Hello everyone,
I am a high school senior who wishes to pursue a double degree in violin and international relations in college. I have been admitted into the Eastman school of Music and the University of Rochester. I am put on waitlist for CIM and Oberlin con. But since I applied double degree, I did get in to the Oberlin college and the Case western Reserve University and their BA music programs.
Although I really want to have a BM degree, and the Eastman School of Music is my top choice and right now my only realistic option, I was only offered a half scholarship. However, I was offered a full ride (free tuition and room & board) for Oberlin college. This really troubles me, as I will not receive any types of support from my family, and have to be in loan for any extra money that the college/conservatory does not offer me.
It will pain me greatly to might have to give up on a Violin performance degree, and I think I am very willing to be in great debt to go to a conservatory. But I also don’t see why I should be hanging on the hope of making enough money as a musician to return all my loans in an area as competitive as the violin.
How realistic is it for me to complete my undergraduate education as a BA music major, and still be able to attend a school like the Yale conservatory or the Juilliard School for a masters in music?
Please offer me any input/suggestions.
You still might get into Oberlin Conservatory off the waitlist. Have you written to both the college and the conservatory and let them know you want to come to Oberlin but your only concern is your violin study? You also might be able to reapply once you’re at Oberlin College to the conservatory. You could also ask the Conservatory if you can audition into the ensembles, and audition for private lessons - you’re good enough to be on their wait list, so this might be possible. If I were you I would get in contact with Oberlin right away and discuss your concerns. A full ride is amazing. I didn’t know Oberlin offered anything like that. The other thing you could do is appeal your award at Eastman/Rochester - showing them the offer from Oberlin.
As for whether or not you could get into Juilliard or Yale for grad performance - yes, it is possible - as long as you put in the practice hours, and take some basic music theory and aural skills classes, and perform in ensembles. I know that Oberlin College now offers more ways for their students to take advantage of offerings and opportunities in the conservatory.
I don’t know how the BA program at Oberlin is set up, but generally the difference between it and a BM is the amount of time spent doing music, it is a lot less for the BA. I think SpiritManager gave good advice on contacting Oberlin, you may have options you don’t know. You potentially could go there freshman year and apply to get into the conservatory and get the dual degree, there are options. Likewise, you may be able to get into ensembles and such at the conservatory, one of the things I have heard about Oberlin is they tend to be a lot more student focused then many schools in that they may be willing to be more flexible, and it certainly makes sense to talk to them.
And yes, you can get into a top grad program with a BA, grad school admissions are not based where you went undergrad, it isn’t like “well, you didn’t go to Curtis or Juilliard or x, so forget it”, admission is going to be based mostly on your audition, how well you play and what they see in you as a musician. It is going to come down to how well you prepare yourself, how much and how well you practice and how good a teacher you have there. I believe in a BA you take some of the music theory and ear training classes a BM student has, so that may not be a big issue (and you may be able to take some of those as electives, or find a way to do it on your own). I would see what teachers you could study with if in the BA program and see if any of them seems to be good, has a track record of getting their kids into good programs at the grad level…or if they will allow it, spend a year studying with a teacher in the BA program then try to get into the BM and work with one of the teachers there if you get in. Also, keep in mind that you may get off the wait list at Oberlin, sometimes that happens if you were good enough to get in, but none of the teachers you asked for had an opening, I highly recommending talking to admissions at Oberlin and keeping in touch about the waitlist, if it is an issue of a teacher they may be able to help you get a teacher and get off the waitlist (if in fact the teacher is the issue).
If you are paying yourself go with the full ride, to be blunt I am not all that sure that going to Eastman or CIM would necessarily prepare you better for grad work, or be worth taking out loans for whatever difference there is. And the nice part about Oberlin is that if you accept the BA, then a slot opens up on the waitlist, you might simply have to switch from the BA to a BA/BM, and have no loss of deposit as you would have if you accepted at school one, then got into school 2:)
I would go with Oberlin, too. I have heard that the conservatory teachers are not available to the BA students, so you should do a thorough investigation of the options. Could you pay for lessons with a conservatory teacher? Could you conceivably drive to Cleveland once a month for lessons with one of the many fine teachers there? The amount you would save with your free ride at Oberlin, a really excellent LAC, would more than justify the investment in a la carte lessons.
There is also an Honors Program in Musical Studies which is combined between the college and the conservatory which you could audition into. It sounds like private lessons are part of it, and certainly ensemble playing is. If you didn’t get off the wait list the first year, this would be a good alternative - and then you could try auditioning into the conservatory again. http://new.oberlin.edu/arts-and-sciences/departments/musical_studies/
Thank you everyone.
I actually already take classes as a preparatory student at CIM, and has to drive there every weekend. So if I go to Oberlin, I might still be able to take lessons with my current teacher at the preparatory division in CIM.
The thing that troubles me the most about my audition result is that, I have had lessons with both the teachers I want to study with at Oberlin and CIM. But I do not know anyone at Eastman. However, ironically, I was accepted into Eastman, but waitlisted at the schools I had contacts with. I feel kind of rejected by the teachers at both institutions, as a result, I feel that my best bet would be to attend Eastman for its different environment/ teachers.
However, money is a big issue for me, and the more I think about it, the more I feel that I will attend Oberlin College if Eastman cannot offer me more financial help. I love Oberlin College a lot, and would be happy to attend.
Luckily I still have 20 more days to decide. I have made contact with a potential teacher at Eastman, just to prepare myself for going to Eastman to further my studies.
Thank you everyone again for your input.
Don’t assume automatically that it was those teachers who rejected you; there are many reason you could have been waitlisted by the college. If you have a good communicating relationship with your current teacher, can you ask him or her for advice?
