Graduate Music Programs

If your child filled out that FAFSA, he/she will automatically be given the Stafford Loan amount for the year in school related to the amount. Graduates is 10500 per semester, I believe. Our MM son only had one school that required something in addition to the FAFSA and it was the one that does ask for all the parent details. It will be up to your child to accept the loan award on their financial award page on the school website.

Our son is on a couple waitlists too, but has made the decision (given the financial scholarship award and such) to go ahead and accept an offer today and decline all others. If a waitlist opening happens, he will cross that bridge then. These kiddos are already stressed with senior recitals, final academic details and the looming reality that they are leaving what has been home for four years…certainly can take this off his plate and start preparing for life in the next city!

Not necessarily! I was told by FA counselors that since most grad students are low-income, they cannot meet “need” because that would mean awarding full scholarships to everyone. So the financial aid, aside from loans, becomes merit-based, essentially.

glassharmonica - this is what I suspected. Every grad student is really poor so … how in the world would schools cover “need” for all. BUT doing the FAFSA without parental income is really simple. We did it…just in case.

So, wondering if I am the only parent that is going to see the grad school that my d may go to?

We’re going to see my son’s grad school for the first time this May - for graduation.

We saw it when we helped her move into her apartment.

No, @CurlyMom , you’re not! I was lucky enough to be able to go along with my D when she did her auditions for grad schools, so I got to see them all!

No way we could go to them all - 5 auditions across the country all during the weekdays in the same 8-week period. But my S has a good head on his shoulders, visited or played at some point with all the professors save one, and knew what he was looking for. I did travel to Yale for his audition there becasue (1) its a pain to get to and (2) I had never seen the campus before. Glad I did because it took a lot of travel-related stress off his plate.

On a related note, he ended up in a similar situation as a previous Poster. Accepted to several, Waitlisted at one…and one stepped up big time with a full ride and a paid TA that he really couldn’t turn down. Another with a major national reputation was ridiculoulsy expensive even with the decent offer he received, and they are off the list (other than those who have the income to afford it, I don’t see how people can consider the massive debt they expect students and families to take on to attend, NO program is worth that). Still on the waitlist for another great program, but he accepted the TA at the one noted above, and he’s happy with the situation - if any end up throwing a Hail Mary offer to him at the 11th hour, we will deal with it then but in his mind he’s moved on. And so have I.

Wishing you all the best with your situations - until I am back again if he decides to go for his Doctorate!

StoneMagic, our son was faced with the same situation this season. He had an offer that exceeded expectations from one of his schools, accepted at some, then that “waitlist.” He knows the waitlist pool and knows his ranking on one of the two, but for now-he accepted the “awesome” offer and like your son, will deal with the phone call/email if and when it comes. Time to focus on recital and final moments of his undergraduate career…and find housing for next fall!

Congrats on your son receiving and accepting the offer @classicalpercmom. There is no right or wrong in any choice as every individual situation is unique, but it is good to have options. It was not an easy decision to decline some of these incredible programs, but it is nice to know we are not the only ones out there who faced the sitaution.

Friday is April 15 - tax day and Decision Day for Graduate program acceptances across the country.
Just curious - did any experience late offers the final 5 days before the national decision deadline, or was it all decided earler?

CIM does send a cool acceptance package, they also tried to call him today but he was in class and couldn’t answer. I give them credit for making an effort, but unless it comes with at least double their original offer or an anonymous donor is sponsoring him 100%, its not even a consideration.

My S also signed all the papers accepting the TA offer at another program, and he feels it’s too late to go back even if CIM was to up their offer - I tend to agree as we know he’s not going to suddenly get offered close to what he needs based on how far away they were from our reality.

Best wishes to those still in the process!

So, we are done with “getting into Grad school”, my daughter will attend Rice in the fall for her masters. So relieved to have this next stage done. Now onto graduation next week. Wishing you all a wonderful spring/summer.

Congrats @CurlyMom, Rice is an awesome program. Best of luck to your daughter!