<p>I got into Columbia and Juilliard, but not the Exchange program -- which is Columbia plus lessons at Juilliard, and then the opportunity to reaudition at Juilliard for the 5 year program. Talk about weird.</p>
<p>Hello forte2X,
This isn't weird at all; the "Columbia-Julliard" program admits only one or two students each year, and the decision is up to Julliard because they are essentially "releasing you" from 3-4 years of music training (you get private lessons, and possible chamber music opportunities, but nothing else) and then guaranteeing you a spot after you finish the BA work at Columbia. Forcing you to choose seems cruel, but remember that this is not a double degree program in the same way Oberlin, Peabody, UMich, Northwestern, etc. offer to combine a BA with a BM at the same school. This is a more complicated agreement between two different schools, and it requires a very high degree of motivation/skill to maintain the music while doing all the same work as a non-musician at Columbia (core curriculum, etc.). Also (not incidentally) the finances of this exchange are not very satisfactory to the schools, and I have even heard that there is talk of eliminating the program.
I am told that the decision is made by a special committee at Julliard (not the same group that hears the auditions) and is based on the audition notes and comments. I know of only one student who was admitted to the C-J program last year. The opportunity to reaudition is a good one, but will you now lose the chance to study with the Julliard teacher? Some of them also teach privately or through another school.</p>
<p>Some performance areas lend themselves more to interdisciplinary study, i.e. double majors. Others require so much practice time, it would be almost impossible to succeed at both at this level. Does anyone know which performance areas historically have had accepted students? It will be a difficult decision....good luck to you. Lorelei</p>
<p>The second audition for the MM program is for students who were in the exchange program, so it looks like it will not be an option. The cost of lessons at Juilliard on top of the tuition at Columbia makes it very expensive. (Columbia students majoring in music can get lessons paid for by Columbia, but they have their own list.) I also read one student's description of finding a practice room at Columbia (he is in the exchange program on piano): "like a homeless person searching for a dumpster." One thing that was surprising was that neither Columbia or Juilliard actually sent me anything about it -- I called Columbia, which didn't know anything, and then Juilliard, to find out. Seems a little like a "bait and switch."
Oh well.</p>
<p>I am sympathetic to your feeling about Columbia-Julliard being a kind of "bait and switch", but as with many parts of the college / conservatory admissions process, the devil is in the details, and the lack of information about how the program works (or doesn't work) is perhaps an indication already that it is less than satisfactory for the schools themselves. I hope you have some other options available if you decide that this one won't work for you. Also you may want to take a good look at the teachers on Columbia's list...there are a lot of good ones that aren't necessarily at Julliard, and don't forget that MSM is across the street.</p>
<p>The one person I know who enrolled in this program dropped out of it, saying it was virtually impossible to work on the first half of the MM program while in the senior year at Columbia. This person did continue to take lessons and is headed to music grad school, but the 5-year plan eliminates both a year of study and a lot of practice time during undergrad.</p>
<p>Over the last few years, we have heard many similar stories of frustrations with the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange. My daughter, a flutist, was accepted ED to Barnard which also participates in the Juilliard exchange, but also has a lesson exchange program with MSM. While there currently is no BA/MM option, students accepted into the Barnard/MSM lesson exchange get up to 8 semesters of lessons from MSM faculty at no additional charge. We have heard only good things and she is looking forward to the fall. I understand that music students at Columbia would like to see the MSM exchange extended to the Columbia students.</p>
<p>So, I reread the Columbia materials, which state that students who are admitted to both Columbia and Juilliard get free lessons at Juilliard under the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange program (you apply to this with an additional $35 fee at Columbia and also check off a box on the Juilliard application) -- this is described as something different from the five year BA/MM program. I tried to write to the person listed as the contact at Columbia, but the letter bounced back -- I googled and he is now at IvySuccess, not at Columbia. I talked to a couple of students at Columbia who take lessons at Juilliard and it turns out that the program actually just doesn't exist -- you can arrange for private lessons at Juilliard, and you can try to get a scholarship to pay for the lessons or pay for them yourself -- Columbia does not pay for them, though it does pay for lessons with teachers on their list (which is better than some schools...).</p>
<p>One caution -- even students who attend Juilliard do not always get their first choice teacher. (See comments by Shennie, who's son turned down Juilliard in favor of MSM for the opportunity to study with the teacher of choice.) I would hate for you to go into this thinking it was going to be a matter of simply signing up for lessons and paying for them.</p>
<p>forte2x -- We were just recently at Columbia and spent about 15 minutes in the admissions office trying to get the answer to this question about Columbia/Julliard program. You are correct. There are two programs and the programs are unrelated. You were supposed to note on your application to Columbia (and I believe Julliard) that you were applying for the cross-registration program. If you did not and were still admitted to both you may be able to salvage that, I don't know. The BA/MM with Julliard is a completely separate program and getting into one does not necessarily get you into the other.</p>
<p>I have the name of the Columbia and Julliard contacts for the first program if you would like to PM me.</p>
<p>So, is it possible to take lessons with out going through the exchange? I am slightly confused.</p>
<p>Yes, if you are accepted at Columbia, you have the opportunity to take lessons with Juilliard staff. The music department at Columbia will help with connections, but you have to take the intiative and you have to pay an additional fee for the lessons. However, Columbia also arranges for you to have lessons (free) in your instrument with Columbia staff–I can’t remember how many we were told–maybe 2x/month? This was in jazz, so you should email the department chair and ask specifically.</p>
<p>but it will be difficult if not impossible to actually be a part of a Julliard professor’s studio at Julliard if you are not officially part of the Columbia-Julliard program.</p>
<p>Forte2x,</p>
<p>How did you apply for Juilliard Exchange? All I did was indicate that on my app. Was there an audition or something?</p>
<p>Slight correction to Binx’s post above. Son was admitted to both Juilliard and Mannes for a master’s program. The teacher that he wanted to study with teaches at both schools. Son was admitted to the desired teachers’ studio at Mannes, but not at Juilliard. He chose to attend Mannes to study with his teacher of choice. No regrets.</p>
<p>This thread originated almost two years ago! Hope the OP is still reading. You might want to send a PM.</p>
<p>as I read it, the OP referred to a program that required admission to both Juilliard and Columbia, so of course there was an audition requirement.</p>
<p>It’s seems like people know what they’re talking about here so I’ll give my query a shot:</p>
<p>I have been admitted to this Columbia/Juilliard Exchange program for composition with Samuel Adler. However, Columbia and Juilliard are not giving me any financial aid and the cost of attending both schools simultaneously is upwards to $60,000. Is it worth paying this much money to go to this program or stay in LA (where I live right now) and pursue a composition BM at USC Thornton with a full tuition merit scholarship for 4 years? Thanks for input in advance.</p>
<p>I may well have things thrown at me, but with no or minimal aid from either, take the USC full tuition.</p>
<p>This assumes that you have performed due diligence, and are comfortable with the USC comp faculty and can develop your own compositional voice under faculty and mentors you feel you can work and grow with.</p>
<p>Consider the savings in the bank for alternate grad pursuit. Columbia and Julliard will still be there four years hence.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>USC. Go to Juilliard for grad school. But a pity you didn’t apply to Bard - the best of both worlds. (Great composition and academics combined in one - I admit I’m predjudiced!:D)</p>