<p>I am a junior looking at colleges this summer. I want to study International Relations and am a top oboe player in Massachusetts. I have played in top youth orchestras over the past few years. My grades are OK (4.18 out of 5.0) and SAT scores are OK. My goal is to get a B.A. and play oboe more casually (i.e., not as a "performance" or music major, but still participate in ensembles and orchestras).</p>
<p>Can you recommend a school for me that would allow me to do both (international relations and oboe?) </p>
<p>My first choices are Canadian schools - University of Toronto, McGill, but I also like New York schools - New York University, Columbia. I'd really prefer to be in a city rather than a small college town. However, I might end up having to go to UMass given cost. </p>
<p>Also, I'd love to get a scholarship of some sort for the music. My parents are relatively well-off (income $350k), so I'm unlikely to get any need-based aid. </p>
<p>Do you think the above schools are a stretch? I am also fluent spanish speaker (I am not hispanic though - white a white can be), and have lots of community service on my resume. </p>
<p>You should post this on the Music Major forum even though you don’t want to major in music. There have been many comments over the years about performing in colleges where one is NOT a music major, as well as music merit scholarships for non-music majors.
You might look into Emory University - they do offer a music merit scholarship, I believe. McGill has a very strong School of Music and it may be very difficult as a non-major to get a seat in the ensembles. This is often true of schools which have their own School of Music or Conservatory.</p>
<p>As I said - pop over to the Music Major forum where there are lots of knowledgeable folks happy to help.</p>
<p>Right - you need to ask the music experts. It might be that the schools you are thinking are “good for music” are not good places for non-majors to be able to play in ensembles. I think that Case Western might work.</p>
<p>maybe consider University of Miami
they have a great music school (Frost)
and you can pursue both music and IR
also, they give lots of merit money and it’s in a city vs. small town</p>
<p>If you aren’t going to major in music, seems unlikely you will be offered a scholarship related to it. Not that you need it, though. Seems like the least of your worries, and strictly “nice to have”.</p>
<p>*Also, I’d love to get a scholarship of some sort for the music. My parents are relatively well-off (income $350k), so I’m unlikely to get any need-based aid.
*</p>
<p>*However, I might end up having to go to UMass given cost. *</p>
<p>Can you clarify? How much are your parents saying that they will pay per year? If you don’t know ask them.</p>
<p>If your parents wont’ pay $55k per year for the school of your choice, some/many schools won’t be affordable because you won’t get aid.</p>
<p>Are your parents saying that they’ll pay for UMass, but not more???</p>
<p>Since you’re interested in merit scholarships (but not as a music major), we need to know your stats, because that is what determines non-performance merit scholarships. </p>
<p>What is your likely major?</p>
<p>There are schools that will let you major in what you want, but also participate in a more casual basis (not major or minor) in their orchestra or whatever.</p>