<p>My son is currently a junior with a B to B+ average. Based on PSATs we are hoping for SATs above 1800. We are looking at Bard, Vanderbilt, Ithaca, Syracuse, Berklee, Boston Conservatory,BU, University of Connecticut, & Hartt. I have also been trying to get info on Shenandoah. I feel like we are short on safety schools, so I would appreciate any suggestions. Also, I would really like input on Bard and Vanderbilt's selection processess-I am not sure if they are too much of a reach, but the programs look fantastic.</p>
<p>I think as far as stats go, your S stands a safe bet at Syracuse, Berklee, BoCo, UConn, and U. of Hartford; a good shot at Vanderbilt, but maybe a long shot for B.U. and Ithaca, and a really long shot for Bard. At BU, Hartt, Ithaca, and Bard, he also needs to be very strong musically if he wants to do a music major, as those are conservatory level programs while high standards of admission. Standards are a little lower at Vanderbilt, Berklee and BoCo, but he still needs good experience. Syracuse and UConn seem like ample enough to be the safeties, but they’re not really recognized for their music departments.</p>
<p>Also take a look at the following schools:
SUNY Stony Brook (good music program, should be in reach)
SUNY Purchase (pretty selective musically)
Rutgers (Mason Gross school is pretty good, and he seems to fit)
Temple (very selective musically)</p>
<p>momw/3sons, welcome. </p>
<p>A bit of background reading:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/324550-composition-major.html?highlight=composition[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/324550-composition-major.html?highlight=composition</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/457134-composition-programs-boston.html?highlight=composition[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/457134-composition-programs-boston.html?highlight=composition</a></p>
<p>The posters Hunt, tntweav, SpiritManager, and stringkeymom all have students on this year’s Master List of Acceptances with comp majors; last year’s students include compclub, compmom, aLfr3dd and one or two others. </p>
<p>You may want to search for past posts, or initiate contact directly via PM. </p>
<p>Past posts by fiddlefrog, MahlerSnob, and WindCloudUltra may also prove useful.</p>
<p>There’s also the consideration of talent level beyond the academic side, and stephmin’s breakdown is pretty accurate, but I’d throw Berklee into the mix of tough audition based admits, as I would SUNY Purchase.</p>
<p>You’ll need to check admission criteria for composition as well, as many programs require a portfolio submission in addition (or in lieu of) an audition based parameter. </p>
<p>The conservatory level programs all weigh audition standing over academic criteria, but there are institutional parameters for each, and knowing the differences can help in determining a musical “safety”. Academically Bard may be a stretch, but I can’t speak to their academic vs audition parameters. N8Ma is a Bard admissions officer that posts frequently to the forum. Look at the Bard threads, and you’ll get direct info from an authoritative source.</p>
<p>Syracuse is a solid program, and is well respected for music ed. Stony Brook is a BA, not a BM at the undergrad level, and I think there is a joint five year program culminating in an MM. It is worth investigating.</p>
<p>Shenandoah is a solid, smaller program, well respected for music ed and musical theater. Academically, I think the numbers are fine. </p>
<p>Again, the <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/618208-master-list-music-school-acceptances-fall-2009-a-51.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/618208-master-list-music-school-acceptances-fall-2009-a-51.html</a> can be a good source of recent experience and first hand impressions.</p>
<p>There’s some general info and audition/visit experiences for some of the schools you mention detailed here as well <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/558178-music-school-visits.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/558178-music-school-visits.html</a></p>
<p>My school, the University of Chicago, offers a BA in music with a specialization in composition. It would not be like attending a conservatory, but it is an amazing school and we have a fantastic music department.</p>
<p>Cosmos, your school is next to impossible to get into with the stats posted by the OP : )</p>
<p>I think the stats look a little low for Vandy. (I took the 1800 SAT to mean 600 in each of three areas; the composite below drops the writing score). I don’t know how much they adjust for talent.</p>
<p>Mid 50% range SAT I Verbal: 640-730
Mid 50% range SAT I Math: 660-740
Mid 50% range SAT I Composite: 1320-1450</p>
<p>We saw Bard this week, and we were blown away. He will definately apply both to the Conservatory and the college as a music major. It was such a perfect fit for him. The info session was fabulous, the tour was informative as well, and everyone there was so helpful. He called the day before and got an appointment with someone in the music department who made time to talk with him and go though options. We were both so impressed with the spirit of creativity and collaboration there. Any advice on how to now convince them that he belongs there?</p>
<p>Does your son have scores and CD’s of music he has written?</p>
<p>Assuming your son is a junior, there is still time to find musicians to play pieces and record, if he has not done that already.</p>
<p>Any music school that your son applies to will want scores/CD’s. The conservatories may want 2-4 total. For colleges, it would be supplementary to send them, but very helpful. Also, during the audition period, conservatories hold theory exams, have interviews, or even have overnight composition exercises, for composition applicants.</p>
<p>Does he have a teacher or mentor who can advocate for him?</p>
<p>Also, I happen to know that the Walden School in Dublin NH still has openings for this summer’s program. Wonderful musicians come there to play student pieces, and every student leaves with a professional quality recording.</p>
<p>Furthermore, Joan Tower, who teaches composition at Bard, will be at Walden this year as the resident composer for their composers festival.</p>
<p>When our daughter applied to schools, Walden’s reputation was very helpful, not to mention the results in terms of music recorded.</p>
<p>For a great safety, would you be open to a school in CA? U of Redlands has a great music dept. and offers a major in composition, both undergrad and grad (one of only three masters programs the school offers). It is small and personal with small class sizes. They really look after the freshmen too, bringing them on campus a week before school starts to get them acclimated. With his stats, he could not only get in, but also qualify for some merit money: they offer it for both academics and musical talent. Check other posts on this school and you’ll see that students are very happy there.</p>
<p>I’m glad you had a good experience at Bard. We had a fantastic visit as well, which I’ll report on later in the Music Visit section. But we definitely got the same feeling of openness, collaboration and friendliness from staff, professors, and students. It seems like a really supportive environment where composers can flourish.</p>
<p>I forced my son to look into safeties for composition. He applied to the University of Montana which was very welcoming. 95% acceptance rate! Their composition department inclines more towards electronics, but seemed quite vibrant. Other safety colleges he considered that are out of the mainstream were Bowling Green State, University of Missouri, Kansas City (80 composition students in the program!), and University of Colorado, Boulder.</p>
<p>Once my son narrowed down his field of schools he started corresponding with the professors of composition. Whenever he visited a college he arranged for a meeting with the professor with whom he would be studying. This is different than a sample lesson, but similar in that they talked about the program, looked through my son’s scores, and listened to his music. This allowed him to narrow down his choices even further so that he only applied to 5 schools, all of which ended up accepting him.</p>
<p>Btw. both Kyle Gann in Bard College’s music department, and John Halle in the Conservatory teach theory and musicology - two extraordinary composers themselves. This in addition to the official composition professors - Joan Tower and George Tsontakis.</p>