<p>I'm an upcoming senior and I was wondering if anyone who has recently graduated has felt that they had applied to too many places. I'm planning on applying to 10 universities/conservatories however, I'm worried that it's too little....I want variety and I'm afraid that I'll be rejected to at least 50% of conservatories. What do you think? Is 10 enough? Or more?</p>
<p>Personally, I think 10 is far too many…if you plan to do auditions at all those schools, and if most of them are not local. You will be absolutely exhausted and spend a fortune in travel expenses. Of course, if some of these auditions are regional or by DVD, it may be OK. You want to make the most of the audition experience though, and 10 just sounds like a true nightmare to me.</p>
<p>I agree that 10 auditions is too many, but my D applied to 12 schools; some were universities(non-audition, some non-music) while the others were performance programs. </p>
<p>She ended up with 7 live auditions; and after getting positive feedback from a few schools,we canceled the last one.
Depending on your major (instrument); you really can’t rely on a “music safety” so we wanted to be sure to cover all bases.</p>
<p>D3 did nine auditions, but we live in the northeast so many of them were a reasonable driving distance. It got a little wearing by the end, especially with weather problems. </p>
<p>Because she was relatively new on her audition instrument (having switched from violin to viola at the beginning of her senior year), her list of schools wasn’t as focused as it should have been. While she had reach/match/safety schools (yes, I know there’s no such thing as a true safety with au audition ;)) she also had a couple of “deep safeties” that, frankly, could have been dropped. In retrospect, those might have been replaced with schools farther away and we might have sent in DVD auditions.</p>
<p>You will have to consider that the more schools you have, the larger repertoire you might need, and you will need extra time to learn/perfect your material. You have to consider how this will affect your senior year grades, if you are applying to universities that care about that. My D did 3 audition trips to far-away places (plus 2 local schools, one regional and one DVD) and missed 6 days of school. It was very difficult for her to catch up and continue to focus on her practicing, and may have cost her one critical audition due to fatigue. Regional and DVD auditions would help, but may be best to avoid those for your top choice places. (Being that you are also from California, I am guessing that most schools you will be applying to will be far away.) The other issue is that some schools are not too flexible on their audition scheduling, so you might not even be able to fit them all in. (My D had wanted to apply to CIM but they just wouldn’t budge on their dates and we couldn’t fit them in). I think if you choose your schools wisely you should have no trouble getting in somewhere. Tip: Whatever you do, apply early to get your first choice of audition dates, and start booking hotels early even before you have the dates confirmed. You can almost always switch dates later as long as you are far enough in advance. Indeed the expense will be staggering and you should make sure your parents are fully aware.</p>
<p>How many of the schools to which you are applying have prescreens? </p>
<p>If most of them do, then I do not think that 10 schools is too many to apply to and, given your worry, you could even add a couple of applications. If you are rejected by several prescreens, then you will still have a range of schools to audition at and hopefully choose from. If you make it through all of your prescreens, then you know that you are competitive for admission, and can drop the least desirable of your schools (but still keep a relative safety or two). </p>
<p>If none of the schools have prescreens, then 10 schools may be too many to apply to, unless you can submit recorded auditions for a few of them. Doing more than 6 to 8 live auditions is very difficult, and, depending on your distance from your auditions, even doing 5 or 6 can be very difficult if a great deal of travelling is involved.</p>
<p>Ask your private instructor about what they believe your chances are at the schools to which you will apply. If they can’t give you an idea, then get a lesson with someone that can (living in California, you can’t be more than a few hundred miles from someone that could and you are probably within an hour of many, many teachers that could). If the feedback is that you will probably get accepted anywhere you apply, then I would narrow down the list.</p>
<p>I should have added: the number of schools to which you apply also depends on your financial situation. If you do not need substantial financial assistance from a school, then you can cut down your list. </p>
