Just starting our search....

<p>There are now financial aid calculators on college financial aid websites: they don’t tell the whole story but can be helpful.</p>

<p>Top schools like the Ivies (and others) have great financial aid, but you would be surprised by the aid offered at some smaller privates as well Sate universities have BM programs and can be affordable. Conservatories that are part of a university or college campus offer the same opportunity for aid as the university or college itself.</p>

<p>Thanks! This is great info. I really appreciate the input.</p>

<p>University of Miami’s Frost School of Music also worth considering. They do allow stacking of merit academic and music scholarships (up to the cost of tuition) and they seem pretty generous with their awards.</p>

<p>My cousin is a frost graduate. I’m not sure their VP is rated that well. Though, that may be changing. Thank you! </p>

<p>Congratulations to your cousin. The Frost SOM is a wonderful school with very talented undergraduate and graduate students, a well-regarded faculty and a Dean with great vision. Exactly what “ratings” are you referring to?</p>

<p>othermusicdad, as I have stated we are just starting out on our journey. i only know of the frost reputation via my cousin (who now is a professor of clarinet at SDS) & via other VP students and parents. it wasn’t a program that was talked about very much. that’s what I mean. the kids weren’t rating it. I will investigate for sure. </p>

<p>coloraturakid - as the parent of a current U Miami Frost student (who happens to be a very strong academic student as well), I did find it a bit off-putting for you to discount a program so quickly. We were in your shoes 3 years ago and we considered lots of programs to find the best fit, including many mentioned above. While my child’s major isn’t vocal performance, his instrument is voice. He is absolutely thrilled with his decision and loves Frost. As othermusicdad mentioned, there are a lot of very positive aspects to Frost. Rankings and recommendations (which really are just opinions) are important considerations but so are other considerations such as fit, environment, financials. I’ll get off my soapbox now.</p>

<p>oh, no! NEILRRM please don’t be offended or off put. I just replied that that their VP was not being rated by the other VP families we’ve been talking to at LaGuardia & MSM. I certainly don’t mean to discount it quickly, I know the schools stellar reputation. it’s just that perhaps the instrumental studios are stronger. I said that my cousin was a graduate but we weren’t hearing the greatest things re: the vocal performance program. that is all. it’s wonderful that your S has found such an outstanding fit. We are considering LOADS of programs. it’s the only way. thanks for your wonderful input. </p>

<p>The OP’s daughter is a british citizen. Is she eligible for merit aid from all of the school’s mentioned? Someone mentioned filling out the FAFSA. It would seem this isn’t an option for the student in question since she is not a U.S. citizen.</p>

<p>Dual citizenship</p>

<p>I in no way mean to hijack the thread or question the OP’s daughter’s grades, as a matter of fact my daughter has the same average as her daughter–about a 94 in a NY State public school. I thought a 94 would be to low for places like Michigan, Rice, Northwestern? I will be very happy if that is not the case, but when I look on those calculators from percentage to on a 4.0 scale it doesn’t seem high enough, especially for merit. Like I said, I hope I’m wrong! Another concern is although my daughter’s school isn’t specifically an Arts school, it offers many music courses. And in order to take these she hasn’t been able to take any AP or college level courses because of conflict. Is that a problem? Are Arizona State or Florida State possible? </p>

<p>yes, perfect. she was born in the UK. lived there for 10 years. I am American, my husband is British. both DD are UK born with dual citizenship. </p>

<p>I’m not sure @redeye41‌ if my D’s average is high enough for those schools either. My main concern is finding her a VP program/teacher/studio that suits her and might afford her a scholarship of sorts. She’s will graduate with at least 6 AP classes and a pre conservatory music education ( 6 academics, 4 music classes daily) she also goes to pre college all day on Saturdays at a internationally acclaimed conservatory. She’s an ARISTA (NHS) member. I’m hoping these things all carry weight, but I don’t know. She’s well rounded, which is what schools want. Not just an average. I hope someone will correct me if I’m off. We haven’t been able to decipher everything, that’s for sure. I’m also hoping her juniour year average might climb over the 95 mark. which she’d be thrilled with.</p>

<p>Rice behaves more like a conservatory than an elite school when it comes to admission to Shepherd. The audition is everything. Then they screen to see if you are adequate for the univerisity. If you are not accepted into Shepherd you are not accepted into Rice. DD was in the 25th percentile of her Rice class. Everyone used to joke that the music and architect students brought the universsity averages down :slight_smile: High AP scores can get you out of some distribution classes but Rice had science and math classes that were not calculus and chemistry so she was able to take her distibution classes comfortably. . </p>

<p>@Singersmom07‌. this is the information that I need. many thanks! </p>

<p>ACT/SAT carry more weight than GPA. Kid with 4.0 and a 26 ACT will get less money than a kid with a 3.5 and a 30 ACT. Focus on the ACT/SAT if you want academic scholarship. </p>

<p>Also forgot to add, I don’t know about the academic merit awards, but DD got a very nice music merit award at Rice. </p>

<p>right now I think we are hoping for music merit and FA. I know her academics will help her, but it’s going to be all about her auditions. for sure! </p>