Short answer to your recent question is every school is different and requirements change year to year so read the website for each. Yes, some schools do require you to fill out separate applications for the dept/schools in addition to the university applications. But it is typically while you are requesting an audition or submitting a pre-screen.
The schools that allow you to audition before applying are the ones who typically allow walk in auditions. I know Otterbein has let you pre-screen without an application and give an answer/result and Utah will give you an answer to your actual audition without an application (still have to apply before officially accepting you), but most schools that allow walk ins still make you apply before you get an answer. And, majority of schools require applying before auditions.
Definitely do the common app for those schools that allow it. Do a search on the website to find those that interest you that do.
After you complete FAFSA with first ten schools, you get a confirmation of completion, and if I remember correctly, another email confirmation in about a week that states your submission/data has been sent to the schools. Then, you go back in and modify the record to delete and add more. I never had a problem with anyone not getting it, but you can call financial aid of each school to confirm.
Essays: be prepared to do additional essays/supplemental questions for all of the schools for the department or program. I think my daughter wrote close to 25 of these, but some were only 500 words. Yes, you can copy/paste a lot for each one, but every question and word limit was a little different. Save them all in Word, so you can re-use and edit. You can use them for scholarship applications in the Spring too! That is another January-March process! Not just Community scholarships, but search school websites for scholarships that are not automatic merit aid. Often the deadline for these is before you even get a decision.
Financial aid-Since it sounds like money is a concern, here are some more tips to consider:
Some schools publish automatic merit aid charts right on their website based on unweighted gpa and test scores: I know OCU and BW are just two examples. Many schools also offer additional talent scholarships that they award to you with your acceptance or soon after.
Of my daughter’s 9 acceptances, every one of them offered significant merit and/or talent aid. But, we also didn’t apply to schools that we had heard were not as generous and were expensive to begin with. Hint: if the school also requests a CSS profile, they typically are expensive schools but have endowment money and can offer additional aid at their discretion. My daughter ended up at TCU and we almost didn’t apply because of the sticker price of $60k. She got significant talent, merit and financial aid, becoming one of our best financial options. She then got more help after a serious post-acceptance school visit when she decided it was one of her top choices, meeting our EFC. She also got additional aid offers from other schools after a post-acceptance visit too. While I know this is not always the case for other expensive schools (Pace, NYU, CMU and BoCo tend to be expensive even after aid), I am telling you all of this because it’s important not to rule out a school strictly based on sticker price if it looks like a good fit for your son, unless you have to cut some applications based on expense/travel and you know for sure they won’t meet your budget.
@loribelle
Thank you, I have not wanted to rule out any school based on financial considerations before we see the financial aid packages possible. I am glad to know which might be more possible than others so we can be prepared somewhat.
I am visiting websites and working on getting a spreaadsheet going.
Not sure what a CSS profile is or which school is TCU…congrats on your daughters 9 acceptances, good job to you both!
CSS is an in depth financial aid application, kind of like a FAFSA, but a lot more work. You only fill it out the first year, though, where FAFSA you must complete every year. There’s a website for it and it lists the schools that require it…fill it out asap if a school does. They tend to be more expensive schools. I think it is $14 per school and I think it’s through the College Board (SAT people), but it’s an easy google “CSS PROFILE SCHOOLS” or something like that. It’s one form that you can send to multiple schools if requested.
Just piping in to say how great it is to see folks rallying around you @21stParent! So many great suggestions, and it sounds as though you’re well on your way. Also, I know what it is to have to watch your budget - we’re very much in the same boat. If you are up for a small investment up front, though, I might suggest just a quick consultation with a coach. Especially if you’ve already got a list of “must haves” (what you’re looking for in a school) and a growing list of schools (which it sounds like you’re on top of). I always wondered “what are we forgetting??” and when you can run your list past someone who’s done this literally hundreds of times, it can make a world of difference. I can highly recommend Chelsea Diehl at My College Audition - she’s amazing and even a half hour with her right off the bat would pay off big time. And she will not push additional consultations, lessons, or anything. She’s there for as much (or as little) as you need. Just an idea. Good luck!!
I just remembered something: at the Hartt orientation, one dad said his MT son was also a gifted pianist and composer, and asked if he would be able to continue that training at Hartt, and was assured that he could. Hartt was a music conservatory first, and has remained so after adding acting and MT to its offerings, so there are plenty of instruments and advanced instructors around to get lessons from. Just one more suggestion for the list!
