<p>lattegirl - my main advice is - take everything with a grain of salt… not everyone does everything the same way. My D’s pre screening was not done professionally, we did not go nuts researching voice teachers, we didn’t listen to people who tried to squash her dream by telling her that it was near on impossible for a soprano to get accepted to a music school let alone a top tier music conservatory… my D knew she wanted to have a college experience. She knew she wanted to go to a small school that had a regular college along with a strong music program. We visited Oberlin - she never thought she would be accepted - and she was. That was that. She applied and was accepted at other LAC’s with strong music programs but her heart was set on Oberlin. We worried through the next several months as we waited for the financial aid offers from the other schools because we were sure they would end up being better than Oberlin from a money standpoint. But, in the end, Oberlin came out on top there too. They have wonderful scholarships and financial aid that make them competitive with any seemingly less expensive school. </p>
<p>My D is active in not only Music but also in student run theatre and Musical Theatre. She has met kids from all over the country and is friends with people from both the Con and the College. She loves the small town college atmosphere, but has also been into Cleveland for a concert or two. She is getting great vocal training and a great college experience. She is embracing the Obie way of life and loves it. We are thrilled. :)</p>
<p>oh - and, yes. She had a sample lesson on her Audition Weekend in December last year. She had three more sample lessons on New Student Weekend. You fill out a form with your requests for studios and then the Con lets you know which one you are in in late summer. Some of her classmates claimed they had been told earlier that they had been accepted in certain studios. My D found out in August. All is well.</p>