<p>hey, so I am applying for university this year. I want to do a double major/dual degree of music performance and biochemistry or biotechnology, can you guys please give me some suggestions of top universities in both canada and america? thanks!</p>
<p>U need to tell us more about yourself: stats, GPA, etc.</p>
<p>A performance discipline and a science as a dual pursuit is one of the most time and credit intensive combos possible. Conflicts will abound, and expect it to be a five year (maybe more) degree path. Plenty of prior discussions here: [Music</a> Major - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/]Music”>Music Major - College Confidential Forums) and this should be your first stop <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html</a> </p>
<p>Read this [Peabody</a> Institute - Conservatory Admissions: The Double Degree Dilemma](<a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/doubledegree]Peabody”>Double Degree | Peabody Institute) if you haven’t already.</p>
<p>Much more info is needed. Stats and grades for one. Secondly, instrument and musical background: years of study, immersion experiences, etc. Financial concerns, potential career goals. I’m not going to throw out names blindly, but would be happy to pull thread links with some more info.</p>
<p>sorry I should’ve remembered to write them but here are my stats:
I am currently an international student and my average gpa so far up until junior year is 3.8.
I was selected to go to various international honor band festivals and was first chair for flute in most of them (after blind audition seatings or group auditions), and also piccoloist.
I obtained a Music Performance Diploma for flute from ABRSM and passed all 8 levels before obtaining the diploma.
I am also first chair at my school’s jazz band, and I am featured on flute for some jazz charts.
I was in Honor Choir at my school, pit band for musicals, and I also do vocals for my brother’s band and some jazz tunes for my jazz combo.
I’m on varsity swimming at my school, I was on JV basketball team, I have done symphony orchestra (also first chair for flute), and in junior year I was a chair for HFH. I had done student council PR representative for my class and I am a delegate at MUN conferences that go to various countries for debates.
I’ve been doing interns for the past two summers as well. </p>
<p>so basically, music wise, I have been playing flute for 11 years now, piccolo 2 years, saxophone 5 years, piano 2 years, jazz band 5 years, combo a year.
other extra currics: swam for 10 years, MUN 4 years, HFH 3 years, pit band 2 years, symphony orchestra a year, basketball 4 years, student council a year. </p>
<p>The thing is, my gpa isnt that high, and my SAT score was an 1800, which I will be redoing again. I have taken chem sat II and got 700, but I will also redo this upcoming year and planning on taking math level 2 sat. </p>
<p>so… any suitable universities that can allow me to expand on both music AND science?
THANKS!</p>
<p>Flute is one of the most competitive instruments, and typically will require a prescreening submission as a precursor for an audition. Your background suggests you may be competitive from an audition standpoint. </p>
<p>You will need to be aware of how each institution will treat your academics as an admission criteria in an audition centered admit process, particularly for a music/academic dual pursuit. At some, a strong audition will overcome borderline academic history, at others, you will need to be within the typical academic parameters. </p>
<p>Consider your long term goals here. If you plan to pursue performance at the grad level or a possible career, your choices should be dictated by the strength of the instructors with whom you might study, and the peer level of your fellow musicians; if you envision nothing more than a high level participatory experience and further development of yourself as a musician, there are any number of schools that will allow you to do both. Know the differences between the BA and BM degree variants, and examine the options of a minor (and the limits and differences of ensemble availability, lesson times and private instruction). Each program will vary.</p>
<p>Oberlin, Bard and Lawrence University have been called the most seamless for those seeking a performance/academic degree pursuit. Bard mandates a second academic degree for performance majors, and designed it as a five year program. </p>
<p>Eastman/Rochester, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Hopkins/Peabody, Northwestern all are strong in the sciences, but your stats at this point appear a bit weak for the joint programs at the last two.</p>
<p>These are starting points. Plenty more in the music major forum I linked above. I would start now to look at prescreening and audition repertoire at each and note the timing. You may be a bit behind the curve if you delay audition preparation much longer.</p>
<p>Like you said, I seem to be low on my test taking sections. Last week I took a diagnostic SAT test and got a 2050, so I am assuming on the test day I can atleast get a 2100. My chemistry has also improved to approximately 750, but I’m looking at an 800. My school we do International Baccalaureate (IB) and as of this year, I have gotten straight A’s for my higher level sciences (chemistry and biology). I’ve also been getting A’s in other subjects, but right now I believe my grades in the sciences are more important? </p>
<p>I was thinking of Peabody/JHU, Oberlin, Northwestern and Case Western. Do you think these would be reaches for me or would I be okay sticking with these choices?
