Looking for some input for daughter who is applying to graduate schools - we keep reading about searching for specific teachers vs programs…If the present teachers are not familiar with all the other teachers in the myriad of school choices, how can they possibly advise her…?
On some grad school apps there is even a section to select your ‘1st choice teacher’ - how can you possibly do unbiased research on the faculty?
would love some input …
thanks,
My D got most of her teacher advice by networking with successful grad students and professionals at a summer program just before her apps. She was a super senior and during that last summer and fall semester networking was a preoccupation for her. Her(then) current teacher was not familiar with ALL the other teachers but she too made a real effort on D’s behalf.She was concentrated on programs that would offer her the most stage time and money. Whenever possible she traveled for a lesson before prescreens and that narrowed the field considerably.(By the time she was ready to audition she was able to approach it with a relatively narrow list.) I imagine the teachers, coaches and grad students at her current school must have some teachers in mind for your D that would be specific to your D’s requirements. Networking aggressively with folks who know her would still be the best starting point.
Ditto. Can’t add much more to that except in one case when she didnt have a more direct contact to a teachers, she found a friend of a friend that was at the school and could give an opinion. In only one case she had to go to the faculty list on-line.
My daughter had a list of important items: major metro area, teacher, performance opps and money. She was also looking for some specific areas of improvement for her voice. In other words she knew her strengths and weaknesses so she was looking for a particular background from a teacher. Her undergrad teacher helped recommend and look at teachers background as well.
One other thought for you. My D did contact one of the graduate admission offices and asked if you could talk with a graduate student about housing. They had a student contact her. She got a lot of info about housing and other things. If your D doesn’t know teachers at a school of interest she could try the same approach. Then once she has a student contact she could inquirie on teachers. She should of course read bios and have maybe 2 or 3 teachers in mind. She should also know what she wants in general on a teacher. Of course th info could be biased but it would be a way to get some conversations started. It would good to do a sample lesson but I’ll be honest and say my D had a few schools on her list where she couldn’t do sample lessons due to time and money constraints. At some pt there is on,y so much you can do.
@badblonde I think I remember you and your daughter - I think our girls went to Tanglewood together! and we bumped into you when in MI for the MI audition.
We are in the same thing this year too, grad school auditions. My daughter is at CCM, so if your daughter is considering that school, I can certainly put you guys in touch with her for some information. Bottom line she has loved it here, opportunities have been amazing and it was/is the most affordable top level vp program since is is part of the University of Cincinnati.
The other schools she applied to for grad school were all chosen based on networking at summer programs the past 3 years and teachers at the other schools that her teacher knows and recommends. She is only auditioning for 3 grad programs.
Good luck, hope everything has kind of fell into place for her now that its January and we are into the audition season - again. Kind of weird this year not to be traveling with them.