<p>Saxophonist*</p>
<p>Yo, I'm really insecure about the entire notion of choosing a music major and choosing a college as a result of that. I'm a Southern Californian, if that helps.</p>
<p>I want to have flexibility in my major choice. </p>
<p>Nothing sounds worse than going to a prestigious music school and realizing that I absolutely hate the idea of doing music as a career. This is why I have the following schools lined up that would permit me flexibility, in the instance that I wanted to switch majors:</p>
<p>USC
UCLA
CSULB
CSUN</p>
<p>What should I add to this list? In-state is greatly preferred. </p>
<p>Here are some academics:</p>
<p>GPA: 4.5 averaged from 3 years
ACT: 30</p>
<p>If you think you would hate music as a career, you shouldn’t major in it. Major in something else, and play sax in wind ensemble.</p>
<p>Are you thinking of auditioning in jazz or in classical saxophone?</p>
<p>Jazz. But the problem is is that I think I would love it as well. As a result, I’m looking for schools that would allow me to switch majors.</p>
<p>Some people apply to two sets of schools, one for music and the other for academics, so if they change their mind over the course of their senior year, they have more choices.</p>
<p>If you think you are interested by more than 50%, go for it. People change their minds, majors, and careers all the time. It will be much easier to switch out of a good music school later on than to apply later in life. At this point, you are actively engaged in practicing, so you should be at or near the top of your game for a highschool student. If you take a year or two off pursuing a different major, it might be hard to get back in top performance mode for the auditions. I agree with Stradmom try applying to two sets of schools. Plus applying to good music schools within universities will also give you options down the road.</p>
<p>That looks like a great list to me! Your grades are great and if you’ve also got the chops then you probably have a pretty good shot at both USC and UCLA. Per stradmoms suggestion I would just throw in Cal as a non music alternative, in case you want additional choices. What sort of non music major might be your alternative?</p>
<p>That does sound ideal, but again, the time I’ll probably change my mind is during college rather than high school.</p>
<p>It may not be as easy as you think to change your major from music to something else. UCLA, at least, has been pretty strict on this in the past. You may be shut out from some of the more impacted majors at these colleges such as Engineering, Sciences or Business. Definitely check it out.</p>
<p>Check out UoP , Chapman and Redlands, there could be merit $ with those stats. What about Cal State Fullerton? Clarinet, for one, is strong there. Not sure about sax. What about Arizona State?</p>
<p>Take a look at the Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University in New York. You can participate without being a music major. It is affiliated with UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. I know someone who is a sax player who is really enjoying the program.</p>