NYU transfer advice? - Music Business (stein) or Clive Davis

Colleges and Universities A-Z New York University
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<p>I am a 23yo "non-traditional" student who is strongly looking at transferring into NYU's music business program in Steinhardt or the Clive Davis School of Recorded Music at Tisch. However, my situation seems different to me than most other people I have read about on this forum (due to my academic record vs my academic abilities and accomplishments), and was hoping to get some feedback from people who might know more about the university than I do.</p>

<p>synopsis of my situation: </p>

<p>I have a "checkered" academic past, (mediocre high school gpa, and scattered transcripts from two other colleges) but have recently re-enrolled in college (a two-year) and have been consistantly receiving nothing but straight As (not A-). My ACT score in high school was a 27 or 29 (i haven't looked at it in awhile), and my reasons for being in and out of college (which caused my poor records) were due to my involvement in the music industry. I have been tour managing and doing live sound for several large bands, including two of them on Ozzfest (one of the highest grossing festival tours) the last two years. </p>

<p>My letters of reccomendation will be from my college's business department chairperson, and the music professor (who graduated from manhatten school of music, and played with the New York Philharmonic). This seems fitting considering my intended majors. What advice could any of you give me on the construction of my essay, though?</p>

<p>While I have loosely described my situation to admissions officers over the phone, I really have no real way of telling whether their encouragement is well-founded. I am faced with the dilemma of even reporting my formerly attended institutions. Nowhere on the NYU application does it state that admission is constituent on the fact that you report all information.</p>

<p>Would you reccomend that I leave them off, or include them to illustrate my 180 degree turn in commitment to finishing my education. Could leaving those transcripts off (which are clearly non-representative of my academic abilities) land me in trouble with NYU if I am accepted?</p>

<p>Also, the admissions representative told me that after 30 credits they do not look at test scores, but I was strongly contemplating retaking the SAT anyway as a selling point. The first time I took it, I did not take it seriously and didn't even finish all of it (score was 1100).</p>

<p>So what would some of you successful transfer students reccomend I do?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance, and am looking forward to hearing any and all advice!</p>

<p>-Kenny</p>

2

<p>Well, actually I do think you have to report all information about former schools attended. I don't remember where I think I read this, but if I come across it again, I'll let you know. And I also remember reading that transfer students can't retake the SAT/ACT after high school and report that score instead.</p>

<p>It sounds to me like in spite of former college and high school grades, you still have a very good shot at getting in. You've obviously improved your grades tremendously, and shown a clear commitment and involvement in music, which is something Tisch will look on fondly. I don't know much about the Recorded Music department at NYU, but I know in the rest of Tisch, they "weigh your portfolio and academics equally" (but likely put more of an emphasis on the portfolio when it comes down to it). I'm assuming your portfolio will be excellent, and as long as you have good essays (you said you were having trouble constructing those...the best advice I would give you is write about something you truly and deeply care about and just be entirely sincere), I would think your new grades would help you enough to hopefully give your academics enough shove to get you in.</p>

<p>I would explain to NYU about why your grades were lower before, but just make sure you include some information about why it will be different this time. Say that you are more focused now and really want to just step back and learn about the music industry so you can dive back in with more abilities and skills and whatever they can help you learn after you graduate or something like that.</p>

<p>Hope this helps, and best of luck!</p>

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<p>Also, since it seems like you have been doing the research, have you found NYU (or other schools) offers a separate program or application for "non-traditional" students? Not a "special curriculum," but more of a non-traditional application for the "non-traditional" student. (for example, Columbia offers a special entrance to their university for non-traditional students: <a href="http://www.gs.columbia.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.gs.columbia.edu/&lt;/a> ).</p>

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<p>Thanks to you, Scrapnel, for the encouragement, and thanks to you, Leobag, I will look into that, thanks for the tip!</p>

<p>The only reservation I would have about that is I'm afraid any "special" programs would not allow me to enter into the major programs that I need to not only maintain, but excel in my career.</p>

<p>A special application would be great though! I'm really hoping that admissions can look past my previous grades in light of my career advancements which took my focus away from school. If they can, and realize that my current grades are what I am actually capable of, in addition to a really strong portfolio, then I think I would stand a fairly strong chance.</p>

<p>When submitting my application next year, my stats would look something like this:</p>

<p>College:
-Consistant GPA of 4.0 since returning to this particular college with appx 60 credits (I have one grade of C from a summer term in 2002)
-Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society</p>

