fsu unacceptable response

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>okay, ive undecided between msm and fsu so i went to visit fsu and see if i like it.
the deal here is that i have to msm 40k/yr while 0 for fsu so i was highly considering it.
when i went for a visit, i met prof 1 and was pretty impressed by his teaching and wasnt really into others. so, i wanted to work with him but the school is not telling me who ill be working with until fall?!?!?! what is wrong with them. usually, when you get accepted to music schools, they TELL you who you are assigned to and if you dont like it, you can possibly change it. HOWEVER, fsu wants me to make a decision first and wait?!</p>

<p>come on, there is something wrong here. </p>

<p>how am i suppose to make a decision without knowing who ill be working with? especially in this muisic world. this is just out of question. </p>

<p>here is anexcept of email back from dr.1</p>

<p>"I do understand your concern! Unfortunately as both dr.2 (chair of piano dept) and I have told you, neither he, the school nor I can guarantee at this time that you would be able to study with me or any other specific teacher in the fall. If you feel that this makes FSU too much of a gamble for you, then I can certainly see that, and would hold no hard feelings as you head to one of the other schools you are considering, which might in the end provide you with more the kind of environment you are after anyway
But as of now, thats all that I can offer!"</p>

<p>REALLY??!?! REALLY???!? REALLY?!?</p>

2

<p>I am not at all a fan of this type of studio “non-assignment” procedure, but given the response you have indicated, there does not seem there is a lot you can do to change this situation. There are various methods as to how schools assign studios, and while few are perfect, this is one of the least desirable. </p>

<p>I would a least would want to have two or three named options in writing as possibilities prior to committing. At least you know the potential placement. I don’t know how many applied piano faculty there are at FSU, and I would not be in a position to offer comment based on my limited knowledge of the instrument.</p>

<p>If there is a past professional relationship between your current private instructor and faculty options, sometimes a string or two can be pulled, or a favor called in to lubricate the process. You may wish to talk with your private instructor.</p>

<p>The post here has a question about FSU piano faculty <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/776234-florida-state-university-piano-faculty.html?highlight=faculty[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/776234-florida-state-university-piano-faculty.html?highlight=faculty&lt;/a&gt;. rigaudon offered that OP some pm feedback. You may want to pm rigaudon, and I’m sure the same courtesy would be extended to you.</p>

<p>You can also ask the department for a list of a few students in each studio with contact info. You can also glean experiences and feedback that way. Most schools will do this.</p>

<p>And yes, there are times when you are caught between a rock and a hard place, and this appears to be one of them.</p>

<p>Here’s some past threads with similar discussions. </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/487415-arranging-teacher-after-acceptance.html?highlight=teacher[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/487415-arranging-teacher-after-acceptance.html?highlight=teacher&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/168379-what-if-studio-teacher-isnt-designated-acceptance-letter.html?highlight=teacher[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/168379-what-if-studio-teacher-isnt-designated-acceptance-letter.html?highlight=teacher&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/733282-appealing-studio-assignments.html?highlight=studio[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/733282-appealing-studio-assignments.html?highlight=studio&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/329227-no-studio-assignment-yet.html?highlight=studio[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/329227-no-studio-assignment-yet.html?highlight=studio&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Good luck.</p>

3

<p>My son is a viola major at MSM - and it has been a costly though phenomenal educational experience - in large part in him studying with the teacher he was guaranteed on acceptance. I can’t imagine accepting a music school without teacher guarantee. I think this is the highest imperative on music school selection and acceptance.</p>

4

<p>Every school seems to have their own policies and procedures when it comes to studio assignments. Some are flexible about granting exceptions, some are not.</p>

<p>As I understand what you said in your first sentence above, the total cost of attendance at Florida State would be $0 and the total cost of attendance at MSM would be $40,000. That does make this a difficult decision. Do you have a studio assignment at MSM and, if so, how pleased are you with the teacher there? Are we trying to compare two unknown quantities here, or a sure thing at $40K against a free unknown?</p>

<p>Might you consider taking a chance on Florida State for a semester or two and, if the teacher you are assigned is unsatisfactory, either ask to change to a different studio there or consider a transfer at that point?</p>

<p>Have you asked MSM about their deferral policy? A few schools are willing to hold your acceptance for up to a year without making you re-audition. I don’t know if MSM does this, but it could be worth asking.</p>

<p>Have you asked MSM to review their offer of financial aid in light of what Florida State has offered you? This may not work if MSM does not consider Florida State a competitor for piano students, but if you have not even tried they are unlikely to make you a better offer without being asked.</p>

<p>One thing to keep in mind is that it is fine to vent here on CC, but you need to keep calm and be polite and professional when negotiating with teachers and administrators. It sounds to me like Dr. 1 and Dr. 2 have been pressed about as far as they will go. If you exhaust all the other possibilities and decide that you cannot live with Florida State’s offer, even on a trial basis, then I would suggest you send a polite letter to both their Director of Admissions and the Dean of their music school outlining the facts (but omitting your feelings about those facts) so that they know their policy is having an adverse effect on their yield.</p>

