My D ia applying to the following universities: UMKC, Central Washington University, Baylor, Indiana University Jacob School of Music, Boston University, Princeton, Vanderbilt Blair School of Music and Northwestern Bienen School of music. She has chosen not to apply to conservatories as she also want to major in Poli Sci. She has already been accepted to the schools themsleves at Central Washington, Baylor and UMKC. No prescreenings were required. She was able to bypass the prescreening at Indiana and will go directly to live audition once she gets accepted to Indiana University. She just this week was informed she passed her prescreenings to Vanderbilt and Northwestern. I was curious so I called both of those Universities and they are both pretty similar in how the admissions to the music school goes. You first apply to University and also to to music school at the same time. Then you submit your prescreening videos. The faculty in the music department for your instrument reviews the videos. If they like what the see/hear, then they send your name to the admissions office of the school and they do a general overall review to make sure you would even be qualified accademically. If you are, then you pass prescreenings. Then you start the process all over with the live audition… pass audition then a thoughtful and thorough academic review happens. I was also told that after you audition you have a 50/50 chance of getting in. If you are denied in the final stage, you will never know if you were denied because of the auditon or because of the academics. Gruelling process, if you ask me.
@Momto5kiddos is she also considering a double degree?
Yes, she will double major piano performance as well as poli sci
I asked about double degree, not double major. Wondering if double degree is on the table.
Thank you! My daughter also went this route for the same reason, and I’ve been so curious about how it works. I’ve heard it being both ways: Admissions sends a list of acceptable candidates, then Music department selects from there, and vice versa. It’s so interesting but also so complicated. As if the process wasn’t hard enough!
My daughter ended up ED-ing and (was accepted) so her journey is done. I know she is tremendously relieved not to be looking at a wintertime full of auditions. On the flip side, we really have no idea what we might have left on the table in terms of both admissions and aid.
However, she is very happy and at home with her choice. But it’s all A LOT for 18 year olds to be navigating!!!
Yes, she will het a BM and a BA
I don’t think that you are necessarily asking a question. I will just say that you are wise to call each school. Some parents worry about doing that. However if you are simply calling to understand the process and timing (not your kids results), its OK…bc anyone involved in this process understands that it is confusing.
I will also say “for the general audience” that it is OK to call in early January with the ole…we haven’t heard anything and the audition schedule is getting full…when should we expect a response”…if you really are having a hard time with scheduling. I did that at one school and the student (I believe) looked up my D’s results and gave me them over the phone. I think they were set to go out any day. I have found that music admissions usually has some empathy as long as you are to the point about your “reasonable issue”…for me anything that could cost me a lot of money (like last minute plane tickets) is reasonable.
I do know that for IU (in the past) it’s two separate decisions. IU first. Then you go to the music school. If you pass there, there is no separate review. You are in. I believe that Northwestern has more back and forth. So, yes they are all different.
We knew a kid from my D’s high school that got deferred at IU until after the music audition. If he got in the music school, then IU would give him the acceptance. If not, no acceptance. The music school accepted him…and he dropped out after one year as he struggled academically.
Just some experiences to help you pass the time…
Good luck!