<p>We are deep into the process of preparing college applications and scheduling auditions for my daughter. Just wondering if colleges send likely letters after auditions for music performance students that they really want. It would certainly ease the tension of waiting for late March if you knew earlier about some of the schools you auditioned for. Another question would be do they notify you earlier if you are being considered for any type of scholarship?
Thanks for your input.</p>
<p>Of the three schools that accepted my daughter (Oberlin, Peabody, NEC), none sent a likely letter. In fact, they all took a few days longer to respond than advertised. Her last notification, a rejection, arrived on April 1 in email and a day or two later in US Mail.</p>
<p>In all cases, the scholarship information arrived with the acceptances. If scholarship winners were notified earlier than others, it could not have been by more than a day or two, otherwise the non-scholarship notifications would have been really late.</p>
<p>Hang in there. March goes very slowly, but time speeds up rapidly after that.</p>
<p>We were told numerous times that no decision would be made at the time of auditions and acceptance decisions would not be available until the official April time frame. In spite of all the denials, my D was all but told about 3 acceptances. One of her rejections also seemed evident, but she was actually waitlisted and then rejected. All of the scholarship offers came with the official notification - or later.</p>
<p>I've never heard of this being done for conservatory-type programs.</p>
<p>My D applied to music programs within colleges and universities, and received various communications that made it seem "likely" that she would be admitted. For instance, after her trial lesson at Miami U, she received a letter from the teacher inviting her to schedule her audition the same weekend that the chamber music program was performing - so that she could perform WITH the chamber music ensemble, and get a feel for the program. He even sent the music. We took this as an active recruitment sign. (She couldn't go that weekend, though.) And after the audition, the teacher made it clear he wanted her.</p>
<p>After her Furman audition, the teacher came out and said, "This is where she needs to be." Not a letter, but certainly indicative of acceptance.</p>
<p>The Miami teacher indicated after the audition that she would be getting a scholarship, but didn't know how much at that point. The other scholarships came with acceptance, except for St. Olaf's, which came later.</p>
<p>My S applied only to conservatories. CCM was his earliest audition (via tape), and his earliest acceptance. The active recruitment came AFTER the acceptance. We did not hear from any schools prior to acceptance.</p>
<p>His Juilliard and CIM scholarships came with the acceptance. CCM's scholarships came at different points. Merit scholarship came with acceptance. Music scholarship came later.</p>
<p>D got a likely letter (actually an email) from Oberlin, but it was about a week or two before the acceptances arrived. I think she also got an email from Rice about a week before the acceptance arrived.</p>
<p>Once in a while the studio teacher will give you a heads up, depending on how badly they want you to go there.</p>
<p>I've never heard of any music student getting a "likely" letter. However, D had a pretty good idea of the likelihood of admission after her auditions, based on the teachers' statements and reactions. There were few surprises on April 1. Also, the final merit awards at 2 schools didn't arrive until closer to May 1. D applied primarily to conservatories.</p>
<p>I can't say whether this is the norm or not, but my son got repeated calls from each of the studio teachers from two of the schools to which he applied (from the point of application and prior to his audition).</p>
<p>One called twice, one three times, and I recall the conversations as being at least twenty to thirty minutes in length, if not longer.</p>
<p>He did not have any contact after the audition unti he got the actual acceptance letters.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your replys. From what I have read it looks like there can be some situations where an indication is given for acceptance. Oh well, I guess its a wait and see. Thanks again.</p>
<p>DS, like Violadad's son, also received many contacts from studio teachers AFTER his acceptances. He didn't hear a peep prior to that, however. He did early auditions to two schools and received acceptances prior to December 10 (with scholarship money as well). These schools did a LOT of further recruiting (and upping scholarship dollars as well) after acceptance. In all other cases, he didn't hear a thing until April. Most of the schools had multiple audition dates and made NO decisions until all the auditions had been heard. In fact, in one case, we know that DS was the very last person to audition at one conservatory. In these cases, the audition committees need to hear ALL of those who audition. Simply put...there might only be one opening and the very last person could knock their socks off.</p>
<p>Like thumper's son, mine also got the follow-up calls AFTER acceptance. What I found strange was the PRE-audition contact. This was not the norm for a few of his friends and peers, who also applied to conservatory level programs.</p>
<p>I think it will depend very much on how competitive the school is (especially how many spots are available). We received no indication at all in advance from the 5 very selective schools where she auditioned. However, a very well respected local teacher guaranteed that he would accept her into his studio at a state school nearby if she wanted to attend. On the other hand, BEWARE teachers that tell you during a trial lesson prior to auditions "this is where X needs to be" or "X is just the kind of student we are looking for. This also happened to our daughter, and the same teacher had no memory of ever meeting her once the acutal audition happened (and in the end waitlisted her.)</p>
<p>From my D's experience, I would have to agree that I saw no such thing as a likely letter in music. I do know that if you have an amazing audition, you may be verbally offered a spot in someone's studio, as soon as within the hour. My D's friend was offered Curtis within an hour of her audition, and my D was called within 2 hours of an audition to ask her to join the conservatory teachers at lunch to discuss possible studios (but she was already on a train headed home.) The official offer from that school came in a letter with everyone else, and it took another month to get the scholarship offer from that school.</p>
<p>Her current teacher (at a school different than the one above) called post-audition to ask if she were to get an offer, would she be interested. I think his constant attention and encouragement of her in her decision-making process, no matter what the decision might end up being-was part of the reason that she eventaully ended up there. I've heard others say this on CC, all things being equal (and that's hard to come by) it's better to be in a studio where you are wanted, than in a studio where they would just as soon have someone else as you.</p>
<p>I know that this is an uncommon experience- her teacher is a particularly nice and supportive person in addition to being a talented mentor, but I'm sure it must happen elsewhere.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>I know that this is an uncommon experience- her teacher is a particularly nice and supportive person in addition to being a talented mentor, but I'm sure it must happen elsewhere.>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>Actually DS's undergrad teacher was very nice and supportive to his studio. AND DS's grad school teacher is also very nice and supportive. Both run very collegial studios. AND DD's teacher (she is not a music major) is also extremely nice and supportive. In all cases they are extraordinarily talented and well regarded on their instruments.</p>
<p>Oh good. I was feeling like a poor schlub because my kid hasn't gotten any likely letters yet (nor has he auditioned). He did have one professor tell him on the phone that he'd accept him sight unseen (or unheard) due to his enthusiasm, but I don't think we'll be able to hold him to that...;)</p>
<p>For singers and voice students, it is important that your teacher is enthusiastic about your voice and potential, and there needs to be a good personality fit. It is such a personal relationship and communication, and if it is awkward, vocal progress will be limited. Personally I prefer to teach those whose talent matches their goals, and when I sense a delusional attitude, I am ethically uncomfortable with participating in the process. This is another reason why a trial lesson is a good idea, and maybe a second meeting after the acceptance will help clarify mutual goals. </p>
<p>Just because a teacher is enthusiastic about a talent does not mean that the school itself will admit the applicant. That depends on the school's academic standards, how many applied teachers there are in the area, what the school and/or department's needs are, and how competitive the applying class is that particular year. For instance there may be ten glorious sopranos applying and two pretty good tenors, and there are five slots. The tenors will be admitted, because the choir and opera programs need tenors to function.</p>