5

<p>This same problem was part of the reason I decided against going to Purchase (they have pretty much the same policy). I just couldn’t bear committing to a school without knowing the teacher. However, it wasn’t that much cheaper than my other school (they gave me no $$), so it wasn’t as big a decision to make. I know how frustrating it is though :(</p>

6

<p>I think what you have stumbled upon is that comparing a small highly selective performance-oriented institution like MSM to a very large state-flagship center for music education of all sorts is like comparing apples to oranges. </p>

<p>Have you met other pianists at FSU, who are broadly comparable to you (in ability, goals, etc.) who seem to have made the environment work for them? Or do you feel that the people ‘like’ you who tried FSU for the most part were overall dissatisfied? The answer to that might be a good indicator of the likelihood that you can make it work. </p>

<p>I know that you hear a lot about how the studio teacher is the single most important factor in choosing a conservatory. I believe there’s a lot of truth in that statement when you are comparing similar institutions. But, again, FSU and MSM are totally different beasts. </p>

<p>Don’t let your anger get the better of your decision-making right now. There’s a lot you can do with a music education from FSU, + $160,000 in the bank.</p>

7

<p>This is really frustrating as I will NOT be satisfied with any other teacher besides dr. 1
And neither the chair of piano dept nor the teacher i want to work with is trying to cooperating with me…</p>

<p>I really cant decide without knowing this… at ALL</p>

<p>If i ask MSM with a deferral and they ask me why… what should I say???</p>

8

<p>jp0701, have you met Dr. 1 in person? Can you manage to do so before May 1? Or call him on the phone? If you could see him and play for him, he might informally agree to take you into his studio. Otherwise, you should also consider the differences in opportunities and connections you will have between the two conservatories.</p>

9

<p>Calm down. Try to keep a calm, balanced demeanor when you communicate here or with any universities. Freaking out, as you appear to be doing, will hinder rather than help your cause as adults will be less likely to take you seriously. FSU has provided you with an answer, albeit one that you do not like. The next step is for you to contact MSM, and after that you will have to make an informed decision based on the facts at hand.</p>

<p>Here are some questions to ask yourself:</p>

<p>Are the other professors at FSU of an acceptable quality? What gives you the impression that they are or are not?</p>

<p>Can you negotiate with MSM? Perhaps a polite phone call to MSM explaining the situation will motivate them to amend their offer in your favor. Explain that you’ve been offered a free ride at a prestigious state school, you preferred the atmosphere at MSM, and you’d rather make a decision based on where you believe your musical abilities will flourish rather than finances.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

10

<p>glassharmonica: yes i did. i went to visit him on monday and when I asked him about being assigned to his studio, he said dr.2 is responsible for that and cant give me a direct answer and it all depends on the openings…</p>

<p>cris: negociating with msm did not work. i tried to talk to the financial staff and they told me that my audition score was high enough for the acceptance but not high for scholarships…even my assigned teacher at msm went to talk to the staff and just would not allow it. they are keep saying that they are low on funds. etcccc</p>

11

<p>Right now, you are extremely frustrated, and it shows in you posts. You need to take a step back and a deep breath or three.</p>

<p>I will explain my thought processes, and you will very likely get additional and conflicting input from others.</p>

<p>I would reread both BassDad’s and memake’s posts carefully.</p>

<p>They are both very valid. And time is becoming of the essence.</p>

<p>FSU has made their options quite clear. The suggestions I offered may do nothing to change that, but you may glean additional input to help you make a decision.</p>

<p>You can broach MSM and ask for a financial reconsideration. And tell them why. You have a full tuition scholarship to FSU, but a good part of that is academically based, plus includes some Florida state specific grants. That will mean little to MSM, as they allocate largely on talent based on strength of audition performance. Plus they will not consider FSU a peer institution. MSM appears to give a more substantial amount to their most promising candidates, and less farther down the applicant food chain. Realistically, there is a “price” that MSM will be willing to “pay you” to go there. They may be already at that price, they may have a few $k wiggle room, but it is extremely unlikely (at least in my estimation) that they will substantially close the gap between what they have initially offered you and the difference between FSU.</p>

<p>You can try an unknown (but further researched) option at FSU for a semester or year as proposed. Worse case, you can attempt to transfer internally to another studio, or to MSM or another program. An external transfer is not ideal, but many do it. Investigate MSM’s policies on transfer applicants NOW, not later.</p>

<p>You need to have a serious talk with your parents about the financial ramifications of attending MSM. These are family decisions that cannot be resolved on an internet forum. In my estimation, the $180k difference is not worth the money. It may be to your parents and you. That is your decision.</p>

