<p>Hi everyone! Like so many here, we are trying to decide which undergrad program is best for our son. Although we have not heard from all the schools, we think we have some good choices. </p>
<p>At this point my son's plans are to attend grad school after he completes his undergrad - of course we know that can change in 4 years but this is the plan for now. My husband and I are very supportive of his music and his education, but frankly cannot afford 6 years of schooling at a conservatory - or the likes. </p>
<p>So here's my question: Is the "prestige" of his undergrad program going to set him up better for what he ultimately wants to do in his future? Money is not the only consideration, but of course it is an important consideration. I am trying to figure out the best way to help him achieve his goal.</p>
<p>There are many ways to achieve your goal. In general, it depends on what the goal is and your son’s situation.</p>
<p>For example, if he is music ed, the best option is usually a state school. If he is performance, other things come into play like networking with other musicians, performance opportunities, and the track record of the program/studio teacher to get students accepted to grad programs.</p>
<p>You also need to factor in scholarships based on talent level, gpa, lor, etc. Cultivate these in preparation for grad school. Don’t assume conservatories are more expensive even for undergrad.</p>
<p>Lastly, if your son is specific about his goal you can research successful individuals who have already achieved that goal. See what path they took and even ask what advice they have given hindsight.</p>
<p>One of the reasons D3 selected a school that was not her top choice in terms of prestige was because they offered her a significant scholarship. (Teacher preference also played a role, and it turns out her instincts were right on target there - it’s been a great match!) The money we will save during her undergrad years will allow us to fund her master’s program, which we wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise. She’ll have the luxury of graduating debt-free, which will make it more possible for her to pursue her dreams without having to serve coffee on the side. Hoping time will validate our assumptions…congrats on having the luxury of making choices!</p>
<p>MY son plans on obtaining his Ph.D. in composition. In the best of all world’s this will be done through programs that offer fellowships and stipends. So the ability of his undergrad program to place him in such programs, assuming he makes top grades and has an outstanding portfolio, is a factor in choosing his undergrad school.</p>
<p>So, instead of thinking of “prestige”, maybe it’s better to think about which school will provide the optimum experience, education, studio, peer group, etc. It’s possible that a less prestigious, more affordable school will put your musician in a very good position for grad school. I believe in the end, entrance to grad school will once again come down mostly to the audition. Maybe someone from CC who has gone the grad school route can chime in on this.</p>
<p>For grad school admissions in music performance, good schools are looking for a polished audition. Potential may come into play as an undergrad, but by the time he’s ready for an MM, he needs to be just that, READY. How best to get that place depends on any number of factors and differs according to the student and instrument.</p>
<p>These are all great answers and just the kind of input I was hoping for. My son will major in composition as an undergrad. He is thinking about composition as a grad degree (too much of the same thing?) but if not composition, maybe theory or conducting. We realize that at the undergrad level composition is very competitive at some of the “better” schools which is stressful in and of itself. </p>
<p>I am really hoping that getting into grad school (and getting scholarships) would be based on what you learned and what your ability as opposed to where you got your undergrad degree and therefore who can write you a better reference. But there is no doubt that who you know is important in life. Just trying to make it all work…</p>
<p>“there is no doubt that who you know is important in life”</p>
<p>You will be surprised how many people your son will get to know if he is talented and diligent. In the world of music JUST “knowing” someone is highly overrated.</p>
<p>For a music performance major, the “prestige” of the undergrad school will have little or nothing to do with admission/scholarship chances at the grad level. As others have mentioned, for performance, the audition is critical.</p>
<p>For a composition major, one’s compositional abilities will be critical, but I think that the undergrad school’s rep might be a small factor, as well. Because composition admissions at the grad level usually involves a fairly intense interview (during which undergrad school is almost certain to be at least mentioned in passing), the decision-makers will at least be aware of the undergrad school which can influence their decision if only on a subconscious level (whereas, with performance, the auditioning panel will often not be aware of the audtioner’s undergrad school). </p>
<p>Because composition is much more of an intellectual endeavour than performance (please note, I’m not saying that performance is not an intellectual endeavour, just that composition is even more so), I think that going to a school with strong music academics is even more advantageous for the composer than for the performer–the composer must have a solid and thorough background in music theory, structure, analysis etc… Some academically weaker schools just won’t provide this and will thus make it more difficult for their best composition students to gain entrance at top grad schools.</p>
<p>After gaining acceptance, I would ask each prospective department where their top graduates have gone for grad school. If the school has a good track record, then I wouldn’t worry about its “prestige” (and in an ideal world, its “prestige” would be based on the track record of its grads).</p>
<p>I think this is a really complicated question when it comes to composition. There are many factors involved, not least the insular nature of the academic composition community. I do think it can make a difference to where he will ultimately be accepted - it will also make a difference to where he’s encouraged or wants to apply.</p>
<p>Networking and letters of reference will count for composition. As will resume and, most importantly, the portfolio. But if your composition professor writing the letter of recommendation is the mortal enemy of the chair of the department you’re applying to - it’s probably a problem!</p>
<p>On the other hand, if they’ve never heard of your school program and don’t know your professor - then you’ll be on your own - for good or ill.</p>
<p>One factor that no one has yet mentioned here is whether he wants to potentially go on to grad school at the same place where he did his undergrad. Given what I’ve read so far, I think it’s a safe assumption that getting into the same place twice is not necessarily as hard as getting into another school for grad school. Also, I don’t know how much this applies to music, but I have heard that once you deny a school for your undergrad it can be hard to gain admission there again for a graduate program, so I think another thing to think about is where he wants to go now and where he wants to go for grad school.</p>
<p>I realize that, but given the nature of the comments above about how insular the academic composition realm is and how certain professors may not be pleased with other certain professors’ letters of recommendation, I think it’s probably true in this field.</p>
<p>Stradmom is right. In many fields it is much harder to get into a grad school in the same institution where you did your undergrad. The reason is that the schools want to avoid homogeniety. I do not believe this to be the case in the music world (correct me if I’m wrong.) On the other hand, gaining new perspectives can be healthy and enriching. I have noticed kids go to the same conservatory from Pre-College through grad school and I wonder if they don’t get a little stir-crazy, being in the same environment for so long.</p>
<p>We know some accomplished composers who went to little known schools for undergrad and then prestigious grad schools/conservatories, presumably based on their work/portfolio. One of them went on to win the Rome Prize within a few years of graduation from the no-name school.</p>
<p>Things may have changed of course. The composition world is pretty competitive these days.</p>
<p>I agree with VMT that the best thing to do is to go to the school that will be the most fulfilling for the next 4 years, with the best teacher that is the best fit, and where there is both rigor and freedom to explore one’s compositional “voice.”</p>
<p>The rest will follow.</p>
<p>There are also summer programs where connections can be made, though some undergrads find that they want to wait on that for a few years.</p>