Columbia-Juilliard Dual Degree Essay Mention?

I’m applying regular decision to the Columbia-Juilliard dual-degree program (I’m a flutist), and I’m trying to write the “Why Columbia” supplement essay. A major draw for me to Columbia (pretty much the only draw) is the fact that there’s a dual-degree program with Juilliard. Should I mention this in the “why Columbia” essay? I hesitate because doing so may communicate that the only reason I’m applying is for the dual degree program, and that if I don’t get into Juilliard, I won’t attend Columbia. This isn’t strictly true; Columbia’s still an amazing school and I would consider it if I got enough money to go there. I just don’t want mentioning this it to hurt my chances of admissions. On the other hand, it’s a pretty personal and powerful reason why I want to attend Columbia.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated! Thanks to everyone in advance.

I think it’s fine to mention the Columbia-Juilliard program as something that’s attractive to you, but I wouldn’t recommend basing your “why Columbia” essay on it. About 6-8 students are admitted to the Columbia-Juilliard program each year. Which is another way of saying that your odds of being admitted to the program are remote. Not to suggest you shouldn’t try - you could be one of the 6-8 - but in your “why Columbia” essay, you should try to focus primarily on Columbia, not on the joint program.

For example, you could talk about Columbia’s music performance program (http://mpp.music.columbia.edu/about), the prospect of studying flute at Columbia with Sue Ann Kahn (http://mpp.music.columbia.edu/bios/sue-ann-kahn) or Susan Rotholz (http://mpp.music.columbia.edu/bios/susan-rotholz), and of playing in a Columbia chamber group at Carnegie Hall (http://mpp.music.columbia.edu/ensembles/chamber-music-ensembles) and/or with the Columbia University Orchestra at Lincoln Center (http://mpp.music.columbia.edu/ensembles/the-columbia-university-orchestra-cuo). Not to mention all the other music resources that New York City has to offer (e.g., http://www.nyys.org). And the opportunity to combine all this with the vibrant academic environment that is Columbia. Where, by the way, every single student in the college is intensively exposed to music through a required, full-semester music course (https://www.college.columbia.edu/core/classes/mh.php), as part of Columbia’s famed Core Curriculum. Then, as icing on the cake, mention that the possibility of combining music study at Juilliard through the Columbia-Juilliard exchange program, should you be lucky enough to be admitted to that program, would be a dream come true.

Obviously, you should put it in your own words, but hopefully you get the idea.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply!

@physicstudent111, I noticed you had posted your academic stats and music accomplishments in another thread, and they’re obviously quite impressive (and congrats on passing the prescreen at Thornton!). I’d probably change my assessment of your chances for the Columbia-Juilliard program from “remote” to “unlikely but certainly worth a shot”. You’re clearly a competitive candidate even though the odds are daunting. That said, you should be aware that Columbia, like all the Ivy League schools, does not offer merit aid. They are generous with their financial aid, but it’s need-based only. So if, as you posted in the other thread, you would not qualify for need-based aid, Columbia will not be offering you money to go there.

Also, to the extent you’re looking for more information on music schools and college music programs, I’d recommend checking out the “Music Major” forum on this site. A lot of helpful people there (who know a lot more than I do about the classical side of music schools and college music programs).

Best of luck with everything!

Thanks jazzpianodad! I will definitely check out the “Music Major” forum. And about the money, I’m aware of the fact that ivies don’t give any merit aid, but I’m hoping because of their big endowments they might offer me a little more need-based aid than other schools. And who knows, maybe something will work out with an outside scholarship? I just want to see what happens.