College Search Help?

<p>(This was originally in the College Search & Selection forum but I was advised to move it to the music forum.)
Currently a sophomore in high school, I've just started trying to find some good colleges for me. I have been playing piano for a little over 10 years now, and am interested in having piano performance a minor or a double major, but not making that my only main focus. So basically I want a school with very good academics, and a good music program (specifically piano performance for undergrad). Money is not an issue (both parents work at Johns Hopkins, which means that I get 100% tuition off any school with tuition less than Johns Hopkins tuition =DD). And so far, it looks like my grades aren't an issue either (all GT classes, straight A's freshman year, 217 on my PSAT this year), so I would really like to go to a school of Ivy League-caliber. The problem I have is that Ivy League colleges seem to not even have an undergrad music performance option at all! And I know about the Columbia/Julliard and the Harvard/NECM combinations, but those seem very difficult to get into, and they seem like a ridiculous amount of work. I'm not sure how difficult it is to do both JHU and Peabody, but although that seems like an interesting choice, I'm hesitant to do that because that would mean staying in Maryland (where I live currently).
Anyone have some input?</p>

<p>Given your situation, why not at least audition at Peabody? </p>

<p>I'm assuming you have read this Peabody</a> Institute - Conservatory Admissions: The Double Degree Dilemma</p>

<p>You will be hard pressed to find a performance minor anywhere. You can minor in music at any number of schools, but few if any offer specific performance minors.</p>

<p>NONE of the Ivys have a performance based undergrad option. They all are BA's in the music academic disiplines. Lesson policies and instruction vary widely; you are often on your own in searching/engaging a private instructor.</p>

<p>The Harvard/NEC, Columbia/Juilliard, Tufts/NEC are extremely selective very small number programs.</p>

<p>Without knowing a specific academic focus, some options include
Rice, Northwestern, Oberlin, Bard, UChicago. Again, music options/lessons for non music majors are school specific, and are detailed within the institution's department/music school webpages.</p>

<p>You should also make yourself aware of specific criteria for audition based music admissions, and know the differences between BA and BM degree options. A great overpost is here <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-family-s-experience.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-family-s-experience.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Does Johns Hopkins participate in Tuition Exchange? If so, ALL schools are NOT on that list of "free tuition schools" for employees of other colleges. You should check the list of schools that offers this benefit to you and your family before you go any further. We know kids whose parents were eligible for tuition exchange. Some chose schools where they could use the benefit and others did not. For example, Haverford does not participate in it...and I'm not sure the Ivies do either.</p>

<p>So...check first.</p>

<p>According to my parents, each parent who works at Johns Hopkins allows for half of the tuition of any school with tuition equal to or less than the Johns Hopkins tuition (which is higher than almost all other schools). So, since both my parents work there, I get full tuition off of any school. Johns Hopkins pays for it with no exceptions. If the college's tuition is higher than Johns Hopkins', then I just pay the difference.</p>

<p>I thought kids of JHU employees only got 50% off tuition at JHU. I have a friend who is under that impression.</p>

<p>I see that the response below explains why it is more that 50%.</p>

<p>Welcome Heinzketchup to the home of all questions music and college,</p>

<p>As you know there is a wide diversity in the type of college music education available. Some schools have outstanding stand alone music departments in a university environment and others may have a good, but not necessarily outstanding music school, but have a great teacher that will devote a lot of personal attention to you. At this time, you should consider EVERYTHING! I will leave the list of specific schools to others, I would rather focus on what you can do today!</p>

<p>1) Think about what you want to do with your music education. Is the academics a back-up or does it get equal billing because you would be happy doing either? Are you going to travel the world as a piano soloist or free-lance locally on the side in the evenings? Knowing where you want to go helps to figure out how to get there.</p>

<p>2) Start noticing what type of music environment you thrive in. Do you do best when surrounded by talented classmates, or is that not important - you just need a great teacher and lots of practice time? Do you live for competitions, or hate them? These type of questions may help you to determine the type of college environment that is best-suited to you.</p>

<p>3) You say money is not an issue, but I'd be sure to check with your parents on that one. There may be some restrictions on that JHU money. Some schools only offer need-based assistance and with both parents at the university, you may be hard-pressed to get that money. Many schools offer merit scholarships to musicians, but those are almost only given based on your live audition. How do you audition? Do you know how you measure up across the nation? If you have not done so yet, it may be time to consider a summer music festival so you can see where you fit into a bigger picture. The really good news is that if you are not happy with any of the answers to the last few questions, you've got plenty of time to change it.</p>

<p>So smart of you to start thinking about school! Be sure to spend your efforts now on the things that can help you, like self-assessment and understanding what makes you a better musician. As a sophomore, I think it is too early to be eliminating schools. Concentrate on exploring. And knowing yourself will make the selection process easier when that time comes.</p>

<p>When you say "Ivy League-caliber", do you mean Education or Contacts? The contacts you form at an Ivy League school is tough to duplicate at a non-Ivy League school.</p>

<p>However, if it is primarily an education that you want, then there are many great alternatives. If you want to play piano, but not major in it, then I suggest the college/conservatory schools. Lawrence University in Appleton is ranked very high for Liberal Arts education. If you are accepted into the College, and declare Piano as a double major, then you should be able to get Piano lessons from the Conservatory. Conservatory majors have a more rigorous BM program that prepares them for performance. College BA's have slighly less performance and distribution requirements, but you still get a good solid foundation.</p>