<p>Professional:
-Professional Sound Engineer and Tour Manager for several large bands and tours
-Co-Produced the Motor City Music Conference in 2005 (largest music festival ever held in Detroit or the Midwest)
-Started my own recording company</p>

<p>High School:
-2.6 GPA and 27 ACT (even though they said they don't look at these once 30 consecutive college credits have been attained)
-Michigan Merit Award and Scholarship
-Symphonic Band first chair saxaphone, and section leader
-Marching Band for four consecutive years
-Performed in London's New Year's festival in 1998
-Jazz Band (3 instruments) for four years
-High School Musical
-Studied Jazz at Blue Lake Fine Arts camp for two summers</p>

<p>I have seven semesters of withdrawls, very high marks, and failing grades at two other colleges. This seems like a lot, but like I said, it is not ALL bad grades, and was inconsistant due to my not finishing certain classes to take advantage of large oppurtunities in music. I am in no way trying to transfer any of these credits, as I do not consider them representative of my abilities.</p>

<p>What do you think based on these selling points? I am really hoping for Clive Davis at Tisch, but Music Business at Steinhardt would be my backup as I know it is less selective.</p>

<p>What does anyone think???</p>

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<p>You have a great case. The way I see it, any college should be loving a student like you. You have been through a lot and now see the value of higher education. Looking at your recent transcripts, you are a no-BS student, and colleges should sense that when you are enrolled, the same drive will enable you to earn similar marks at their school.</p>

<p>This may be obvious, but I think the deciding factor is going to be your personal statement. What you just said in your previous post should be expressed in your essay - to show that you are now: an awesome student ;)</p>

<p>Too bad you weren't into Columbia (or maybe you are?), because they give you a longer (1500-2000 word) personal statement allowance vs. normal applications.</p>

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<p>The Clive Davis Program is ridiculously competitive, but your resume looks solid.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I am really not into Columbia due to the fact they do not offer any programs that take advantage of NYC's vast music industry presence. I've given up a lot in my professional life to return to school, and need to make sure my degree is going to award me advancements in my field that continued time and experience alone could not.</p>

<p>I have considered maybe one day going there for an MBA though, but we'll see if my path ends up warranting the need of one.</p>

<p>I know Clive Davis is competitve, that is why it is so attractive to me. That merely justifies that it is, in reality, as great of a program as it looks on paper.</p>

<p>Is anyone here in Clive Davis? Can you provide any major tips or advice on preparing the portfolio or personal statement? What do the admissions directors look for to set the select few apart from the crowd?</p>

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<p>to quote from an old CC thread:

[quote]
As for academics... so-so, I have a 3.5 GPA (overall 3 years) but that's unweighted at a competitive high school (you have to test to get in and all classes are honors). 1440 SATS (780 verbal, 660 Math) and 710 Writing SAT II. I also sent in really good recommendations 'coz teachers like me :). Heh, don't know why, but they do. At least the ones I asked to recommend me ;).</p>

<p>As for my portfolio... my statement of intent was, I think, fairly good- it wasn't just a vanilla carbon copy boring few paragraphs- it was a well-developed essay. My critical essay was also pretty good. I wrote it about Annie Lennox. My resume is quite extensive, and I've had a lot of experience as a studio intern. As well as a lot of piano lessons (which I no longer take) and guitar lessons (which I'm still in)... so I put down that I was taking lessons. I didn't mention the fact that I still suck, though, coz it doesn't matter. I'm still good enough to write stuff and record it, and that is, I believe, the important part. I had a really good recommendation from the guy I intern with at the studio. My creative work, Dangerous: <a href="http://www.lovepoetsworld.com/dangerous.mp3%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.lovepoetsworld.com/dangerous.mp3&lt;/a> .</p>

<p>Anyway- I hope you get in! And I hope I find other people who were accepted. I wish there was some way to track y'alls down! The only person I've found accepted so far was this guy Eren Cannata, who was accepted last year (<a href="http://www.erencannata.com)%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.erencannata.com)&lt;/a>. He's Richie Cannata's son, apparently... I'm glad I got in because they like me, and not because I'm somebody-or-the-other. His website kind of intimidated me, though- he endorses Gibson guitars and his music is on Dawson's Creek...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I've seen Eren live, and even though he doesn't play the type of music i generally enjoy, he's great. Check out his website; he might have his NYU demos up.</p>

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<p>bump bump bump</p>

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<p>i'm in clive davis...I don't know how they'd approach the whole thing with you being 23 and all...I'm a first-year student, I think one kid in my class in 21. since you're such a unique applicant I have no idea how things might work out for you, since you're transferring from another college.</p>

