<p>divamommy, one thing I'd recommend for Mason Gross is to schedule her audition asap because they admit on a rolling basis and if you wait til the latest dates, you'll be at a distinct disadvantage. I'm curious, but is there some reason you didn't consider Steinhardt? It has one of the best reputations for classical vocal performance. Many of the majors there study with members of the Met and NYC opera companies.</p>
<p>Thanks for the note. My d already has her audition scheduled for the first date at Mason Gross. I am Rutgers alumni myself (although NOT music for sure) and have my fingers crossed here. The $$$ is right and it is close to home.</p>
<p>We didn't go for NYU because we were concerned that her grades were just under a 3.0 and her SATs at 1150. We were afraid that she might not academically accepted.</p>
<p>She already had her first audition at Kean, which is her safe school and the closest to home. All 3 members of the jury marked her down for a scholarship. It was a good first experience.</p>
<p>Hi. I was wondering if DivaMommy had thought about Michigan or Indiana. I've heard good things about both programs, but not from anyone directly involved at the schools. Does anyone on this thread have direct info? Thanks.</p>
<p>Forgot to add, with respect to SAT's for kids being accepted into programs requiring audition, when we went to a college arts fair in the fall, reps seemed pretty forthright in saying that SAT's are much less a consideration than for general admission. The SAT numbers they quoted were considerably lower (as in 150 points lower) than what we had thought the minimum scores were for the schools in question.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion for my daughter to try either Michigan or Indiana. We live in NJ and my d wanted to stay close to home. NYC is just a trip across the river so that makes either Juilliard or Manhattan School of Music good choices.</p>
<p>As far as the SAT scores, Juilliard was unique in that they did not even want them! I do feel that the other schools will want her to have academic clearance before she is accepted based on her talent however.</p>
<p>Anyone know the difference in statistics concerning voice major applications v. musical theatre? I'm curious.</p>
<p>Definitely lower SAT scores are needed for audition-based admissions. My D did happen to have good scores, APs etc., which is why she chose a university setting over a conservatory. I will caution strongly- the kids with weaker academics who are music majors at Rice do struggle in the required distribution classes. Rice still requires a pretty strong SAT for music majors for this reason. Same with Oberlin. Julliard, Curtis, Peabody don't care at all about SATs. Remember- a lot of these kids change their mind about music. Once they get into the program and discover how hard things like music theory and aural skills can be and that it is about a lot more than just singing or playing your instrument, the future looks a little different. Even my D is wondering what the real future is for an opera singer and she is looking into things like music historian, ministry etc. K.</p>
<p>Hi Karen:</p>
<p>My daughter also is a realist about the future of being an opera singer. Her goal is to complete an undergraduate degree in something she loves and then consider taking the LSATs and going to law school. Her freshman and sophmore grades brought down her current GPA, which would be much closer to a 3.5 or a better if we went from Junior year forward. My daughter works for an attorney and already loves the law, so the idea of performance in the courtroom also appeals to her!</p>
<p>Definitely lower SAT scores are needed for audition-based admissions. My D did happen to have good scores, APs etc., which is why she chose a university setting over a conservatory. I will caution strongly- the kids with weaker academics who are music majors at Rice do struggle in the required distribution classes. Rice still requires a pretty strong SAT for music majors for this reason. Same with Oberlin. Julliard, Curtis, Peabody don't care at all about SATs. Remember- a lot of these kids change their mind about music. Once they get into the program and discover how hard things like music theory and aural skills can be and that it is about a lot more than just singing or playing your instrument, the future looks a little different. Even my D is wondering what the real future is for an opera singer and she is looking into things like music historian, ministry etc. K.</p>
<p>Musician's test scores and academic records are more important at public universities than conservatories, which mainly need to know the auditionee can pass general ed requirements. The audition AND the rarity of the instrument/voice are the crucial elements, and being a male singer is a major plus. Neither Indiana nor Michigan have conservatory curriculum (very little academic study outside of music-average one course a term) in music programs, but the music standards are still high. Michigan, particulary, is a rough admit academically, and it is quite expensive - as much as major conservatories. On the other hand, it is a good size and balance of levels of accomplishment. The music faculty is excellent at both schools, but Indiana has more faculty hired on performance credentials. </p>
<p>DivaMom: your daughter just needs to read the clues as she progresses through her studies. If she is winning contests (NATS)(summer program auditions), getting roles, consistently getting better (expanding range, gaining dynamic and breath control, increasing flexibility, etc.), she is on track. Be realistic when you consider your daughter's "package". Does her size match her voice type? Does she move well? Is she instinctively dramatically expressive? Is she naturally musical? It is a media driven world, even in opera. My daughter sings in Germany, and even she is still amazed at some of the major vocal talents she hears turned away from her House, because of their appearance. Unless a female has an impressive dramatic voice, weight problems will be a major obstacle. As a female singer, she is much less likely to be offered money for graduate study, many schools spend the money they have on males (Title 9 issue????) because all of those male composers wrote operas with far more male parts. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>