Have to pick a Music School- Violin Performance Major

<p>I am an incoming undergraduate with a major in violin performance. I was accepted to Boston University School of Music and Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. BU gave me a lot more money than CCM but I think I liked CCM better when I visited. Both have great facultly and are great schools but Im having trouble deciding and May 1st is coming up. Any input on which is a better music school?</p>

<p>Also, does not getting a big scholarship/any scholarship at all mean the school doesn't really want me?
Thanks!</p>

<p>@Alexviolin I am assuming you like both teachers equally? We are in a similar situation , slight different school scenario and my D likes all three teachers. The choice is then between a Conservatory and a University, and were the financial packages the same it would be so tough. The fact is however, universities generally can afford to do more for more people…there are always exceptions…but we’ve had two already go through undergrad arts and this seems to be the case at least for us. If the packages are significantly different enough that it means you would be incurring substantial debt then I would suggest you seriously consider that factor as we are. Not having a huge debt load means there is $$ for summer programs, instrument upgrades and upkeep and so much more and means the transition into grad school doesn’t have to be made with a huge debt hanging over your head. We are certainly not taking that lightly. </p>

<p>If however, everything in you says the Conservatory with the smaller package is where you need to be and where you will do the best, then the wisdom at least on this board seems to be that you contact Financial Aid and let them know that- be up front and let them know this is really where you want to be and can they do anything more to help make that happen. No promises of course that it will be enough but you won’t know until you ask. </p>

<p>As for your question about how much they want you, we asked a similar question of my D’s teacher and she felt that essentially it is about Conservatories not being able to offer the same kinds of packages and said we really shouldn’t interpret it to mean anything in terms of how much they value you. (She is a Doctoral student at my D’s Conservatory Prep and is very much in the thick of these processes so I think she has a good handle on it)</p>

<p>I’m sure some other people here can specifically speak to the programs at your schools, but my general impression is that they are both fine programs- with a major difference being Conservatory vs University. Your other consideration is location - you might want to do a search here for both schools and read some posts about what life is like at each.</p>

<p>Congratulations on some fine acceptances! Best wishes- May 1st is coming soon but not so soon that you do not have enough time to talk to the schools- hope you will stop back and let us know how it all works out!</p>

<p>You also need to factor in the cost of living in the areas when you have to move out of school housing- rent, utilities, transportation, availability of convenient housing.
How do the orchestras and ensemble compare? Where do the graduates of each program go to grad school?
Look at the whole picture and see if one school comes out a clear winner. And,of course, your own “feelings” aobut the school have to be taken into account too!!</p>

<p>Hi Alexviolin. Do not just consider how much they are giving you. Look at the total cost of attendance. Each school will have a table of the total cost of attendance in the financial information pages. Sometimes they do not make it easy to find but keep searching it is there. They may have provided it in the financial package, too. With that information add in travel and other expenses that may be unique to each. Check for any additional fees in the music department. Then subtract the financial offer. Make sure that net number is what you are comparing and considering. Then I agree with mymble, all else being equal go with the least amount of debt. It is a long road with many expneses and you should try to keep debt as low as possible.</p>

<p>If you are still having trouble deciding, can you make a return trip to both, have a(nother) sample lesson and get a gut feel for which teacher would suit you better and which orchestra you feel better suits you? That is what finally decided it for DD when she was an undergraduate. </p>