At this point, D20 is down to deciding between two schools for vocal performance: Oklahoma City University or UT Austin. (If Baylor comes in from out of the blue and throws a bunch of money her way, that may change things, but that’s where we stand right now.)
At its core in this angst is daughter (mezzo) deciding between two very different course paths:
- Major in vocal performance at a small school where she will absolutely receive lots of individual attention and really grow in her craft. However, she will miss out on some of the usual college activities. Cost would be higher than option 2 by a decent amount per year.
- Major in vocal performance at a large school. This would be good if she has an existential crisis and decides to switch majors and she would definitely not miss out on all the usual college activities. And, since she is waffling and may change her major to Music Ed, it would be better to pursue that degree at a Texas school. However, if she really does want to make a go of performance before going on to get a master’s, it may be better for her to go to the smaller school.
Anyone else having decision angst? These are two very different types of schools/experiences so that makes the distinctions clearer. But, oh the decision! And, she needs to decide by the beginning of April so I am not locked into a contract at the private dorm where she is currently pre-contracted at UT Austin.
You are experience April Angst a tad early!
I don’t know which path your D should take. I can only say…there is NO golden ticket at any school.
In your statement #2, you say if she really wants to go into performance, “it may be better for her to go to the smaller school”. Maybe…but maybe not. There is no guarantee at any school. She could take either route and end up in the same place - a struggling artist (a little secret: they ALL struggle regardless of school).
I’m not saying the other choice is better…just that the statement in #2 caught my eye…as not necessarily true. The people my D works with have vastly different backgrounds. They don’t all come out of one type of program. They are all talented…have a strong work ethic…and just don’t seem to want to give up.
My recommendation would be for her to think hard about what she wants out of her SHORT 4 years of college. She gets one shot at that. As for the future, we all know, particularly now, that there are no guarantees, no control and lots of struggle. So I would suggest concentrating on the 4 year experience and having faith in your D to tackle the future with a degree in hand…and a willingness to work hard.
Good luck…and congrats on some great choices.
We are right there with you. We have three acceptances so far, and are waiting for five. Of the three my kid has, is his top choice (who won’t send financials until April), an affordable CUNY with a school of music that isn’t super prestigious but has a couple outstanding teachers, and a “out of left field” school we added last minute and auditioned regionally and has upped merit aid to $30K… but we have not visited, not taken a trial lesson at, and are unsure of. I suppose we should wait for those five others to get in before we get too angsty, but it’s nice to have something to worry about that isn’t viral.
Do you have studio assignments yet? Any teachers that really get her?
I vote for option 3: Baylor since my kid is a music major in her junior year there and LOVES it. 
We love Baylor–oldest daughter “goes” there–or did until Spring Break (she is a graduating senior). But we haven’t heard anything on music school aid and the regular ole merit aid is not really making it doable. Oldest daughter got a TON of money (engineering student), so we’ve never really paid anywhere near the sticker price. However, if they do magically send a big music scholarship, they would be in the running!
I know nothing about studio assignments and music majoring. We know there is someone that wants her in her studio at OKCU but don’t know whom, other than it is a guy. This is just back channel gossip as D’s voice teacher has a good friend that is on voice faculty there and was in her audition. The big draw for us right now for OKCU is Kristin Chenowith being the artist in residence there in 2020-2021! (This is hubby’s celebrity crush–LOL.)
The other big deal is performance opportunities. OKCU does two operas, two musicals, and numerous straight plays. Everyone will have to try out for the shows.
Not sure about the UT performance opportunities, but there are big family reasons for her to go there. Mama and Dad both went there, along with all our siblings. It would be nice to have one Longhorn!
Nice choices and nice problem to have to be sure. I need to get my hubby to run the numbers.