Hi. This is my first post on CC. I’m hoping someone on this forum will have some experience with a student studying harp in college and will be able to provide some insight and words of wisdom…
Student began piano at age 5 and harp at age 11. She was selected for the All State Orchestra and Band for harp and will audition again this fall. Also plays as principal harpist with the metro youth symphony. She attends a “harp camp” every summer that she enjoys a lot. She is also very talented academically–has an ACT of 32, GPA 3.9 with a rigorous courseload including many accelerated/AP classes at a magnet school for gifted/talented students. She has many interests and is unsure exactly how music will fit into the college plan (conservatory, BM, BA, etc) so we are looking for options where she can maybe get started and then narrow her path). Her main interests now include: professional career in harp performance vs. orthodontia vs. marine biology. (yes, quite a variety of interests!!!) I think she would ideally like to begin somewhere she can pursue harp while doing pre-dental requirements, then after a couple years hopefully it will be clear to her whether to pursue music 100% or go the dental school route. In any scenario, graduate studies will be likely (either dental school or master of music or even marine bio).
She prefers to pursue a BM degree in harp performance while doing pre-dental, but we aren’t sure how do-able that is within 4 years with the rigor of both programs. It seems she will have to choose one path or the other at some point… She is concerned she would she be giving up a lot in the music area if she pursued a BA as a music major rather than the BM. A BA would obviously allow for more flexibility in her schedule for pre-dental classes. She will start college with about 50 credits either from AP or community college classes while in high school so that will help. It is also very important to her that the harp professor uses the Salzedo technique, as that is how she has been trained.
Finances are a concern, as we do not expect to qualify for much (if any) aid. We have a high income, but we are supporting an elderly family member, will have another child in college, and are approaching retirement age. Budget is going to be about $27,000 a year (maximum) from parents plus any work study and merit/music scholarships. So most big-name prestigious schools will probably be out of the question, as she will need merit aid. Obviously, whatever we can save and apply to grad school or dental school would be a big plus.
Her list now is as follows. All harp professors use Salzedo technique except not sure about Miami Ohio and Eckerd…Some offer both BA and BM but some only offer BA.
Safeties:
-University of Nebraska (likely very good merit aid and she knows the professor. Big music school)
-University of Northern Iowa (likely very good aid. Most local option)
-Loyola Chicago (needs merit. Not sure about catholic vibe)
-Eckerd College (needs merit)
-Seatle Pacific University (needs merit)
Match (some reachy):
-Wheaton (Illinois): (needs merit; knows professor)
-Miami University Ohio (needs merit)
-Case Western Reserve/Cleveland Institute of Music joint program (either as a BA student at Case with classes at CIM or a BM student at CIM with liberal arts at Case) ($$ concerns)
-Ohio State University (needs merit)
-University of Miami (Florida) Frost School of Music (needs merit)
Reach:
Rice ($$)
Princeton ($$)
Thanks!