undergrad there. (and Lesley Gore, Yoko Ono, Carly Simon…)
Granted, the school has many idiosyncracies and is not for everyone. But its unique academic structure does make it the right place for some musicians–and of course others in the arts and academics.</p>
<p>Since you’re a cellist, you may also want to post your question on one of my favorite forums, Cello Chat, through the Internet Cello Society. There’s a College group. Your repertoire may be a little unusual for conservatory auditions and you may want to see what the cellists think about it (don’t panic, it’s not that unusual. I love the Kabalevsky 1st concerto and am in a Bloch phase right now)
Best wishes from a cello mom</p>
<p>I agree with what mom4 had to say - the Cello Chat forums are really helpful for advice like this. I also wanted to say that the cello professor at DePaul is a fantastic person, instructor, and musician.</p>