I believe Hartt also offers a number of scenarios where a student can earn two degrees in five years, although I’m sure the last thing on your mind, at this point, is considering an additional year even if it resulted in dual degrees. Wishing your son the best!
Hartt goes to Unifieds and also does video auditions, if I remember correctly. Definitely another good option to consider. Actually, lots of the schools have minors in music if you research.
@212121
Thank you for the recommendation, I will save Chelsea’s name. I am trying to save $ for all the college expenses and If/when I use a coach, I want to use that half hour knowing what I need to ask so I am trying to become knowledgable about the process.
I agree with you, the people here on the board have been invaluable and I am honestly surprised but grateful for everyone’s positive attitude and generous sharing of knowledge. I feel quite emotional about it, actually!
Okay, stayed up most of last night making a shareable spreadsheet. I have added to it this morning but I wanted to post it as a work in progress. I have quite a bit of info in different places and will be transferring that and filling out other fields as I find information but if anyone wants to add information they have directly to the spreadsheet, that would be very helpful. Or you could post here or pm me any information or thoughts, as well. Especially, helpful is if you know of a college we should consider or you know that one college on the list has something that would make us reject it right away, perhaps there is no piano training available, at all, or there are ruthless random cuts, etc. I have kept the headings/colleges uneditable but if anyone thinks I need to add/delete those, let me know.
This spreadsheet is more personalized for my son but it could be copied and adjusted for anyone to use. If someone wants to do that, feel free!
Thanks, again for everyone who has/will share their knowledge. I am embarrassed that we am in this hurried rush to apply to colleges but grateful for the kindness and support we have received.
EDIT: Tried to post this with link but it went to moderation.
Are links not allowed? Any other ways to share this link?
@loribelle
Thanks, you were right…
I got a message from a moderator telling me links are not allowed.
Wish I could share it with everyone but I guess if anyone wants to see it they can request it and I can pm it.
It is not true that LINKS are not allowed on CC. It is only certain types of links such as ones that promote services or goods, or links to forums or blogs, or personal sites, of Facebook/Instagram, etc. So, you can’t post a link to your personal material or site which is what I gather a spreadsheet of your own making would be.
Addressing just the piano playing / music aspect in this situation…you have gotten good suggestions, such as some BM in MT programs as one option. Or perhaps a school where there is a music minor. I just want to add that a student doesn’t have to major or minor in something like piano playing to be able to pursue it. If you are skilled at something and continue to be involved in it, you don’t necessarily need the degree to make it so you can be involved in it in college or professionally.
I have a daughter who grew up playing piano, as well as a second instrument. She pursued a BFA program in MT. In her college program, she placed out of the music theory classes. She didn’t study piano in college or any music classes outside of her MT program. However, during college, she musically directed shows, both student run and professional ones. She was musical director of her a cappella group and wrote arrangements for the group. She had no formal study in college in terms of music outside of the MT performance major. However, besides being a musical theater performer professionally since graduating college, she is also a singer/songwriter writing her own songs, and is a writer/composer/lyricist of musicals. She had no training in music composition. Still she is doing this now at a pretty high level now, just based on skills or I suppose a talent. As well, many shows she has been cast in as a singer/actor/dancer, she has also played an instrument in. She learned another instrument after college due to being cast in a show requiring she play that instrument so she taught it to herself and liked it so much that she has used that instrument additionally in her own concerts and in other musicals she is cast in.
I’m simply sharing this because it is not crucial that your son formally has coursework or a minor in piano or something of that sort in order to use piano professionally in his career as a performer, a composer, a musical director, etc. if he is already talented at piano. I can think of a number of people who did a BFA in MT program who are now musical directors, composers, lyricists, songwriters, etc. One example you likely have heard of are Pasek and Paul who are graduates of the BFA in MT program at U of Michigan. There are others! They have been very successful to say the least.
PS, my D used a local scholarship when she graduated from high school to buy a full size electronic keyboard to take to college and so she always had a piano right in her room.
@soozievt
My son has an electronic piano but I didn’t know if it would be allowed in the rooms. I sure hope so because that would solve one major concern.
Thank you very much for sharing your daughter’s experience, it sounds as if she was very busy and her piano skills were put to use! My son was really was hoping he could get formal training in piano to help him reach his potential but we will definitely keep your advice in mind.
