Columbia-Juilliard Exchange

<p>I was just wondering, are you allowed to try out for this exchange as a college freshman? Is it possible to get into only Columbia or only Juilliard and attend only one of the schools? If you get rejected from the exchange, are you automatically rejected from both schools? How often do you get to get lessons and perform in this exchange? Also, what are the odds of getting accepted? It would be great if anyone familiar with this exchange could tell me everything they know about it, because I am very interested in applying.</p>

<p>Here’s what I know. You may also want to post the question in the Music Major forum and/or do a search for “Columbia Juilliard” to find other threads on the subject.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>You apply for the exchange by applying to each of Columbia and Juilliard separately and checking the box on the applications indicating that you want to be considered for the exchange. You have to go through the full application process for both schools separately including, in the case of Juilliard, prescreening materials and auditions. If you’re admitted to both schools, you are then considered for the exchange. It is possible to be admitted to both schools and not be admitted to the exchange. If you are admitted to one school but not both, you cannot be admitted to the exchange but you can, of course, enroll at the school to which you were admitted. If you are admitted to both schools but not admitted to the exchange, you can choose to enroll at either school (unless you were admitted to Columbia ED, in which case you’re committed to attend Columbia). </p></li>
<li><p>If you enroll at Columbia, but not as part of the exchange, you can apply to join the exchange in a later year - applying to Juilliard while you’re a freshman or a sophomore, to join the exchange starting in your sophomore or junior year. You have to go through the full Juilliard application process, including prescreening and auditions (but obviously you’re already at Columbia so you just have to apply to Juilliard).</p></li>
<li><p>If you are admitted to and enroll in the exchange, you are a full-time Columbia student, subject to all the academic requirements of Columbia, but you also take lessons (once a week) and participate in an ensemble (with rehearsals typically twice a week) at Juilliard. You get Columbia credit for your work at Juilliard - the equivalent of one academic course per semester. If you’re in the exchange, in your junior year at Columbia, you’re eligible to apply to the Columbia-Juilliard joint BA-MM program. If you’re admitted to that, then you spend your next two years primarily at Juilliard and get a BA from Columbia and an MM from Juilliard (essentially saving one year on the MM but losing your senior year at Columbia).</p></li>
<li><p>It’s extremely hard to get admitted to the exchange - they admit about 6-8 students per year.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>You need to be admitted to both schools to be considered for the exchange. Yes, it is possible to be accepted to just one of the schools, and you are free to attend either one. If you are accepted to either one, you are allowed to to take a limited amount of courses at the other institution. Don’t forget that the Manhattan School of Music is also only two blocks north from Columbia’s main campus. </p>

<p>

Juilliard students are permitted to enroll in one Columbia class per semester, but you have to apply and be approved each semester to do so. My understanding is that not many Juilliard students take advantage of this due to scheduling difficulties and other factors. And I don’t believe that Columbia students are generally allowed to take courses at Juilliard, except through the exchange. </p>

<p>It’s true that Manhattan School of Music is just a couple of blocks away from Columbia, but there is no formal program or cross-registration opportunities between Columbia and Manhattan School (there is a formal program between Barnard and Manhattan School, but I don’t really know anything about it). My son has a number of friends at Manhattan School and performs and sessions with them fairly regularly, but it’s informal and entirely extra-curricular.</p>

<p>I should also have mentioned in my post above that I’m assuming OP is asking about this for applying next year. The Juilliard deadline is December 1, so it’s too late for this year. (And the prescreening material that’s required with the Juilliard application takes some fair amount of prep time, so it’s a good idea to start working on the required repertoire well in advance of the deadline.)</p>