I am also thinking about NYU, but do you happen to know if NYU has double major programs specifically for music performance and science? </p>
<p>And also, like JHU, there’s also columbia/juilliard. Should I consider these two or do you think they are extremely beyond my reach?</p>
<p>thank you so much violadad!</p>
<p>mintchip - do check out Bard. It is test optional. I think you’re a fit for the college - but admission to the conservatory is audition based and very competitive. Worth looking into, though. Could be just what you’re seeking. (Lawrence and Oberlin, too.)</p>
<p>mintchip, there are posters here far more astute than I to tell you if you are competitive academically for JHU and Northwestern. Realize that musically, it is your audition that will drive that portion of the admit if you wish to seek a performance degree. </p>
<p>Dual acceptance at JHU/Peabody is highly selective. Off the top of my head, think 2 dozen each cycle. The combo programs, Columbia/Juilliard, Harvard/NEC are even more selective. Halve that number and knock off a few more. The Tufts/NEC program is a bit more accessible, more on the range of the Hopkins/Peabody numbers. The second set of links in post 26 here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/964485-colleges-science-music.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/964485-colleges-science-music.html</a> give you the detail and realities. I suggest you read them. Academically, my understanding is that at best you would be borderline. From an audition standpoint, my conjecture is that you may or may not be competitive. No one can assess your music potential on an internet forum. Look to your instructor and other music professionals within your circle to guide you from that standpoint. </p>
<p>I missed the Canadian school reference. Are you an international? McGill/Shulich is world class. Look within the music major forum for posts by violindad, who is a Canadian and whose d will be an entering freshman at Shulich on violin. He has posted some information there on some some of the stronger Canadian music options. It’s a starting point for researching institutional parameters on performance/academic dual pursuit. Like here, the options are school specific.</p>
<p>I would prefer to answer specific music related questions within the music major forum, for the benefit of others down the road seeking similar advice. It’s one of the reasons for the separate sub-forum. The search and selection forums will provide the info on the academic side, but the intricacies of an audition based admit becomes very school specific, and can skew and bend those parameters. Those vagaries are best addressed within that forum.</p>
<p>Spiritmanager: Can I double major science and music performance at Bard College? </p>
<p>I go to an international school, but I am a Canadian citizen. I am looking mostly at schools in the states but I also want to apply to a couple in Canada. From what I’ve heard, there is no such thing as “double majors” in Canada, is that true? Because if I had to choose between the two, I really wouldn’t know which one to choose!</p>
<p>Mintchip - within Bard College itself you could double major in music with a performance emphasis as well as a science. You would have to ‘moderate’ into both programs by Junior year - which means going before a panel of professors and presenting your case as to why you should be admitted to the major. I have heard of music students not being permitted to moderate into a specific music emphasis (such as voice) but being allowed to get a general music degree. You would also have to complete senior projects in both majors.</p>
<p>On the other hand - if you apply to both the conservatory and the college you will be required to get a double degree - which is different than a double major, has many more requirements, and which takes five years to complete. Acceptance to the conservatory’s music performance BM degree is extremely selective. Many students are rejected by the conservatory but still choose to attend the college and pursue music as a BA.</p>
<p>If that is still unclear - I recommend perusing the conservatory’s website: [Bard</a> College Conservatory of Music](<a href=“http://www.bard.edu/conservatory]Bard”>Bard Conservatory)</p>
<p>so if I wanted to apply for a double degree does it mean I would need to submit TWO applications to Bard- one for the conservatory and another general one for science? and would the double degree start right at the start of freshmen year in college?</p>
<p>For the double degree at Bard - as at almost every institution that offers that route, you will be submitting two separate applications - one to the college and one to the conservatory. You cannot be admitted to the conservatory if you have not also been admitted to the college. And, yes, both degrees begin the first day. Scroll down on this page for a sample of a five year curriculum: [Bard</a> College Conservatory of Music | Undergraduate Program](<a href=“http://www.bard.edu/conservatory/doubledegree/curriculum.shtml]Bard”>http://www.bard.edu/conservatory/doubledegree/curriculum.shtml)</p>
<p>Thank you guys! =)</p>