<p>I'm already accepted into McCormick, but I didn't tryout for the music school. I want to take lessons while I'm at NU freshman year and tryout for the music school on or before the beginning of sophomore year.</p>
<p>I've heard all kinds of stories like the 5 year programs are limited to 10 people or your workload will be impossible. I know there are stuff for non-majors, but a concert band that meets only on the spring semester doesn't appeal to me.</p>
<p>So... is my plan feasible? how hard is it to get into the 5 yr dual degree program?</p>
<p>It's actually not that hard. (I am currently a freshman in Weinberg & Music) I think there are about 25 freshman in the double degree program (including both McCormick & Weinberg). You can definitely apply for it after you get here. </p>
<p>Or if you don't want that music degree, you can always take lessons.</p>
<p>Uhhhh yeah as an engineering major who is not in the music school, just let me tell you that this school's music department treats it's non-majors pretty badly... you really get the short end of the stick in terms of lessons and chamber music. The orchestra is ok ... but if you are competitive at the major level, you'll find that the range of skills in the orchestra goes anywhere from your level to very very low. I definitely picked this school in part because of the prestigious music school, but didn't realize that its prestige meant that they didn't have the resources to split the concentration of the professors among less dedicated but still passionate students. </p>
<p>I heard however that you can get in the 5 year program, take lessons with a professor and nothing else, then drop music the next year, which gives you 1 year lessons free (which is not something to scoff at, considering these teachers charge >>100$ an hour).</p>
<p>Engineering and music double degree is near suicidal. Especially as an engineer, you will have to brace yourself for your own survival in the freshman EA sequence already on top of all your other major courses. I took some non-major music courses (Philharmonia, Chamber, Solo lessons), although they give you free As and boost your GPA, they suck in general.
So yeah, do it only if you want to have no life in the next 4-5 years.</p>
<p>P.S. Don't take Weinberg people's opinions into consideration when you are talking about anything related to engineering. They don't even know where Tech is.</p>
<p>I find your comment that Weinberg people don't know where Tech is to be quite offensive. I was not a McCormick graduate, but I took many classes throughout my four years at Northwestern in Tech. In fact, a lot of Weinberg-related large, introductory courses and discussion sections are held in Tech.</p>