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<p>Yes, but the OP’s daughter has a 4.0 unweighted gpa, has obtained scores of 5 on all the AP tests she has taken, and also has scored 800 on the SAT 2 math test. This is all explained in the first post.</p>
<p>So clearly, the OP’s daughter can handle the work at MIT. She could balance academics and music there; hundreds of undergrads with her profile are doing it now.</p>
<p>Have you considered Smith College at all? Highly regarded in the sciences, with a great all around program, good library, excellent research opportunities that start early. We’ve led the nation in NSF funding for selective LACs for the past 10 years (over $14 million in all), we have a brand new bio-tech and engineering building, great orchestra program both at the school and you have access to the Five College orchestra and orchestral events (like the Five College Opera project). It’s not in the Ivy League, but as a Seven Sister it’s pretty close.</p>
<p>My daughter just graduated from the University of Rochester as a double major in music although her second major was another humanities subject, not science. Everything in Chedva’s post is correct. The select choir at the U of R has performed jointly with the Eastman chorus and you are free to audition for Eastman ensembles and performances. Instruction is by Eastman doctoral degree candidates. You need to audition and have an annual jury. The U of R music dept is a serious music history and music theory program and many do go on to grad school in musicology or composition,</p>
<p>Vassar College has an excellent orchestra and music program. The strings are phenomenal and the brass and winds are so strong that they can rotate the parts for each concert. S1 is a physics and music major and played with the orchestra both semesters and we attended every concert. The music building is gorgeous with a stained glass window and a Steinway in every practice room. The orchestra rehearses twice a week and the local community supports all of the concerts. The orchestra is all students. Lessons are free if you get any type of financial aid. The latest news is that Vassar will be building a new science building. </p>
<p>Vassar is a great liberal arts choice for the strong musician. We found out about it 2 weeks before the application deadline and I am glad we checked into it and it worked out. It is a perfect place for S1 to have a high level of music and have a small yet strong science major exactly in his area of interest (acoustics).</p>
<p>That whole Amherst/Smith/Holyoke/UMass/Hampshire group of colleges has some good possibilities for performance. I like Thumper’s D’s arrangement too. Would have been a good match for my kids as well.</p>
<p>My oldest went to a school that has a conservatory level program, so opportunities for him to play as a non con student were limited. The same with my second one. The one who is at a school that has performance possibilities has no interest in pursuing them.
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<p>Thanks again for all of these wonderful ideas and insights. We now have lots of options to look at. D2 and I really appreciate all of the advice.</p>
<p>USC
[USC</a> Thornton School of Music : Academic Programs](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/schools/music/programs/]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/schools/music/programs/)</p>
<p>University of Rochester is a wonderful choice for the science programs. I have heard that it is hard for non music majors to get involved in programs at Eastman. I would be concerned about that at any of the schools that have conservatory programs. I would also second the suggestion from a while back that you look into Swarthmore.</p>
<p>nursekay, it is difficult for non-Eastman students to get involved at Eastman (other than taking private lessons from Eastman doctoral students). That’s because Eastman is one of the top conservatories in the world.</p>
<p>That being said, however, University of Rochester attracts some of the best non-conservatory musicians around, in part because of Eastman. There are many tremendous opportunities for talented musicians (and even for dabblers) on the River Campus. And the best of Rochester’s students do have the opportunities to participate at Eastman; I know several who are members of Eastman’s choruses and smaller ensembles.</p>