<p>hello.
my daughter is a junior vocal major @ LaGuardia Arts in NYC. she also attends Manhattan School of Music pre college for vocal performance ( via scholarship) . she is a scholar musician with 94 average. we are just beginning to make a list of higher learning institutions ( conservatories and universities and colleges) that she's interested in. my concern is how to find out where she might be able to achieve financial assistance ( merit, needs based, etc).
she's a fabulous student and a gifted vocalist. we'd like to shoot for the stars!
thanks so much. </p>
<p>Have you asked her current teachers to help you form a list. That is the best place to start.</p>
<p>Her vocal coach at MSM is not really available to me, but she could inquire herself…eventually. It’s just the first month of pre college for her.
I’m not sure if the HS conservatory teachers at laG have anytime to actually serve as the college office as well. She’s got a full day. 4 music classes, 6 academics & no lunch period this year. (8am to 4:15pm.)
College office is not available to juniors until the springtime 
Right now the focus is getting seniors into schools.
That’s why I am here. Thanks! </p>
<p>Are you looking for suggestions from us? What are your D’s geographic preference? Does she want a conservatory or university-based program? There are tons of great VP programs out there. </p>
<p>yes, megpmom, I am looking for guidance as her school cannot give us very much time right now
I personally have some extra time to research in the next few months… but the websites are not that forthcoming regarding scholarships monies that might be available. how does one navigate that? I’m really a novice.
I am told that manhattan school of music pre college is very helpful in preparing the students for conservatory pre screens and auditions…but I’m just trying to decipher where she might get some funding and where we shouldn’t even bother.
We are NYC based at the moment, but she’s happy to consider all parts of the US and UK/EU ( she’s a British citizen).
I think she wants a conservatory but she’s a fabulous academic kid and perhaps that might help her get into a great VP program at a UNI. Do conservatories ever give students $$ for school? </p>
<p>You won’t find information about merit money on most websites. And there’s no consistency either from year to year or student to student. You need to just apply and see what happens. However, if you look on this forum at some of the past threads of Music Major Acceptances - sometimes merit awards are included which could give you some idea. As we all keep saying - don’t worry about the money at this point - worry about the school and the program and the teacher. Leave the money worries until April of 2016, as long as your daughter knows they will be part of the decision making process.</p>
<p>For strong academics and voice - where her academics could help her look at schools like Michigan, CCM, USC, Rice, Northwestern (although there the merit money is limited but financial aid is good). She could also consider a BA in music at a school like Vassar or Yale. I know there are students from those colleges who go on to prestigious graduate programs.</p>
<p>Spirit manager you are a star!
This is exactly information that I need to start to navigate for her as best I can.
She’s very interested in the conservatories and we’re happy to go that route if she can find a teacher & a program that she connects with.
She was accepted at MSM, Mannes and Juilliard for per college, so we are hopeful!
Thanks again for your wonderful reply.</p>
<p>Ah, I forgot to mention Oberlin, which has a great vocal program. She might even be interested in pursuing a double degree with the conservatory and the college. And they do offer significant merit money.</p>
<p>She’s got to very good summer camp friends at oberlin now & it’s in her top 3! </p>
<p>One of my daughter’s good friends is an extremely talented vocal performance major who graduated from LaGuardia two years ago (she’s a sophomore now) and was accepted to Oberlin and Vanderbilt and some other schools I can’t remember and ultimately chose Vandy. Not that Oberlin is not a fantastic program (it clearly is), but for her, vandy was the best fit and could be worth checking out as well. I would say forget the vandy stereotype (it’s outdated and doesn’t apply to vandy proper anymore and certainly not to the Blair bubble). Great town, great academics and music, and generous merit and need-based financial aid. </p>
<p>One of my daughter’s good friends is an extremely talented vocal performance major who graduated from LaGuardia two years ago (she’s a sophomore now) and was accepted to Oberlin and Vanderbilt and some other schools I can’t remember and ultimately chose Vandy. Not that Oberlin is not a fantastic program (it clearly is), but for her, vandy was the best fit and could be worth checking out as well. I would say forget the vandy stereotype (it’s outdated and doesn’t apply to vandy proper anymore and certainly not to the Blair bubble). Great town, great academics and music, and generous merit and need-based financial aid. </p>
<p>Thanks so very much. I’m so grateful for the Vanderbilt info. It’s not on my radar & that’s what I need!</p>
<p>My D is at Oberlin. She went to Interlochen Arts Academy which is a conservatory like HS. Don’t discount her current teachers. Yes, they are busy. But the teachers and students do have some “small talk” when they have lessons. Tell your daughter to casually ask if they have any suggestions for her to start her search. Even the accompanists have ideas about schools (they have seen teacher/student interaction and can give you the behind the door scoop) Like Interlochen, the teachers at your school are well connected and know which programs may or may not fit your D. </p>
<p>Do not put money into the equation right now. Look at teachers and undergraduate performance opportunities. Many of the schools have large graduate programs and it can limit undergraduate roles. Some schools stage graduate operas and undergrad operas. Teacher and no grad where some of the things that made Oberlin appealing.
My D was strong academic as well. Be aware that most schools will not allow you to “stack” scholarships. You have to take the larger offer- either the academic or the talent. Also, conservatories tend to award merit that is need biased. That is to say- 2 students with equal talent but not an equal FAFSA may receive different award amounts. </p>
<p>Congrats on starting this journey!
Feel free to PM about Oberlin.</p>
<p>Thanks so much scubachick! Oberlin is very appealing to my D for many reasons. No grad is something I will be paying attention to along with performance opportunities for undergrads. How did you research teachers? Word of mouth, lessons? Did you visit and sit a lesson at many schools?
I am on the parent executive board at LaGuardia Arts and I have a good rapport with the AP of the vocal studio, so I’ll be picking her brain. My D chats often with her favorite accompanist from opera workshop and he’s the one who keeps talking Oberlin to her 
Her teacher at Manhattan School of Music has taught a quite a few top tier VP schools and I am hoping she will be a wonderful asset to us as well.
Good to know about the needs based merit at conservatories.
I am sure I will be PM’ing you with questions sooner rather than later. </p>
<p>SMU in Dallas stacks academic, audition merit, and has good financial aid as well. Double majoring in 4 years is doable if DD is interested. </p>
<p>Hi @coloraturakid. Lots of good advice on this thread, especially @Spiritmanager 's comment about the financial piece changing from year-to-year (based on the openings/needs of each school, changes in approved scholarship budgets from boards, whether any admitted students fit sometimes overly-specific endowed scholarship criteria, etc.). All of the major conservatory programs offer merit scholarship, but it is incredibly hard to predict (even for us admissions directors who talk to one another rather frequently).</p>
<p>And, don’t forget to look into NEC’s programs. We offer the Bachelor of Music, plus dual degree programs with Harvard and Tufts. We have an amazing voice faculty, an undergraduate opera program, and myriad opportunities for young singers in Boston.</p>
<p>Best,
Alex Powell
Assistant Dean for Admissions, NEC</p>
<p>Thank you Alex Powell. Will there be anyone from NEC at the javitz center here in NYC on 10/7? </p>
<p>Is your family eligible for financial aid or are you specifically seeking merit aid?</p>
<p>Both, hopefully. We get needs based FA at MSM, so D will be looking at all aid. </p>
<p>Hi @coloraturakid. Yes, we will have admissions representatives at the NACAC fair in NYC on 10/7. Both are singers - one oversees all of the NEC voice applicants and the other is an alum of the NEC voice program! Please stop by to talk with them.</p>
<p>Alex</p>