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College Majors Music Major
1

<p>I've been stressing about my chances of getting into good music colleges/conservatories since the end of freshman year haha. I'm kind of new to these boards, so any help is appreciated :)</p>

<p>I'm in band at my high school and it is the single thing in my life that I am 100% devoted to. I am very good at clarinet and my life basically centers around it. I do however play flute, oboe, pic, english horn, sax and basoon. So I'm farmiliar with all of the woodwinds.</p>

<p>Now, in my freshman year I got a devestatingly low 2.8 GPA.
I just finished up my sophomore year and got a 3.3
Next year I am shooting for a 3.8-3.9</p>

<p>Also, my high school has a rather hard grading system. most other people I've talked to go by the system where an A is 90+, B is 80+, C is 70+... Our school doesn't do that.. our system: A(94-100), B+(90-93), B(84-89), C+(80-83), C(74-79), etc. Also, our APs are weighted less. APs are only weighted by .5 and honors classes are not weighted at all. :(</p>

<p>Do you think colleges will see the upward trend? Do they also know about the different grading systems?? I mean I REALLY struggled in my freshman year, because of various personal issues (i.e. my parents went through a particularly nasty divorce). But since then, I've been commited to pulling it back together.</p>

<p>Also, I do best in audition situations so I'm not particularly worried about how I will do in college auditions.</p>

<p>In short I have a passion for music and I can't see myself majoring in anything else. My dream school currently is Peabody. I live in Northern VA so it relatively close to home. </p>

<p>Do you think I will get in if I ace the audition?</p>

2

<p>First, and most importantly, relax. Schools do look at how GPAs are calculated and look at class rank, which also shows if a school has rampant "grade inflation" afoot.</p>

<p>Second, keep working on improving things. Schools do like to see upward trends and will look for it. Academically, your most important year is your junior year. A consistent improvement throughout your high school career is a mark of a dedicated student and is toward your benefit.</p>

<p>Third, if you conservatory bound, grades become less of an issue, and the audition is the key factor. You're much like my DD who's primary instrument is the clarinet, but plays sax well, has started flute & piccolo lessons and has dabbled with oboe. Like she realized, when it comes time for college, you have to stick with your primary and only play the others for fun. BTW, she'll be entering Peabody this coming fall for clarient performance. Like most other conservatories, the audition at Peabody is the most important aspect of your admission process, as long as they are confident that a student has reasonable academic abilities. You have already demonstrated that.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>There are a number of other threads here re: admission to music programs. Things you should be doing for conservatory consideration: take lessons from the best teacher in the area on your primary instrument; participate in ensembles outside of your school (for the experience and the perspective); try to get some orchestral experience in addition to your band experience; PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE...can't say that enough; look for competitions that you can enter (and maybe win).</p>

4

<p>Try not to get stressed out about this, although I know that is easier said than done. Conservatories will consider your grades, but audition is most important. As long as you show an upward trend, you should be okay. </p>

<p>The good thing is you are thinking ahead. To improve your admission odds, I'd recommend that you find the best teacher you can. Consider the clarinet players in the National Symphony, even if only to get lessons every once in a while. Or try to get a lesson with the clarinet teacher at the University of Maryland. </p>

<p>Try to join a local youth orchestra. It's too late to audition for the AYP this year, but the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra at Strathmore holds auditions at the end of August I think and the DC Youth Orchestra takes students in September. (We're from DC and my D was the principal oboe at the DCYO for 2 years before going to Interlochen for 2 years - she's going to NEC in the fall) There are other DC area youth orchestras, including one in McLean and one in Alexandria I think, but I don't know as much about them. If you can afford it, look at summer programs for next summer. It's important to get a perspective beyond your school band. The music world is small, and you'll meet more people in the field if you expand on your experiences. Have you done all-state? </p>

<p>Also, try not to get your heart set on only one school because that could end up being the one audition you bomb. Aim for finding 4 to 6 schools that you would be happy attending, including a safety. Check the audition requirements now and practice!</p>

5

<p>A lot of good advice has been given here. My school district used to go by that same grading system.. it sucked! They finally switched a few years back. Additionally, I may be wrong, but I think our AP's are weighted even less than yours.</p>