Hi guys. I know it is probably too early to think about grad school given that I am am an incoming freshman. However, I am really worried about the fact that I will not be pursuing a dual degree next year. I chose USC Thornton for my undergraduate education because it was the most affordable option for me but the admissions office told me it’s virtually impossible to get a second non-music degree. I am pretty sure I don’t want to be a full time pro musician as I don’t want to be financially supported by my parents my whole life. But I definitely want to study music in college just for my own personal satisfaction and growth. Is it possible for me to get a degree in music and then apply to grad school for non-music majors as long as I take the right classes? Does anyone know anyone who’s done this successfully? Thanks.
Of course you can apply to grad school in a non music field. But your assumption that you can’t make a living as a musician is misplaced. http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1577495-busting-the-myth-that-fine-arts-degrees-lead-to-the-poorhouse-p1.html
You will need to meet any prerequisites so a lot will depend on the Masters degree you choose to pursue. If you have the option to pursue a BA (rather than a BFA) that would likely give you the opportunity to incorporate more traditional liberal arts coursework into your undergrad program. If necessary you could look into a post-bac to get the required courses for the masters program you choose to pursue if you don’t get them as an undergrad.
May can bring about buyers remorse and a lot of worry. Did you make the right choice in school, major, degree, classes etc? After all the stress of auditions and desicions, time slows down, a void opens up and worry about your future can finally come forward to fill that void. It may continue throughout the summer. Your feelings are very normal. However they will pass. I would suggest focusing on the following:
You got into a great school with obviously a great offer so you are talented and have potential for future success. Put yourself forward 20 years and understand the potential deep regret if you never tried. Go for your music degree full out. You are young and will have plenty of time to zig and zag throughout your 20s…but now is your time for music. Embrace it.
Once you have a bachelors degree, you can take the tests required for a masters of your choice. Many people take a year or two bx UG and grad school. So if you have addl work needed you can do it then or expect some “remedial” classes for your graduate degree.
Once you enter college and survive Freshman year, you will see how older students handle grad school or becoming a performer. Many students return to tell stories of how they made it in the business. Some students will pick a different direction. By the time you are a senior you will have most likely picked your next step based on conversations with your teachers and peers. Peers are great support!!
My D has been out of school for a year. She has supported herself with a variety of performance opportunities and a survival job on a limited basis. She is quite happy. She is booked for the rest of the year and starting to work on 2019. She doesn’t make a ton of money but enough to support herself…and continues to find ways to make money.
My D knew virtually nothing about how she would support herself as she entered college. But a bachelors degree can open many doors. My D learned during college from upper class men and grad students how many paths there were and how to move forward. So relax, enjoy your success and have faith that college will do for you what it does for thousands of kids annually - provides the foundation for you to support yourself. I hope this helps!
Edit: my D was offered an entrance (without tests) to her university’s law school due to her GPA. She would have to interview but the letter said that she could skip any tests. Note this was when law schools were hurting a bit…but she could have gone to law school with her bachelors in music. She had NO interest. But I was quite impressed by it…lol.
You certainly can. I know a music major who’s doing premed. You just have to make sure you have some of the classes that are in the subject area you wish to study.
OF course… Try to enjoy studying music as an undergrad and let life happen 
@piranhavator My D received her BM degree in Vocal Performance at NYU six years ago. She had a MT concentration and decided not to audition after she graduated. Instead, she got involved in the business side of entertainment with jobs in casting, development, management and marketing.
About 2 years ago, she decided to return to school for a full time MBA. She spoke to many people about her odds of getting into a top tier program and was advised to sign up for a class in accounting and statistics to show that she had some background in quantitative classes. She then studied for her GMAT. A LOT!
She was accepted into NYU for their full-time MBA program and received a major scholarship. She just completed her first year and is currently in Cannes with classmates as part of an entertainment business class.
Good luck to you on your acceptance!
My daughter graduated from Juilliard a few years ago. Most of her friends are making a living as full-time musicians. A few have gone onto med, law, or business school and some have gone directly to jobs in business. Some are pursuing music careers in Europe but most are in the US. I don’t know of any who are still being supported by their parents except for the ultra-rich kids who live in penthouses, etc.
My son graduated from NEC two years ago. He went on to get a Master’s at Berklee (which was free) and is now working as a musician and teaching in NYC. So it is possible to support yourself as a musician and not be a super-star famous musician. And just keep in mind that his two siblings who are in careers that one might think of as more practical need financial support have also needed our financial support after getting their bachelors. It is not as easy to become financially independent these days as it used to be.
My son talks about going to graduate school in philosophy or education. He has a friend who went on from NEC to get a Master’s from Harvard in Education. There are many paths. I think the best thing you can do is take this one step at a time. Four years is not very long but at the same time it is a long time from now and a lot can happen.
PM ed you
@piranhavator, seriously, you worry too much. You just got into one of the best music programs at one of the best universities in the world, with a full scholarship. Just let that sink in. Appreciate it. Enjoy it. Play music for four years. And then figure out what you want to do. Yes, I know music majors in law, business, medicine, computer science and any number of other pursuits. And in music. As others have pointed out, you can make a living in music. Add my son to the list in this thread who are doing it. Try to chill a little and enjoy your college years. You’re smart and you’re talented. Life will work itself out.
“Once you have a bachelors degree, you can take the tests required for a masters of your choice.” This is incorrect. This is a good thing to consider now because you can avoid problems later with good planning. You mention your choice of music was for “personal satisfaction and growth” and that you don’t want to make a career of it. Those are important statements and should drive decision making about your course selection. The idea that “life will work itself out” might be true if you are fine with any outcome. But “life” rarely works out that way by happenstance. Good planning increases the likelihood of a good outcome. I assume you asked the question because you’re unwilling to rely on good luck. That’s good! Many graduate programs require that certain pre-reqs have been met. Consider what you might want your career to look like. Look at the admissions requirements to programs that would lead you to that outcome. Take those courses as electives while majoring in music even if it means taking them as overloads or during the summer or “vacation” sessions. Doing so may also equip you with a background that would set you apart from other music majors too-also not a bad idea.
I know several people who majored in music as an undergrad and then went to grad school for something else (including professional schools). And vice versa.
The original post was awhile ago but for others reading this, there is no hurry or reason for anxiety before even attending.
I also know many who are doing grad work, including doctorates, in music who have wonderful professional opportunities besides performing- or in addition to.
Planning doesn’t have to involve anxiety, and it is good to try to enjoy the present without undue focus on the future, even for a little while.