<p>If you request a deferral from MSM, I would approach it from the point of wishing to take a year off for extensive private study in the hopes of being able to re audition for an increased talent award. Realize a) MSM may not defer you in which case you would have to re audition both for acceptance and scholarship next cycle. b) MSM may defer you, and allow a new audition for scholarship award only, or c) MSM may defer you and tell you that you will not be considered for a new award.</p>

12

<p>These are hard decisions and require a detached, logical approach, not an emotional, personal reaction. Take the time to put things on paper, list the pros and cons, and flow-chart your options. You have options. They may not seem ideal, but any one may yield viable results. You need information before you can reach a logical alternative.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

13

<p>Just curious what happens if u defer for a year and go to a school during that year? or you r not allow to do that at all.</p>

14

<p>Those are questions you need to address to the institution that defers you.</p>

<p>There are specific do’s and don’ts that each may agree to.</p>

15

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</p>

<p>You seem to be asking for something they are unable to give. Blaming them for not even trying to cooperate is not going to be productive at this point. You have as much of an answer from them as you are going to get before your decision is due, so you have to gather as much information as you can from other sources and get on with your life.</p>

<p>When you say you will not be satisfied with any other teacher, does that include the one at MSM or just the other teachers at Florida State? If Dr. 1 is your ultimate choice over even the teacher at MSM, then it seems to me as though the best course would be to go to Florida State. Maybe you will be assigned to Dr. 1 there. If not, maybe you can transfer into Dr. 1’s studio. Worst case, you can look at it as an all-expenses-paid gap year in sunny Florida and hit the audition circuit again next year.</p>

<p>If you were not including the MSM teacher when you said that nobody else would satisfy you, then you need to have some discussions with your family about whether they can afford the difference in cost between the two schools. As someone asked on another thread recently, if they were to offer you $100,000 upon graduation from Florida State, would that be sufficient to get you to change your mind about the possibility of going there but not being able to study with Dr. 1?</p>

16

<p>Don’t get your hopes too high on the deferral. Not many schools offer them and there are sometimes conditions attached that would prevent you from attending another music school. You have to ask about such things. I just threw that out as one avenue among many to consider.</p>

17

<p>Something to think about- I noticed that you posted about this same problem on a Facebook group that we both happen to be in (I’m assuming it’s you, so please correct me if I’m wrong). I would just be careful about protecting your privacy- the last thing you want is someone from either school to see that. I’m not trying to be mean, I just think it would be in your favor to be more ‘confidential’ (pun intended?). I wish you lots of luck and even though it seems like the end of the world now, I guarantee things will clear up, and you will make the right choice!</p>

18

<p>Couple of things to the OP:</p>

<p>Definitely, definitely try to keep extensive personal information out of the public forums. The music world is very, very small. Chances are that the piano professors from FSU know the piano profs from MSM, or other schools. You wouldn’t want to be known as a whiner and complainer, or someone who has dissed a certain teacher (even if you haven’t used a name, it is probably easy for someone who knows the program at FSU to determine about whom you are speaking). Just a cautionary note…</p>

<p>Piano is an interesting duck, and unlike any other instrument, because it really is such a solo endeavor. Hopefully there are opportunities to play a concerto, or do ensemble work with instrumentalists, but I don’t think one has to look at the entire music department quite the same way when one is a pianist. </p>

<p>Also, if you happen to be one of the best pianists, you could get a lot of accompaniment or pit work, which often yields quite a bit of money. That would probably not be true at MSM.</p>

<p>Finally, it is possible that the teacher you thought you wanted might not be the one for you at all. Being flexible has its benefits. Perhaps there is much to learn from Prof 2, and perhaps you could transfer into Prof 1’s studio, or, you may decide that you really like being in Prof 2’s studio more after all. Stranger things have happened, and I’m sure others on the board have similar anecdotal information.</p>

<p>Listen to what people here are saying. Try to relax and calm down. Take a deep breath. Look at the finances and the reality. Things may work out just beautifully at FSU, but you also have to have the right attitude.</p>

<p>Whatever you decide, good luck!</p>

19

<p>Another consideration is that it may be difficult to switch studios - there is usually a procedure around it, involving some sort of mediation, so it isn’t something you can count on. Do you find the other teachers at FSU unacceptable for a sound reason (no pun intended - or, on second thought, maybe it works…)? Think it through. If there is bad chemistry, it could be a problem - you will have to work with this professor for 4 years - it’s really set up as a mentoring relationship, not just “lessons.”
Academically, is FSU more what you want? MSM will offer virtually no high quality academic courses, outside of music. FSU is a university.
Also depending on whether you want to focus almost exclusively on solo performance or are interested in ensemble performance, you should look at those opportunities at each of the schools too, and also the school amenities. In the past MSM had a shortage of practice rooms that was troublesome, especially for pianists. That may have changed. But you should investigate it.</p>

20

<p>Doc 1 doesn’t sound very interested at all. I’m sure if he wanted you in his studio, or cared for that matter, he could make it work…</p>