<p>My D is scrambling to get a few applications done for Dec. 1. St. Olaf has a Dec 1 deadline to be eligible for any academic or music scholarships. She is not intending to major in music but hopes to continue playing violin in college. Most of the schools she is applying to have "lesser" quality music programs, where it seems she might have a chance at some scholarship money.</p>
<p>St. Olaf's music reputation is much higher, though. My D is not conservatory quality. She is currently assistant principal of a local "medium quality" community youth orchestra -- better than her high school's highest level, but not as good as the Atlanta Youth Symphony. She plays fairly difficult pieces, but they take her a long time to learn!</p>
<p>I'm curious if applying for this scholarship makes sense? She has to make a CD and prepare a resume and get a recommendation anyway - for other schools on her list. But would she get laughed out of the department? Would it hurt her in any way? They do not have many (two?) scholarships for non-majors. Does anybody have any experience with this?</p>
<p>As long as her academic credentials are in the ballpark and she is not counting on her violin playing as the "hook" that gets her into the school, I think there is little risk and potentially much gain to sending in the CD.</p>
<p>St. O's has one of the best college choral programs anywhere, but their strings program is not on the A list for most conservatory-bound kids. If they actually did laugh at your daughter's CD (which I very much doubt would happen), that would mean that she would have very little chance of making the orchestra anyway and would probably be happier elsewhere.</p>
<p>Since it will require so little additional effort to supply the required materials, I would say go for it.</p>
<p>Binx, I'm a freshman at St. Olaf right now and a music scholarship recipient. The school only offers the two music scholarships, and both are open to both majors and non-majors. However, it is very competitive. I believe last year around 500 people initially sent in audition tapes and around 40 were ultimately awarded scholarship money. </p>
<p>BassDad, I have to disagree with you on what you said about Olaf's string program. I've heard many people involved with the school describe St. Olaf as having one of the finest orchestras in the country. They had their home concert after their fall tour a weeks ago, and they were pretty awesome. It's definately a program I would recommend for someone thinking about majoring in music or just wanting to play for fun.</p>
<p>Thanks, Ole. I'd love to hear more about your experiences at St. Olaf when you have time. What instrument do you play? Are you a music major?</p>
<p>I am guessing that what BassDad means is that some schools - even conservatories - have strengths in some instruments over others, and that St. Olaf's strings might not be tippy top. That doesn't mean they're not quite good. My S has a good friend who just graduated from St. Olaf as a music major - trumpet - and got a great music education there, and received offers from several conservatory-level grad schools. </p>
<p>But if you have specific info on your knowledge of the string program, I'm definitely interested. As I said, my D is NOT conservatory level (but she's pretty good, nonetheless). I do like BassDad's point about that if they aren't interested in her as a violinist, then she probably won't be happy there.</p>
<p>No disrespect meant to Saint Olaf's which has some of the best choirs I have heard anywhere. I have also heard their orchestra and certainly agree that they are very, very good and have some great players. Those people you mention who are involved with the school are justly proud of it.</p>
<p>As binx suggests, the standard of comparison I am using is the top handful of conservatories who have fabulous players all the way down to the bottom of the section. I have heard most of their orchestras as well and, in my opinion, there are a select few that are simply in another league. It would be like comparing a very good regional orchestra to one of the big five.</p>
<p>The point that I was trying to make was that a string player who is auditioning at schools like Juilliard or Curtis would probably consider St. Olaf a safety if they considered it at all. That still leaves an awful lot of very good string players who be ecstatic to be accepted somewhere as good as St. Olaf.</p>
<p>I was a little unclear on your mention of two vs. 40 scholarships. Did you mean there are two full scholarships and 38 partial ones? 40 out of 500 is actually pretty good odds in the music world, and would certainly make it worthwhile for binx' daughter to send in her CD.</p>
<p>To clarify, BassDad,
The scholarships at Olaf are two-tiered at 4k and 7k (up from 6k last year), renewable for four years. After you recieve it, pretty much the only requirement is to play in some sort of an ensemble the whole time. Anyone is eligible for either scholarship. Last year around forty recieved one or the other, and I believe around 12 recieved the higher award. Most of those are music majors, but I know of a few who are not. I've gotten the impression that the most competitive area is in voice, and most vocalists who get a scholarship are planning on being music majors (the St. Olaf choir is pretty much all music majors as well, compared to the Olaf Band and Orch, which are only about half music majors.)</p>
<p>Binx,
I'm a clarinet player and a music major. I play in the St. Olaf band and in a clarinet quartet. I've found the atmosphere here is a competitive one, but not cutthroat at all. It's very easy to participate without being a music major. I definitely recommend it!</p>