<p>I am the parent of a mezzo high school senior about to send her application and pre-screen recording into Oberlin Con for early review (she is also applying ED to the College).</p>
<p>She has no one really advising her about the process, though her pre-college voice teacher at MSM is recommending her. </p>
<p>I now see from this site that many prospective students had sample lessons with teachers at Oberlin before applying, and I feel that in our ignorance we missed a key step that would have given my daughter and the faculty insight into each other.</p>
<p>Can anyone advise whether this is the case, and if sample lessons can be requested for the same weekend as the early review audition, as we are in NYC and do not <em>plan</em> to send her out there twice (though might reconsider if we were so advised!).</p>
<p>Not to answer your question, but to ask you something to clarify for myself - if a student applies ED to the College and EA to the conservatory, if they’re accepted to the college but not the conservatory, they are still under contract to attend the college, yes?</p>
<p>One poster’s daughter was accepted to Oberlin VP early review last year. I hope she chimes in here. SpiritManager, Oberlin has the early review set up so that you will hear from the conservatory before the filing deadline for ED II for the college should your point be a concern to the applicant.</p>
<p>Also Bartokrules, thanks so much for reaching out in your pm - sorry I cannot respond directly but apparently I have not posted enough to qualify for this privilege yet, LOL.</p>
<p>My daughter loves Oberlin and so has her heart set on getting there!</p>
<p>Has your daughter actually visited Oberlin? I noticed that you said that she “loves Oberlin and has her heart set…”, but since she hasn’t had a sample lesson, I’m thinking that the trip hasn’t been made. Nothing at all against the school, but applying ED is binding, should she be accepted and with the MSM reference, I suspect that you live somewhere in the tri-state area. Oberlin is isolated, a very small town and corn fields and the 45+ minute drive to Cleveland isn’t made on a regular basis.
Some kids do well the lack of “distraction” but others are miserable in the remote location and lack of outside activities. Because transferring as a performance major is difficult, I would suggest that you try, if at all possible, to make a quick trip to Oberlin and schedule a lesson or two. Good luck to your D!!</p>
<p>ED to the College is binding. Early review to the Conservatory is not binding. One can apply early review to the Conservatory and wait to find out if accepted before having to apply ED II to the College. Oberlin has over 500 musical and other arts events a year so I do not see the problem with “outside activities.” Certainly the applicant should visit Oberlin before accepting an offer of admission, but the OP’s daughter will have that chance at her audition and before anything is binding.</p>
<p>Yes, sorry if I wasn’t clear, my daughter has visited Oberlin and toured the college and conservatory. But, it was early in her process and while she met with the head of the theatre department (her likely major in the college), we did not even realize at the time that she could request a sample voice lesson in the conservatory!
So, as a tried-and-true manhattan city kid she is in fact very comfortable with the small town locale, as what really matters to her is the vibrancy of the on-campus community. I mean talk about isolated in Ohio - she even liked Kenyon!</p>
<p>Usually not. The teachers are busy enough with auditions, and do not have time for private lessons.</p>
<p>While the one-on-one is helpful, it is not a given. We had a pre-application tour of many colleges, and were not able to arrange lessons with a few of them.</p>
<p>If your D is really sold on Oberlin, then I highly suggest she do an overnight. I believe they have some days that are for that purpose. It might be easier to arrange a voice lesson on one of those days.</p>
<p>Good point, OperaDad! They do have overnight arrangements, or at least they did.
I’m glad that your D is comfortable with the location, lattegirl. Almost all kids go through some homesickness, but I really hate to see them miserable because they weren’t aware of the “real” situation. Even “over 500 musical and other arts events” won’t help a student who is craving a more urban and vibrant atmosphere. Oberlin is far more of a “life style” choice than many other schools, and a lot of kids just want to do anything OTHER than attend a recital or concert on a night off (at least by the time they’re upperclassmen, if not long before)! It’s one thing to attend the NY Phil or the Cleveland Orchestra or the Met when there is someone performing in whom you’re interested and quite another to be left with no option of anything off campus.</p>
<p>I have another question that others may be able to answer: What’s it like to pursue a double degree in Voice Performance and Theater? I know that theater students often have extensive time requirements - rehearsals and performances. And I know that instrumental performance majors have extensive time requirements. Is it different for voice - is that a more compatible double degree pursuit? I can certainly understand why the same student would be drawn to both majors.</p>
<p>I don’t think it would hurt to email a few teachers to express interest in having a lesson around the time of audition weekend. Maybe she could arrive a day early. If it does not work (and it may not – the teachers will be very busy), she can say that, assuming she is admitted, she would very much like to return on an overnight and have sample lessons with a few teachers. Oberlin does not guarantee a teacher placement in advance but your daughter would be much better off meeting with the teachers to find out which ones might be a good fit, even after acceptance.</p>
<p>Yes, Oberlin is not in the middle of the urban life, and yes, it is not for anyone’s tastes. But why the need to try and turn the OP against Oberlin when all she asked about was private lessons. My son has been at Oberlin since late August and has been to Severance Hall three times which is all that he has had time for in the first place. In rural Lorraine County 35 miles from Cleveland does not mean cultural vacuum. Choosing to go to an urban campus is just as much a lifestyle choice.</p>
<p>OP here. Thanks to all for your kind and helpful input. Since starting this post we have followed ALL the advice given and have been able to arrange both an overnight and sample lesson before an audition weekend. And no worries about the cautionary opinions offered - we are Manhattanites, one of the most polarizing lifestyle choices on the planet, so realize that not every place is for everyone. I trust my daughter’s judgment and gut instincts, so in the end that will prevail, though divergent points of view are always welcome food for thought!</p>
<p>Fantastic! Best of Luck with the visit, lesson and the audition. My son loves Oberlin. His belief that it is the best school for him has been completely confirmed.</p>
<p>My D is a sophomore VP major at Oberlin and could not be happier. She was convinced she had to be in a city and was very dismissive of Oberlin because of its location. She auditioned in January and returned in April to have sample lessons with four teachers before choosing a studio. D wisely said she has her whole life to live in a city and loves the experience of campus life in a small town.</p>
<p>My daughter is a first year soprano VP major at Oberlin who was admitted ED. Loves it there and - boy! What a relief to get your dream school acceptance in December! Took a lot of pressure off of the entire process. :)</p>
<p>Rosie26, I can only imagine. What a coup for your daughter! So glad to hear that she is loving it at Oberlin. If you have any sage words to share about the process or anything else Obie please do write back or pm me if you prefer. Thanks!</p>