<p>I'm applying to Northwestern School of Music (App is due today, 1/1/08), and its Music Education essay is kind of elusive. They said to submit it to the school of music, but they didn't give me a deadline. Can I assume that the deadline is also January 1? The thing is there's no spot on the common app or the Northwestern Supplement to put this essay (Besides, I already sent out the commonapp to Yale, which means I can't just plop another essay onto the Optional additional info box.) And it's going to be impossible to get a postmark date by today, since the post office is closed.
Call me an idiot, but am I doomed to apply to general music Major/undecided? Or Maybe I could apply on voice and switch majors later? (if accepted)</p>
<p>I'm not at all familiar with the Common App, perhaps others here are. Music Ed/Vocal Performance will require an audition, audition may not be scheduled until all materials are in. </p>
<p>Are you sure the info isn't detailed on Northwestern's (School of Music) app pages? There is often a specific supplemental app and or essay form for music admissions... perhaps you've missed it.</p>
<p>A suggestion would be to prepare your supplemental essay, submit it via email with your identifying info to Northwestern's Music School directly, and follow up immediately with phone calls to the school tomorrow to explain exactly what you've done and why. At least it's in, and they can then explain
what you need to do to follow up.</p>
<p>Realize that if this dilemma is a result of procrastination, this can kill you in a highly competitive audition based program, or any program for that matter. </p>
<p>I looked through their web pages and I can see your problem. It really isn't clear. It does say to send it to the school of music, not the admissions department, so you wouldn't want it on the Common Ap anyway.</p>
<p>Since it appears to be consdered part of the application, I do think that Jan 1 would have been the safest route. However, since that is too late, I think you should plan on getting it out ASAP, and then perhaps call or email the music dept (not admissions), and let them know that you were confused or initially missed that additional requirement - or whatever is the truth. Just be honest; they are experienced in spotting bull. Since it has to go to a different department, there may be some leniency.</p>
<p>Supplemental material for academic studies applicants due by November 15 (early admissions) February 15(regular admissiona) ...> </p>
<p>Now the trick is to define if the essay for music ed majors falls into the "Supplemental material for academic studies applicants" category. My take is that it does.</p>
<p>Email or phone music school directly and speak with a music admissions person, not a phone clerk and get a definitive answer. </p>
<p>I suggest you go back and reread the timeline and criteria regarding audition scheduling. You do not want to be in the same boat for missing an audition reservation deadline. This IS a program that where acceptance is auditioned based.</p>
<p>BTW are you aware that the undergrad programs at Yale are general music, and focus on the academics of theory and composition, not music education or undergrad performance?</p>
<p>Wow, this is a lot of help, thanks!
I'll definately look into this.
And albeit Yale's focuses are different, I think what really matters is where I go for my master's degree. thanks for the heads up, though
Now I gotta call the NU admissions office :)</p>
<p>I saw that "supplemental material" note, too. I wasn't sure if it meant non-performance programs, such as music ed, or if it was referring to supplemental CDs and such sent by non-music majors hoping to be participants in the music program.</p>
<p>As far as music education goes, your comment about masters programs may or may not be true. It depends upon what you want to do with your degree. If you want to teach at a public school level, it often comes down to being qualified within the state you want to teach in. So, if you want to be a HS band teacher in Georgia, for example, a degree from UGA is going to help you a whole lot more than one from Yale.</p>
<p>If you are hoping to teach at college level, then you will probably need the PhD program, but a big name school might help you there.</p>
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<p>Yale's focuses are different, I think what really matters is where I go for my master's degree.>></p>
</blockquote>
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<p>If you want to be a music teacher, I'm not sure the above comment really is all that relevant. Yale has a fine general music program. BUT if you want to be a music teacher in a school, there are a ton of music programs that are undergrad programs that can better meet your needs.</p>
<p>you have a point. That's why i'm focusing more on Northwestern.. although I haven't been able to get more than two paragraphs in my "Why NU" essay. But I do know where I'm going with it</p>
<p>Matthew....do you want to be a school music teacher? If so, are you looking at other schools that have music education departments? Here is my "free advice" (which you didn't ask for). You can get a degree in music education at one of your state universities, and then get certification as a music teacher. Then...you could get a job as a music teacher. Assuming you love teaching music, you could then pursue a master's degree...something most school teachers do. You may even find that your school district will pay a portion of the costs for your masters courses. The College of New Jersey has a fine music education program.</p>
<p>Thanks very much for the advice, I did consider that at one point. TCNJ is nice, but sometimes I feel as if It's a bit too suburban and Jersian for me. As of now, Rutgers is my safety, but I'm giving that second thoughts since the director of choral activities there isn't my favorite guy. I am applying to Westminster Choir college.. Maybe I'll apply to TCNJ some time soon, if it's not too late (I went to gov school there, and I want to experience a new campus. That sorta thing kept me from applying.)</p>
<p>thumper's right. For a music ed degree, quite often the most cost effective means is your own state system. There are reasons to obtain a music ed BM (or BA/BS) from a private institution and these may include pursuit of a dual degree specialty program, high level performance instruction from a noted pedagog, specialty performance concentrations, and offsetting merit/talent aid often more readily available from privates.</p>
<p>In the long run though, if the teaching certification is your initial goal, your state system tends to be your best bet.</p>
<p>Use the "search this forum" feature and look for music ed. There have been a number of similar discussions.</p>
<p>I don't understand what you mean by instate benefits as Westminster is a private, not public institution. Are you talking about NJ state sponsored scholarships that allow you to use them at any geographic instate institution?</p>
<p>Westminster is well respected for their vocal and choir programs, and I'm sure their music ed program meets the same high standards. It seems that if your stats are good enough to apply to Yale, I'd wager you may be eligible for some merit based scholarships, and possibly some talent based awards as well from Westminster. </p>
<p>Cut offs and parameters for these should be found somewhere on their site.</p>
<p>I actually am depending on my audition to get me in to a lot of places- but this comes as a disadvantage to me for institutions like yale (since they don't have auditions but welcome supplements.) </p>
<p>I guess I didn't really think about how to fund westminster choir college.. But thanks for letting me know. I'm going to try to audition for some of their merit-based scholarships (they have a ton!)</p>
<p>Rider/WCC is private - but perhaps there are benefits offered to New Jersey students that out of state applicants wouldn't know. Do you have your audition scheduled there yet? </p>
<p>BTW - the website has been changed now to reflect the change to Westminster College of the Arts. WCC is a part of that as is the School of Fine and Performing Arts. The MT program is part of the School of Fine and Performing Arts and will be on the Lawrenceville campus, rather than Princeton.</p>