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<p>I would think that age wouldn't have anything to do with an admissions decision. It seems pretty irrelavent, especially since my time away from college has been well spent participating in very respectable instances of audio engineering and management in the music industry. </p>

<p>what did your portfolio consist of? I'm very interested in collecting as much information on successful portfolio marterial as possible, so I can hopefully maximize my chances in that regard.</p>

<p>I've spoken to them about transferring and they assured me that I shouldn't be too concerned as my credits that I have been accumulating would fill my general education requirements. They also mentioned that my experience may warrant credit awarded for certain departmental courses.</p>

<p>Primarily, I think building a solid portfolio will be my largest deciding factor, so any advice or reference you could provide me with would be excellent!</p>

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<p>Hey man, I think you have a GREAT chance of getting in, but FYI, I thought Steinhardt's program wasn't that hard to get into, but was I wrong. Over 200 people applied this year to fill 35 spots. Your stats and experience are awesome though, so I think you're good :0)</p>

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<p>bump bump bump</p>

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<p>I applied and got accepted into the graduate program at Steinhardt but I assume you're talking about undergrad right Kenny?</p>

<p>@andy: are those numbers for grad or undergrad? i'm curious how many people they accepted into the grad program.</p>

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<p>I applied and got accepted in the Clive Davis Music Industry program as a transfer in Fall 2006. I'm coming from a business school, and wondering if I should have applied to Steinhardt Music Business. What is the difference? I have the background for both, so I'm not sure which is the best program. How many applied for spots at clive davis?</p>

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<p>Clive Davis is a much more competitive program. Its primary emphasis is on recording and producing, whereas Steinhardt's program is more business-oriented with more core music classes and business classes at stern. Both are excellent programs though.</p>

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<p>The Clive Davis program is much more selective than Music Business, especially in the case of transfers (6 per year). </p>

<p>I just returned from a visit to NYU and had a chance to explore both programs. I feel that the Clive Davis program gives a more rounded experience in educating students in the music industry. The program at Steinhardt did not impress me very much in terms of how the faculty tries to make the students successful in the business world after graduation. Clive Davis is still young, but its facilities are great and remember that you are still learning a lot about the music industry while ALSO learning the specialized skill of working in a studio. The one thing that disappointed me about Clive Davis was the lack of an electrical engineering component to the department. The term "Audio Engineer" used to mean a lot more than someone who knew how to push buttons and turn knobs. </p>

<p>Both programs did tell me that they would start working much more closely with one another as the Clive Davis Department continues to grow, so maybe you will see some of this interworking as you progress towards graduation.</p>

<p>While I loved NYU, its campus, and the city I'm once again starting to lean more toward Berklee where I can study both Music Business and Audio Engineering in a dual degree with better course content, complete BOTH of these programs in the same amount of time as Clive Davis OR Steinhardt, get a better musical education, and do it all at a cheaper price tag. Although, New York City is in the second largest concentration of music industry operations in America, so the ability to intern and network in the city is paramount.</p>

<p>EDIT - I should also add that there are several faculty members in the Clive Davis department that graduated from Berklee. Probably more than any single other college or university. I'm not trying to say that Berklee is better than the Clive Davis Program or the Steinhardt program (Def Jam started in a MusBus NYU Dorm), but just that the Clive Davis program is still very young, and that in a business that is built off of personal relationships - Berklee's alumni connections are a quite a force to be reckoned with.</p>

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<p><a href="even%20though%20they%20said%20they%20don't%20look%20at%20these%20once%2030%20consecutive%20college%20credits%20have%20been%20attained">quote</a>

[/quote]
</p>

<p>If you don't mind me asking, where did you hear that? Is that just for your program or other ones? That would help my application out ALOT lol</p>

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<p>That's what NYU admissions told me during a phone conversation I had with them about a month ago. You should call anyways just to make sure because I do not know your specific situation.</p>

<p>Every time I have called it has been fairly easy to reach an admissions officer.</p>

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<p>andy4music or KennyC:</p>

<p>Doesn't Steinhardt require an audition? If so, I would think it is geared more toward "artists" musicians, rather than "business musicians". I am a songwriter (first song on television at age 15) and plan on building that "business" and concentrating on corporate executive management/production. I am coming from a top-rated business school and am very interested in both business and production, so I applied to Clive Davis instead of Steinhardt. I hope this was right - NYU has so many good programs in this area, it's hard to choose (though I am really excited about the accepance to CDReMu). Any input?</p>