<p>While acceptance is difficult to predict at top music schools, the amount of financial assistance (in the form or merit or need-based aid) is even more difficult to predict, so those needing financial assistance, generally must apply to more schools in order to have the same number of viable options as the financially well-endowed.</p>
<p>A couple of teachers gave my son 100% accurate predictions about acceptance at all the schools to which he applied, but no one was able to give us any idea as to how much merit-based aid all of the schools could offer. (We were able to predict $ for a couple of the schools, but for most, we had no idea.)</p>
<p>I have enough repertoire for the schools that I want to apply to…I’m just paranoid that I won’t get accepted to the ones I want in particular. Here are the schools I’m going to apply to:
USC, UCLA, CSULB, San Fran Conserv, MSM, CIM, Northwestern, Peabody, Eastman, and NEC. </p>
<p>If I had to choose my top school would be USC followed by NEC, CIM, and Northwestern. I’m afraid I won’t get into those and will be stuck!</p>
<p>"I’m afraid I won’t get into those and will be stuck! "</p>
<p>Practice your audition rep and keep an open mind. Getting fixated on a set list of “dream schools” never helps anyone. Sometimes the best program for you is apparent only after you have gone through the entire process. In short—don’t wear yourself out before you have even started.</p>
<p>Hmm okay…I just want variety and I’m afraid I won’t have that. Or I will have to go to a school that I really don’t want to…I’m going to keep an open mind, but I still have my favorites.</p>
<p>There’s been some great advice here so far, but I’ll throw in my two cents anyway. I applied to 5 music schools (7 programs total, sometimes 2 within 1 school). Here’s some advice: apply to one program per school. If you try to do 2 auditions in 1 school, they’ll immediately be able to tell which one you’re most interested in and which one you’re auditioning for “just in case” you don’t get your first choice. Both schools accepted me into my first choice program because a. it’s clearly where I wanted to be, and b. it’s what I was clearly better prepared for.</p>
<p>So yeah, I think that 5 schools was plenty for me, and 7 programs unnecessary. Of course, I may not have had that same sense of security in my number of schools had I not been accepted to all of them, but I don’t remember being too worried about it before the letters came in. If you’re a consistently great performer (and I hope you would be if you’re going into music), try not to worry and just focus on preparing for those auditions. The more effort you put into each audition (get those requirements right first, then go the extra mile within them), the more likely you are to appear (and actually be) confident, prepared, and everything else those schools like to see. Beware of the perils of auditioning live in different cities during your senior year. Just thinking of having to do ten auditions at ten separate schools all in a few months would give me an anxiety attack. </p>
<p>Also, I noticed that your top school is USC. That’s where I’m headed in about a month - I hope to see you there next year!!!</p>
<p>My question is more about why your favorites are your favorites. Is it location? Is it campus? Is it the schools name? Is it because you have met the faculty in the department you might work with and think they are a good fit? Is it because you think the school has a great name?</p>
<p>The reason I ask is because if schools are on this list because of anything but the fact that you believe they have the teachers and programs that will work best for you, you may be operating under misconceptions. What do I mean? Well, you mention USC as a top choice. Using that as a hypothetical, it could be that USC’s program in the instrument you play isn’t as high level as another school or schools, and assuming that is true, should it be a top choice? Reputation and name mean something only as far as the actual program pans out, there can be a program on a certain instrument at a school considered the ‘best’" by many,for example, whose reputation is based in past years and no longer is as good as other schools…you get my drift. And music is a lot more of an individualized thing then academic studies are, unlike an academic discipline where you will be taught by a lot of different teachers, your core teacher will remain the same person, so that ways a lot more then the rep of the overall program…</p>