This is a time of rejection and reflection for many young artists. You will continue to have rejection in your life. That’s a fact. But it’s how you handle the rejection that will have an impact on your future. You sound very mature. I agree with the post above. Ask the teachers professionally (not emotionally) what their thoughts are about your status. Do NOT assume anything in your questions (like you didn’t want me). Be brave and ask their advice on your college choice and listen to what they say. As adults we have to ask “why we didn’t get the job”. It’s to learn and should be done. The more you reach out to teachers at all 3 schools in a professional manner and ask for advice the better information you will receive to make the best decision for your future. Life is rarely a straight line and many people end up achieving their goals taking various paths. Maybe one of the teachers will inform you about an alternative that feels good to you. Or they may give you assurances that allows you to move forward and focus in a specific manner.
I can also not pass up the opportunity to say avoid debt. If you have a full ride and can continue to work with a teacher and grow musically (even if it’s not exactly what you wanted) that should be strongly considered. Debt can be a real ball and chain on your future. Don’t be afraid to be creative in your education.
I would also add don’t be afraid to talk to the admissions department at CIM and Oberlin and ask why you got waitlisted. My son ran into a problem where he got waitlisted, and the reason was that his primary teacher (the one he put number one) wasn’t available, and they hadn’t tried to contact the next in line, it was a mess up but not uncommon. You don’t want to be a pain in the neck, but it doesn’t hurt to talk to the admissions department and see what is up, they can be very helpful, and it may be something as simple as getting in touch with one of the teachers and seeing if they can take you. No guarantees, but one rule in music is you can’t be passive, you will need all through your career to be in charge of what happens:).
Double degree programs are great, but we also know many very talented musicians who accomplish the same goals during undergraduate years, while getting a BA rather then double degree, and, as others have said, doing private lessons. The other piece is being able to play in ensembles with musical peers, and that can sometimes be harder to access if you are not in a BM program, so see what performance opportunities are available for you in the Oberln BA program.
To reiterate what people said above, it doesn’t hurt to ask Eastman if they will match Oberlin’s offer.
Is your interest in international relations equal to or greater your interest in music? Is it a backup plan or a genuine primary focus? If it is a subject and vocational area that truly interests you, you will have a great (and afforddable) experience at Oberlin, where you can also find a way to continue violin.
Hi everyone, today I received news that University of Rochester gave me a full tuition scholarship/financial aid. As a double degree student, I can choose between Eastman’s and U of R’s financial aid offer, as a result, if I do choose to go to Eastman now, the burden of my debt will be significantly lessened (although the room and board fee is still a lot of money).
After carefully thinking, and talking to my violin teacher, we find the idea of attending Oberlin College for free and still pursuing violin on my own time a very appealing one. My teacher’s (and mine) only worry is that I will not be able to have enough self discipline to push myself to practice and achieve to the level I need to be in by senior year if I do not attend a conservatory. I am also worried that the performance opportunities that will be available to me will not be sufficient enough through Oberlin College.
I haven’t made my decision, but right now I feel my options are more opened. If anyone have other ideas/input, please let me know. Thank you so much!
I wonder if you could attend Oberlin College, work hard at violin (and academics), and apply to the conservatory while there (for BM or double degree)? You were waitlisted for the conservatory so you came close.
I know for a fact that you can reaudition next year and be accepted into the con and/or the dual degree program, @codegeassic! My S auditioned at the con last year (wanted to be in dual degree program). Oberlin was his first choice and I was worried he might make it into the college but not the conservatory. After one of the parent sessions, I pulled a conservatory admissions person aside and asked whether anyone ever did that–started out at the con, practiced hard and took more lessons and reauditioned, and she said that a number of students have successfully been admitted to the con by doing that. I would urge you to contact the conservatory admissions and ask this question yourself! A full ride to Oberlin is a fabulous offer.
Hi guys, thank you all for your replies.
Things have changed a lot this past week. First, my full ride offer from Oberlin was not real. My scholarship counselor called them and they said that I only got a full tuition scholarship and that they sent me an extra 10,000 by mistake. Second, I have received a almost full scholarship offer from the University of Rochester. Third, I have been admitted to the Cleveland Institute of Music from their waiting list. CIM was my dream school and I was so happy. However, since their financial aid offer is not as generous, I am afraid I cannot go.
My admission to CIM has been mine and my family’s dream, however, the financial situation prevents me from attending. It is truly heart breaking in many ways.
I have decided to attend the Eastman School of Music and will try to finish the double degree in four years.
I really wish that someone could have told me a year ago that money plays a big role in selecting a college. But I believe that I am really lucky that everything worked out very well in the end.
That’s unbelievable about Oberlin’s mistake.
Are you so strongly drawn to CIM because you are familiar with it? Have you been thinking about going there for undergrad on the weekends when you drive there, so that it is a matter of picturing yourself there for a few years?
Eastman is an outstanding school, as is University of Rochester. You are very fortunate to attend there, with significant scholarship, and I hope you come to love it as so many others do! I also hope that if you continue to want to do a double degree, you can take the full five years 
This sounds like a wonderful resolution. Good luck!
CIM is my first choice because the teacher I would be studying with is my favorite, and is someone who I feel would bring out the most success in me. I really clicked with him during our lesson. I actually am not drawn to CIM itself as a school if not for the fabulous teacher I could study with, there were some problems with the school as a preparatory student there.
CIM is worth a lot of investments, if I had any money I would pay for CIM. I really wish this college process would involve less consideration for money.
But. You have almost a full scholarship at Eastman! No way could my son attend any of the schools you mentioned without significant scholarship. Don’t be too sad. You have a rare and privileged scholarship. Congratulations!!!
Welcome to adulthood. Money matters. You will face these kind of decisions over and over in your life. You made a wise choice. Congratulations.