<p>My son has 93-95 average, and wants to double major in music and physics. We're thinking East Coast, maybe as far west as Cleveland. Any suggestions for good colleges? He doesn't have SATs yet, but is taking full load of APs. Thanks!</p>
<p>University of Rochester/Eastman School of Music.</p>
<p>Eastman is a conservatory that requires a separate application with audition for admission.</p>
<p>If your son isn’t quite at that level, UR has a music major separate from Eastman with its own professors and student ensembles (so River campus students are not competing against the conservatory students for positions). UR students can take voice/instrument lessons at Eastman.</p>
<p>UR’s physics dept is quite good, particularly in optics where’s it’s ranked #6 nationally.</p>
<p>How about Indiana? It has a good Physics department and an amazing school of music that is world class.</p>
<p>Double majoring in music performance and a science at a top level music school is just about impossible. The labs tend to conflict with ensemble requirements- not to mention just the difficulty of the compbination.</p>
<p>Case Western has some nice programs. Probably as far west as you are willing to go.</p>
<p>University of Michigan Anne Arbor, University of MD College Park, Johns Hopkins/Peabody, Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern, Northeastern, New York University. </p>
<p>“Double majoring in music performance and a science at a top level music school is just about impossible. The labs tend to conflict with ensemble requirements- not to mention just the difficulty of the combination”</p>
<p>I would tend to agree with this, but would not deter him from his goals right away. Just be aware that it may take him over 4 years to complete the requirements of two demanding majors.</p>
<p>Consider Oberlin and Carnegie Mellon as possibilities, but you would need to look into the requirements. Also be aware that colleges may have two applications- one for music schools-including auditions- and one for general- and he would need to do both. Applications for music programs tend to have earlier deadlines.</p>
<p>You can minor in music at Carnegie Mellon without having to audition, that might be a good compromise.</p>
<p>I would second Pennylane2011, Oberlin has a ranked Conservatory, and they are very strong in the sciences. </p>
<p>Double majoring in performance at Oberlin Conservatory and getting a BS from the college will take more than four years.</p>
<p>I totally agree with MOWC. The labs very often conflict with the required ensembles for music majors. Not easy to double major in performance.</p>
<p>If this kid has not yet taken the SAT, that implies he is a junior. For the physics part of his decision, his SAT score will help tease out realistic options. For music performance, he WILL need to audition. That adds a second criteria. </p>
<p>There are some very good schools where there are abundant music opportunities for students who are not majoring in music. These are not necessarily degree related. MIT, Yale have great music opportunities for all students in OTHER majors. Yale doesn’t offer a music performance degree for undergrads.</p>
<p>Then there are the HIGHLY competitive dual degree programs (5 years) at JHU/Peabody, NEC/Tufts. </p>
<p>Michigan and Illinois both have good performance programs and fantastic physics departments.</p>
<p>My son is currently a dual degree student - music performance and physics - at a top school. It can be done at the right school and is different than a double major. It also takes five years at many schools. Peabody/Johns Hopkins is great as is Eastman/U Rochester, but the time involved on a shuttle makes scheduling somewhat of a challenge. The same can be said for the NEC/Harvard combination. Oberlin, Indiana U, Ithaca, Michigan, Vanderbilt, Carnegie Mellon, and Northwestern are all good options that are supportive of double majors/dual degrees and have campuses that are a bit more contained. I realize that some may be too far for your son though, but it can be done. Good luck!</p>
<p>My son is currently pursuing a double major in music and a science at Amherst College. Amherst so far has been very supportive of his pursuit of both subjects. It is a challenge, since as others have pointed out, music and science both require considerable outside-of-class time commitments. But not impossible for a student who loves both disciplines. </p>
<p>…con’t: Meant to add that he also looked hard at Oberlin, Hopkins and Wesleyan as schools that seemed like they’d be supportive of his double major goal. </p>
<p>He (or actually we) don’t want him to go to a conservatory, although I think he could get in; we want him to get a regular degree. He might end up minoring in either physics or music, but we’re just looking for strong schools in both these areas. He know he’ll have to audition and will be preparing an audition tape (or whatever you call it in this digital age).</p>
<p>I appreciate all the suggestions people have made. Thanks!</p>
<p>My daughter went through this process (a few years ago now, for sure) and was looking at a dual degree. The schools may state that they are supportive in the literature and maybe even when you visit (i.e. IU, Oberlin, Rochester), but they really do not encourage it at all. Of course there are exceptions such as the poster above, but that is a real exception. Almost no students stay the course and get the dual degree- even in 5 years. The percentage drop out rate (from the dual degree) is very large. Doing it with a science has only a small percentage of success- or even admission into a highly selective music program in the first place. They just don’t want you to do it- and for good reason. </p>
<p>UIUC and Michigan would be good for that. I know several students with double major in music performance and another subject at UMich. One was with biology and one with Civil Engineering. Both graduated in 5 years. One of them went to Rice for graduate study in music performance. The other one went to California and work as engineer for several years and then went back to school for a graduate degree in music recently.
See the article by one of them:
<a href=“http://americanviolasociety.org/studio2/2014/01/27/my-previous-life-as-a-dual-degree-student-by-jarita-ng/”>http://americanviolasociety.org/studio2/2014/01/27/my-previous-life-as-a-dual-degree-student-by-jarita-ng/</a></p>
<p>It is rather common to have double major in music and engineering at UMich.</p>
<p>Lawrence University has both a conservatory and an excellent physics program. They have a 5 yr. double major program where you can receive both a B. Mus and a BA. If your son should choose to not major in music, they also have music classes for non-majors and hold open auditions for all ensembles , etc. </p>
<p>Case was a school where STEM/music combos seemed possible (double major, music minor, classes, or just music groups). </p>
<p>Does he have PSAT scores? (you can multiply by 10 for a very approx idea of SAT range). </p>
<p>He should look at Williams – excellent music department (not a conservatory. but wide and deep performance opportunities) and excellent physics. Double majoring in arts/science is quite common. Admissions is selective and art/music involvement is valued. </p>