An now…decision time. So happy to see how things are going for the class of 2026. Our son is passionate about composition and scoring for media - And he loves music technology/production - but also wants to continue performing in ensembles, if possible. We cast a really wide net for his application process to help him see the different options available (and for us to learn about them too!) and I’m so glad we did. Some more traditional composition programs, some scoring emphasis programs, and some tech-oriented options…
It was a long and arduous process, and it in the end:
Accepted with scholarships to Frost (UM), Lamont (DU), Belmont, and a couple LACs with music programs
Waitlisted at NYU
Rejected after audition/interviews with Oberlin, USC, and UCLA
Rejected after pre-screen (no interview/audition granted) at Jacobs (IU)
We are frantically scheduling visits and tours to help make the final decision in April, but very pleased that he has the opportunity to make a choice.
I’m sharing the ups and downs here to remind those in future cohorts - it is a bumpy ride full of really happy surprises and, unfortunately, some disappointments. Such is the world of music! I can’t speak for everyone, but in our house this helped my son hone in on what he really values - some of his opinions changed dramatically after an interview/audition!
As a non-music-background mom…I was to specifically thank @compmom for her guidance and expertise early on. She really helped us think about the questions to ask and programs to consider. Thanks for getting us on the right track!
I’m sure there’s no problem. Kids change majors all the time and I don’t think you even have to declare when you apply unless you are after the music scholarship, which was important for us!
Wow Frost, Lamont, Belmont and some LAC’s. Perfect choices. I would think any “no’s” were about fit rather than talent. Combining composition, production and performance is, pardon me, going to be a blast. Good luck with decisions!
Does anyone know how the NYU waitlist works? Given that they had the highest number of applicants EVER this year, I’m assuming that the chance is very low to be called up. According to their site, the waitlist is not ranked and in past years have accepted a range from hundreds to none from the list.
So many great musicians and only so many spots! I do think fit was a big part of this - my son left some auditions/interviews feeling it wasn’t a match (helping him narrow down his interests, too). I’m sure the faculty felt the same way.
You can definitely get into the music major after starting at St Olaf. What I don’t know is how hard that is… my guess is for the BA it’s not but I’d definitely talk to the department about it.
Hi all - glad to find this community, flutist son applied to music comp programs (targeting ultimate grad school for composition and conducting and did not want undergrad conservatory or heavy instrument focus), top admitted choices are now vandy’s blair and columbia as john jay scholar, if he has ultimate dream of yale grad school of music for composition and conducting how do they compare?
also accepted for comp/music to BU, Carnegie Mellon, Berkeley, Penn; input welcome, especially @compmom ; thanks and best of luck to all the kiddos and families
I will PM you on schools but I just want to say I am not sure it is wise to target a grad school yet. Undergrads often develop in different directions and an aesthetic match is important for grad school. I assume he will do summer programs to network and connect with guest composers to ascertain fit with mentor and school.
Why is he fixed on Yale for grad at this point?
What is his music like? Would he characterize it as progressive, experimental? Does he work with electronics or multi-media? Does he write on paper or use a digital audio work station? What composers does he admire?
I would add that, though aesthetic match is not as important for undergrad, he might want to listen to faculty works, and student works if possible as well.
To me, the most important sign of a good undergrad program is diversity of style in student works, which would imply freedom to develop one’s own “voice.”
Although my son is a few years out of school, I still enjoy checking in on the forum at this time of year to read about all the music school admissions (and, yes, rejections). Congratulations to all of you embarking on the journey! Or embarking on the next stage of the journey with grad school! And to those of you reporting the rejections as well as the acceptances, you are bravely doing a service to everyone following this forum. Maybe you can take some comfort in the fact that learning how to deal with and not be daunted by rejection is an important skill for a professional musician to have.
For those thinking about Columbia or Columbia-Juilliard, please feel free to send me a DM. My son really loved the Columbia-Juilliard program. He was on the jazz side, of course, but had a number of friends in the program on the classical side.
I don’t post often these days, but I will say as a parent whose high school kid also was focused on Yale School of Music for grad school in composition - and who did end up attending - that there is no feeder school to the program, no networking to get admitted - the composers are a global group solely chosen for their individual voices and imagination.
What I can say about choosing a composition program for undergrad - find one where that imagination and voice is nurtured and allowed to develop. An environment with stimulating peers, supportive & adventurous musicians willing to try new things, intellectual stimulation in all fields, professors who are both guides and cheerleaders, and lots of freedom to explore.
Yale provides a stipend only on top of the free tuition - not full living expenses, nor insurance. But they do make jobs available - such as teaching undergrads or working in their music in the schools program. And New Haven is inexpensive as a place to live. So even though the School of Music is not as well funded as some other universities like Columbia and Princeton for DMA/PhD level work - it’s doable. (Now Yale College for a musicology degree is another animal - much more comparable to the other universities for funding.)
As for why Yale - because he knew he wanted to study with the professors there.
So ds is a vp major/baritone. Narrowed it down to Peabody and Manhattan School of Music. Any thoughts?? This group is always so helpful!! Either one have a particular reputation I dont know about? I think MSM has a better reputation, but Im feeling hardpressed to turn down a degree that says Johns Hopkins if he decides to change paths to something other than music. (Unlikely, but Im a planner)
(Also got into NEC, Purchase, Ithaca, Mannes, Hartt, and Queens, Boston Conserv). (Denied Juilliard and Curtis after final round)