<p>I'm looking for universities that would easily allow me to be a double major in music comp and chemistry. The music school needs to be top notch. I've been looking into Oberlin, Indiana University, Rice University. Any ideas?</p>
<p>I’ve heard Vanderbuilt is a good school for music/chem.</p>
<p>Required reading for any student considering a double degree is this clarifying essay from Peabody: [Double</a> Degrees | Peabody Conservatory](<a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html]Double”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html)</p>
<p>In addition to Oberlin, programs known for double degrees are Tufts/NEC, Johns Hopkins/Peabody, Eastman/Univ. of Rochester, and Lawrence University. Northwestern and Univ. of Michigan also support double degrees. At Bard College Conservatory - all students are required to pursue two degrees - a BA in the college and a BM in the conservatory. It takes five years, and there is merit and financial aid support for the entire time. Here is a page with sample curricula for different major combinations. [Bard</a> College Conservatory of Music | Undergraduate | Sample 5 year plan](<a href=“http://www.bard.edu/conservatory/undergraduate/sample_plan/]Bard”>http://www.bard.edu/conservatory/undergraduate/sample_plan/)</p>
<p>It is extremely difficult to pursue a double degree at Rice. It is actively discouraged.</p>
<p>There are many many posts on the Music Major Forum regarding double degrees, and whether that is the right path for a particular student. There are also many many posts about pursuing composition.</p>
<p>Vinylphile - if you’re not set on two degrees, but just a double major, your choices are much wider. Almost any school you’re interested in will support that - For “top notch” schools for composition & chemistry, to get started, take a look at Yale, Princeton, MIT, Columbia, Tufts, Swarthmore, Williams, Stanford, Brandeis, Wesleyan & Harvey Mudd.</p>
<p>Your motivation for such a combination of majors?</p>
<p>I am not sure what the OP’s motivation is but I will share mine if it helps someone.
Many years ago I did a double degree at Hartt School and the University of Hartford. I went there for the Hartt School and found out I liked chemistry a lot. It took 4.5 years and 3 summers and I graduated with a B. Mus and a BA in chemistry. I wanted to be the best musician I could be and knew I needed the demands of the B. Music for the performance emphasis. The chemistry was actually a break from conservatory life. So it can be done ( I was the first at Hartt/ Hartford) and I heard there was another chemistry /music double degree awarded 10 years after I graduated. Anyway, visit the schools and let them know what you what to do. Some schools will support you and others won’t. I was very fortunate to be able to do exactly what I needed to do.</p>
<p>I agree with SpiritManager on the option of a double major at a liberal arts college with a strong music program. Vassar is having its Modfest of contemporary music this week and the concert we attended last evening featured a composer that graduated from Vassar in 2012. The music is strong at Vassar and they are building a new science building which will house chemistry.</p>
<p>Williams and Wesleyan are more LACs with strong music and science. There are few distribution requirements at Vassar so it is easier to double major there than at schools with more distribution requirements. So take a look at that also.</p>
<p>I guess I should explain my situation a little more. I have two sides to my brain that always feel like they need attention. One is very logic-oriented and is satisfied by subjects like calculus and chemistry. But then the other side of me craves creativity and listening to/playing/writing music, reading books, writing poetry. this is why i want two seperate degrees so I can satisfy both sides to my brain. I have an unweighted GPA of about 3.9 and SAT score of 1700. So I really can’t get into super top notch schools like Harvard. And a seperate question: what kinds of music are conservatories interested in hearing from you? Should it be something way outside the box or pretty standard? What’s gonna really let me stand out from other applicants?</p>
<p>If you like math, that may be a major which is easier than chemistry to schedule alongside a music major (likely fewer requirements and fewer time consuming labs to squeeze around your music performances).</p>