<p>As for schools, it’s such a hard choice… Obviously we’re tying to get the best for him but the cost of attendance for some of these schools today is astronomical. We do “ok” financially but 50-60K with room and board at many schools, there’s just no way we’ll be able to swing it. And I just won’t saddle a kid with that much debt coming fresh out of school With my older two, they had to take on the stafford load and we paid the rest.</p>
<p>There are also so many schools, but how in the world does one tour that many and then go back for auditions? He’d miss an insane amount of school and tours in the summer when things aren’t in session just doesn’t do much.</p>
<p>He’s going to Audition at Hartt because were in CT, the audition is in November and it will be good to get one under his belt. We’re going up to visit Boston University, I’m hoping to go up to Eastman but he doesn’t’ want to be near a snow belt. Also planning to go see Peabody (Johns Hopkins) as a reach, Frost at Umiami and possibly UNT. </p>
<p>Last Feb we went down to tour Florida State and he fell in love. He just felt very at home and the people there could not have been nicer. While not “top tier”, every indication is that they have a very solid program and since OOS students accepted in the music program get an automatic discount, it could be fairly cost effective.</p>
<p>Should he shoot higher? Who knows… He’s been to all states all three years in HS so far, years of private vocal coaching and receives accolades anywhere he performs from other professionals. Regularly asked to sing the national anthem at municipal events. Has been asked to sing at weddings and funerals in addition to being in our church choir. Not to mention the countless theater productions. He spreads himself thin and is always involved in something but there’s no way to gauge the talent he will be up against. Locally he’s “top dog” but at auditions he’ll be up against all the top dogs!</p>
<p>Could he get a full ride to a high end school? Perhaps… I mean good tenors are in demand from what I’m told. But there are only so many resources and so much time to research/tour/visit. My eldest son wanted to be an engineer… he chose a school, we toured, he got in… done. My daughter wanted fashion merchandising… same thing. Choose a school, tour, apply, accepted, done. This music school research thing is WORK! Maybe I’m just over-thinking it, who knows.</p>
<p>Some people do theory at conservatory preps or with private teachers (such as piano teacher). Might not work, but that is what we had to arrange.</p>
<p>Another option, which, again, we had to use due to small school and tight schedules, is online courses. There are loads of online AP courses and enrichment courses (including AP Music Theory, AP Lit. and Spanish).</p>
<p>Just to give an idea of the situation at our school, in order to take music theory (NOT AP, not at all, just rudimentary, before we knew about conservatory preps as an option), my daughter dropped a level and a year in math, because that was the only math class that fit in her schedule w/the music theory included. In other words, she dropped from honors geometry to regular algebra 1.</p>
<p>It didn’t hurt her in admissions at all.</p>
<p>After that year, in junior and senior years, we had to get creative to get her what she needed musically as well as academically, and online classes plus weekend conservatory classes (theory, solfege and history for her) fit the bill.</p>
<p>How about Westminster Choir School in NJ? McGill is supposed to be a little more affordable…</p>
<p>Westminster Choir college might be a good bet financially as compmom suggests. Classmate (Bass vocalist) of son’s, mom was able to go back and forth over the financial aid package showing other offers from “lower ranked” schools. After three requests, they came up with a package that the family could afford. Kid is incredibly happy since it was his first choice. Hartt will sometimes sweeten their offers, too. Another classmate of son’s family did request more $ and Hartt increased their offer by several thousand but it still wasn’t enough. (They didn’t budge on my son’s offer unfortunately.) We found that both instate school’s increased their offer to son unsolicited after visiting.
