<p>Hi,</p>
<p>My S wants to study double major at top university and then major music at graduate school.
He definately wants to be a musician even though good at academic, too.
I am wondering if there is any music merit scholarship at Ivies.
I heard their scholarship is mostly need-based.
Even though we are not rich, I think we can not receive a need based scholarship considering his brother's case.</p>
<p>Also, I heard top music university just like Northwestern, Rice, etc.. provide music merit scholar ship. But how many they provide full scholarship? 1 or 2 students per one year per one music dept.? or per one major? Is full scholarship very rare?</p>
<p>I do not want to discourage my S who excel both fields after he accepted to Ivies if he can receive full scholarship at other top music universities. In such weakening economy, it is very hard to support music kid. Thank!</p>
<p>No, Ivy League colleges do not give merit scholarships. However, musical talent can certainly help with the application. Financial aid at Ivies may surprise you. Families with incomes up to $180,000 receive aid at Harvard, for instance.</p>
<p>There is a double degree program at Harvard with New England Conservatory. a BA/MM, that costs an additional $6,000. Tufts has a double degree with NEC for a BA/BM. Oberlin and Bard have double degree programs as well, with good financial aid (and excellent conservatories with excellent academics available as well).</p>
<p>Others will have other suggestions…</p>
<p>Thanks, Compmom,</p>
<p>Does harvard family received that aid with music talent? Does it full scholarship except joint program fee?</p>
<p>Here is the information on the Harvard site, about financial aid.</p>
<p>[Harvard</a> College Admissions § Financial Aid: Harvard Financial Aid Initiative](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/financial_aid/hfai/index.html]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/financial_aid/hfai/index.html)</p>
<p>The limit is now $150,000 for family income, and it is assessed at 10%. Assets are also assessed, but I don’t know the formula. Students are assessed at 5%, I believe, as opposed to 10% for parents.</p>
<p>Musical talent has nothing to do with scholarships. Scholarships are only need-based. However, musical talent can often help a student get in to Harvard.</p>
<p>Oooooh Northwestern…the day after auditions at the info/Q&A session they told everyone that the music scholarships never exceeded more than 1 or 2K (total COA was $60K). The parents were outraged because almost all of us had been told otherwise by the admission office. There is obviously some miscommunication or false advertising in the NW admissions but let’s get it straight: music merit is practically non-existent for undergrads at NW.</p>
<p>You should also be aware that the Harvard/NEC joint program is extremely selective, accepting very few applicants each year. Usually only a few students per year, if even that many. Even those who are accepted separately by both schools are not guaranteed admission to the program. The NEC/Tufts program accepts somewhat more applicants if you are willing to consider non-Ivy League schools, and Tufts might offer some talent-based or academic merit-based aid. </p>
<p>Note that it would also be possible to study privately with a number of excellent teachers in the Boston/Cambridge area while attending Harvard. A Harvard student might also be able to work out a program through Longy School of Music (right in Harvard Square) to prepare for an application to a graduate school of music. These options are likely to be expensive, though.</p>
<p>Among the Ivies, Yale University has a particularly strong music program. Do not confuse it with the Yale School of Music, which is primarily for graduate students, although it may be possible for a very advanced undergrad to get applied lessons from one of the Yale SOM faculty. As at Harvard, financial aid at Yale is only awarded on the basis of need.</p>
<p>I’ve posted this before, but my son was actually offered a Music merit scholarship at Northwestern that exceeded what is mentioned in post #5. He also was offered academic merit money as a National Merit Finalist. And he was offered a no-loan financial aid grant, separately. (Of course, this was three years ago now - maybe things have changed…) However, I would not skip applying to Northwestern because of financial concerns.</p>
<p>Same caveat as always - for merit money, the applicant needs to be at the top of the applicant pool.</p>
<p>Wow, surprised, Spiritmanger,</p>
<p>Also, I heard there are at least one music student with full scholarship at Northwestern.
I am not sure if he receive that scholarship from school directly or from professor.</p>
<p>Meekchun - it is not difficult to get a full scholarship at Northwestern IF one has substantial financial need - just as at any of the top private colleges - these would be need-based scholarships, not merit. It is important to differentiate between need-based and merit-based aid. My son received both. And it is always possible that the merit-based scholarship aid offered will be more generous if the student is known to also have financial need.</p>
<p>Everything depends your child’s particular focus in music: which instrument? voice? Classical? Jazz ? New Music ? Princeton has a very active music scene, including music major and certificate in music performance. Lessons are subsidized for majors/ certificate. All financial aid is based on need, but there are NO LOANS - it’s all grants & some job/summer work contribution requirements. There is a relatively new double degree (AB/MM) with Royal School of Music in London. So, it pays to do your homework: as a harp mom we have worked hard to learn the details related to my daughter’s instrument, and my D’s early application choice is coming down to Harvard/ NEC (for which by the way, the student has until junior year to apply to NEC, doesn’t need to be done this fall), or Princeton with the certificate and possibly the RSM option (again, a music opportunity with a later application: sophomore spring. Good Luck and have fun.</p>
<p>Thanks for many advices. With regard to Princeton program, what is the difference of performance certificate? I heard there is no student for RCM program yet. right? Does it too difficult? If there is no proper teacher for lesson, are they support lesson fee?
Thanks again!</p>