<p>Where you apply should be a factor of many things, of where you think you have a chance of getting admitted, of where you think you would be helped the most and yes, of course, finances come into it (if a school is notorious for not giving good aid, and you will need a lot, that may be a factor in applying or not…). My suggestion is to put together a list of programs you want to apply to where you think you can do well at any given one (doesn’t have to be equal, but for an example, if you put USC and MSM, while you might prefer USC, you think you would do well at either school). All you can do is work on your repertoire and make yourself as strong as possible and apply to a list of schools that you feel are both within reach and would be good for yourself and then see what happens. When you say you don’t want to feel stuck at a school, that tells me you applied there not because you really want to get there, but as a backup, and that is a mistake IMO. While it is perfectly fine to want, for example, to get into USC, you should have no schools on your list where you would be anything but happy as simply a place to land ‘if all else fails’, it won’t work. </p>
<p>Your list are all schools with well regarded music programs but if for example you don’t think you could get along with the cello faculty at Eastman (if you happen to be a cellist) or don’t think you can take the winters in Rochester, it wouldn’t make sense to apply there because you think you can get in there. Put it this way, you would be a lot better off getting in and going to a program that is considered ‘lower’ (whatever that means) where you can work with the teachers and feel comfortable then going to a ‘higher’ level program where it isn’t a match. </p>
<p>The other thing is you always have options. If you feel that the schools you got into aren’t a fit (which violates what I wrote above) or otherwise don’t look attractive, then you could take a gap year to bring your skills up to a higher level and then apply to your dream school, or you could potentially work through a backup school then go to a ‘dream’ school for grad…tranfers are possible, though from what I hear it isn’t easy to do it.</p>
<p>I just want to stay w/ my current teacher who is teaching at USC. That is my priority, and also the fact that I’m a Los Angeles native plays a part in it. I also feel like when I walk on the campus, I just get this feeling of “hope” or vibe…whatever you want to call it. I absolutely love it. But of course, my priority still stand with my teacher. I’d like stay with him and if he was at another school, I’d probably make that school my top choice.</p>
<p>@Lifeofsolitude- this really does depend upon your instrument, and musicprnt gave you some great advice (so re-read it!). If you’re a voice major, you couldn’t even consider that many schools- your voice just wouldn’t make it through audition season. I understand that you really love USC and your current teacher, so we know you’d be happy at that school, but step back and evaluate somethings: how long have you been with your teacher? Most people find that 4 years or so is about the length of time to garner all you can from one instructor before it’s time to move on. You can also study with your current teacher during school breaks/summers to keep up the relationship. Is that teacher one of the “best” in his field and does he have “connections” that can help you after graduation? I’m going to assume that you are an instrumentalist and if so, grabbing the chance to study with a teacher who holds an important chair in a major symphony orchestra (I’m thinking CIM, since it’s on your list, and the Cleveland Orchestra here…) could prove to be invaluable later on. Some teachers may teach at more than one school, so do check that out too.
Your list is “California-heavy”, which is great: you’re from there, you love it and you know the territory, so to speak and you know the cost of living. It’s very, very expensive to live in NYC and Boston, a little less so in Chicago and much less in Cleveland. Winters in Chicago, Boston, Cleveland and Rochester can be horrible and not easy to get “used to”! Like it or not, audition season falls during the “worst” part of the winter, and midwest/east coast storms can impact a travel schedule.Sometimes, schools will be as understanding as they can be if that happens, but conservatories may not hold classes for their enrolled students if audition days fall on weekdays and the events involve all of the faculty and committees of volunteers to make all things possible so making alternative arrangements for those who can’t make it is almost always an impossibility, as CLRN8MOM unfortunately found out.
Look at the web site of all of the top schools on your list and do a spread-sheet with the posted audition dates. Then rank your schools and select an audition date for each, trying to combine trips if at all possible. If any school has a non-binding EA or ED date, try to go for those.