So, after the grueling process of deciding where to audition, filling out the apps and supplements, making it through the audition process, getting accepted, waiting for the financial aid/scholarship packages in April, you get to go back and negogiate for more money, too.<br>
I agree getting nonmusic majors into college is so much easier</p>
<p>Ya, that’s scarey. I worry that my son will feel that he is at the bottom of the barrel in his college program and that may be a letdown after being at the top in high school. But at the same time being at the bottom could be somewhat motivating for him to practice and improve. He really dosen’t like not being the best. It’s a coin toss as to which psycological factor will be stronger.</p>
<p>At one of the colleges we visited, the Dean said, "If you find yourself the 1st chair (or top dog)at the college you go to in September as a freshman, then you’ve made a very bad decision…
So, here’s to hoping they’re not at the bottom or the top.</p>
<p>Momofbassist: Could you elaborate more on “both instate school’s increased their offer to son unsolicited after visiting”? So he auditioned, was accepted, they made an offer, and they upped the offer after he went back to visit?</p>
<p>I’ve heard that some people have had success getting schools to “sweeten the pot” a bit after an initial offer has been made, but wasn’t sure how the whole thing works. I know that their aren’t as many Tenors that apply as other vocal parts, so I’m hoping this will work in his favor.</p>
<p>Hartt is 40min from us and truth be told, I don’t know if I want him that close. My older two really grew up by being away at school and having to rely on themselves. I’ve also heard mixed things about their vocal program though my son’s vocal coach speaks highly of it.</p>
<p>I had heard of Westminister a few times but hadn’t looked into it too seriously. I’ll have to. We’re in CT, so maybe we can make a few day loop/tour out of JMU in Va, Peabody in MD and Westminister in NJ.</p>
<p>MrFritz99: Just thinking about the audition process worries me! =/ Haha, luckily it’s not until February/March time, so there’s still plenty of time to practice and prepare the audition pieces. =)</p>
<p>To anyone else: I’m considering giving marching percussion lessons to this one underclassmen (for no charge). Even though it’s in marching percussion, would it still be great to put on a Music Ed resume?</p>
<p>I totally agree about being top dog. My son was doing High School theater productions and local teen shows. His vocal coach said he didn’t even want him in them anymore as he wasn’t learning anything. He auditioned for a local equity production (though the two teens accepted received no pay). He got an ensemble role and learned more during that show than in all the previous shows combined. Being in those other shows is likely what enabled him to be successful in his audition, but that’s another story. The point is, not being top dog gave him something to strive for. It gave him people to learn from and I’m hoping his college experience is the same.</p>
<p>Everything looks good on a resume. You never know who the audience is. One gentleman who works for me tells a story about how he got his first job because the interviewing him noticed he was a model train buff (listed under other interests) and the interviewer was also.</p>
<p>MrFritz, further elaboration on the instate scholarship comment: Yes, after son was accepted and he was trying to decide where to go, he scheduled additional visits and lessons to two of our instate public schools. During the lessons, each studio teacher offered additional scholarship money to him without his even asking for it. The instate schools were his financial safeties so we really didn’t ask for more money since we were pleased with their first offers. Due to the additional money, he did decide to attend one of the schools as a music ed/performance major since it was so incredibly cost effective and it has a great reputation for music ed in our state.</p>
<p>RandomAc1206, you have a different situation from MrFritz99. You are interested in music education instead of performance. I assume you want to be in K-12 classrooms as a band director or percussion instructor when those are available. That is what music education degree will prepare you for. Considering that, your plan for Spanish is great and makes a lot of sense for your ability to connect with many students. You don’t need the other languages that vocal performance majors need. Expressing that thinking and also teaching younger students shows your inclination towards teaching as a profession, not just a backup. You should take advantage of any opportunity you can for a leadership and /or teaching experience. That will also help. </p>
<p>Your admission decision will be based on more than the audition. Performance majors are mostly judged on their audition. As an education major your academic record, essay, and interview will also play an important role. The added year of Spanish could be more of a plus for you than another music class in achieving your goals. Do you have a private teacher to help you prepare for auditions? Percussion can be tough, too.</p>
<p>As I’ve said to you in previous posts make sure your audition is up to par. Percussion studios are smaller compared to some other studios and spots can be tough to get. Make sure your mallet playing is good. Snare drum/ timpani won’t be enough to get you into a studio. Most college bound mallet players are playing 4 mallet material. You should at the very least be able to play Yellow After the Rain by Mitchell Peters. Are you familiar with the audition material list at the school you want to attend? Have you at least thought about the pieces you plan to play?</p>
<p>Singersmom07: Yes, I do have a private instructor. Thank you for the advice! I am definitely sticking with the Spanish class. =)</p>
<p>bigdjp: I haven’t gotten to four mallet yet, sadly. Still working on the two mallet stuff everyday though! I’ve improved in mallet sight reading even more. And yes, I have been reviewing the audition list for all three focuses of percussion. =) I’m going to have my private instructor help me narrow it down for me based on what he thinks I can achieve and perform well. I really appreciate your concern for my audition! I am aware that it is still the most heavily weighted part of one’s admission chances, and I “tell myself” that everyday. So thank you! =)</p>
<p>MrFritz99, if your son doesn’t want to be “in a snow belt” avoid McGill! But do look at WCC- the location is good for you, and at any given time, there are some excellent teachers there.</p>
<p>bigdjp; What can I say… he’s 17. It’s like the roller-coasters he was scared of. Once it tries it, he’ll love it. </p>
<p>(read as: Humor your father… we’re taking a ride this weekend kiddo)</p>
<p>Though there’s a fair amount of sticker shock that comes with Eastman! He wouldn’t be able to go there were he not to get a fair amount of merit money.</p>
<p>Momofbassist; Are you kidding? That’s what ruined the kid! LOL… I own two houses on our street and one has a large single driveway and the other has two large driveways. Together he and I put a LOT of hours on the snowblowers and shovels this past winter. I think that’s why he wants out! He’ll come around.</p>
<p>It could also be that I’m WAY overthinking this whole thing. There are many good schools out there where these kids can get an excellent education. I’m must trying to find the best fit for him… Teacher wise, program wise, lifestyle wise. No matter where they go they still need to put in the effort. If a person is talented and willing to work hard they will likely do well in the end. Now for musical educations exposure/contacts has a lot to do with it, but there are any number of talented people who were educated at obscure schools. Heck, there are many earning a living in the industry who have never seen the inside of a college.</p>
He’ll come around.</p>