You sound like you know what you want and are well on the way to making your wish a reality. Good Luck!!</p>
<p>I’ve only been w/ my teacher for 2 yrs and he has all the connections in the world! I have this fear of the east coast and I just can’t let go of the USC dream…I don’t even know what I’m going to do if I get rejected. Maybe I’ll take out Eastman and CSULB. So that would leave me with USC, UCLA, SFC, NEC, MSM, CIM, Northwestern, and Peabody. That should suffice, no?</p>
<p>If I remember right - in an earlier post you were worrying if your grades & scores were good enough for USC. If you are concerned about that - then you might want to take Northwestern off - they have even higher academic standards than USC does. We’ve seen posts on this forum from applicants who got into the music studio but were denied to the college. </p>
<p>Since Long Beach is so close, I would leave that one on - it won’t be hard to audition, and the price is bound to be one of the best of your choices unless you get significant merit money. Btw. have you looked at Chapman since you want to stay in SoCal? I know someone who chose Chapman over USC for violin. And, again, they might offer a very good financial package.</p>
<p>LOS I think everyone understands your fear. It is kind of a scary time. But relax. It’s going to be ok.</p>
<p>First thing you need to do, though, is talk to your teacher. Why did you apply to those schools, especially the east coast, if you have a fear? And what is that fear? You don’t have to give US the answer, just answer for yourself.</p>
<p>USC is a great school, but it is not the only great school. Have you visited the others? I also know a top string player who turned down USC for Peabody. Might have been the scholarship factor, of course, but I heard she actually DID love Peabody. </p>
<p>Really carefully analyze, with your parents and teacher, what exactly it is you are looking for in a school, besides the teacher. There will be no perfect matches, so prioritize. If you really don’t want to go to a school, don’t apply there. My D chose based on teachers, level of playing of other musicians, and variety of music and academic opportunities available. You will find that there are many fine teachers and schools out there. No need to put all your hopes into one school. But do choose carefully because while transferring is possible later on, the application/audition process is exhausting and you will not want to be repeating it too soon. The essays alone are daunting.</p>
<p>Not to add to your list (although I agree that Northwestern is a tougher academic admit than USC), but you might want to consider U of Miami/Frost. They are generous with merit money, it’s a great music school within a university like USC, and the weather is warm! They also have regional auditions, I believe, which can really help if you have a lot of schools. </p>
<p>I agree that keeping Cal State Long Beach is a good idea. Cal State Northridge also shares some teachers with other LA schools. Does your teacher teach anywhere else, as a back up?</p>
<p>Also, if your repertoire covers your current list, it really doesn’t hurt to keep your list for the prescreen stage. Prescreen results may shorten your list anyway.</p>
<p>To be honest, I think you need to do some thinking on music, and I highly recommend going back and looking at threads on here in regards to choosing a program, choosing a school, etc to get an idea of where people are coming from.</p>
<p>First of all, without knowing what kind of music you are going into, it is hard for anyone to give advice on where to apply, or rather, to give an evaluation of the programs in terms of what you play. As others and myself have been saying,a music schools reputation overall has nothing to do with the individual departments, there are music departments at the ‘top name’ conservatories whom I am sure people would tell you to avoid, for example if in voice, they may tell you to avoid x, y or z because they don’t give performance opportunities to undergrad students, or the current faculty of the department is not what it once was…</p>
<p>Secondly, to be honest if you are going to be a musician or think you are, you might have to get out of this idea of being tied to any one region, because music is a funny business, you can end up almost anywhere in pursuit of it. Not saying your dream of USC is wrong or that there aren’t good schools on the west coast (there obviously are) or that the east coast is the be all, it isn’t, it is that to pursue your dream of music takes compromise, a lot of it. A voice student who has their heart set on living on the east coast singing in the met chances are is going to live a lot of places before that, singing in festivals and workshops and regional theaters and the like, before even getting near NYC and the Met, or Chicago and the Lyric opera, etc…If you think your teacher is going to make you fly and USC is where you would love to go, that is great, but you should also find alternates if it doesn’t work out based on the teacher and program and try to be excited about them as well, as alternate opportunities, since in the end the goal isn’t about going to a particular school it is about pursuing music as an avocation/passion:).</p>
<p>One other point, without badmouthing your teacher (whom I don’t know and don’t want to, especially since chances are I would know nothing about him) in any given instrument there are a lot of great teachers out there and if you either don’t get into USC, or don’t get into his studio, it isn’t the end of the world and for your particular path, it could be your current teacher may not be the best one to guide you. Again, not knocking your teacher rather trying to tell you that no one teacher is the be all and end all, it is why many successful musicians list a lot of teachers on their CV’s. Plus, even when you study with a ‘great teacher’ like Galamian or Delay were on the violin, you often end up spending time with assistants more then them…</p>
<p>Again, I suggest is you want input on where to apply, you should mention what instrument or area you are applying on:)</p>
<p>The OP plays violin.</p>