<p>My son has been rejected from IU, Northwestern, Boston Conserv. and wait-listed at Northern Ill. in percussion performance. We are trying to decide on our options for next year. Take a gap year or go to IU or Northern in another field since he has been accepted academically. If he does get accepted to Northern's percussion program, he will go there. Anyone have any ideas about what to do if you are not accepted to any school in music performance? Unfortunately we parents have no idea how good our child is musically when competing with everyone else. His teacher said he had a chance.</p>
<p>Teachers are not always the most objective when it comes to their own students, but that is neither here nor there right now.</p>
<p>If a gap year, with lots of practicing and lessons, would make a big difference in your son’s admissions chances, it might make sense. The best way to know that though, would be to take him to NU or IU and have one of the percussion faculty independently assess his talent. I’d ask directly what they think his chances would be if he did a gap year, what to work on, etc. If you get positive feedback (and most of the professors are quite professional and honest), it might be a good option.</p>
<p>The other thing would be to contact NIU and see what your son’s chances are of getting off the waitlist. Is it a large list, and where is he on it? I’d also inquire as to whether it looks possible to transfer in, if your S decided to start in another program.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>If you want to discuss a gap year, I would be happy to tell you about mine. I’m a violinist, and I’m very happy with the results I got. Feel free to pm me!</p>
<p>percussionist, I am sorry and suggest that there are always options.</p>
<p>The most recent set of experiences is here
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/878931-what-do-now.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/878931-what-do-now.html</a> Please be sure and read the entire thread as there are numerous links to other past threads, all with information or insights to help you sort through this, including all the gap year threads.</p>
<p>This is an older one, and there may be a link or two not included in the first.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/458106-first-rejection.html?highlight=rejection[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/458106-first-rejection.html?highlight=rejection</a></p>
<p>An oldie but a goodie: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/192395-no-acceptances-one-kids-story-year-later.html?highlight=andison[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/192395-no-acceptances-one-kids-story-year-later.html?highlight=andison</a></p>
<p>One thing that may balance the decision gap year or not is the new health care reform, which allows kids to stay on their parents’ insurance through their employment to age 26. It’s supposed to take effect in September; details still sketchy. What this would mean for kids taking a gap year probably is that they would still have health insurance (and wouldn’t have to choose to go to college simply to keep on their parents’ plan)</p>
<p>Percussionist- I too am very sorry. I would agree that if IU is a school that he is still very interested in, to contact Tafoya, Bobo, or Houghton and ask them to be honest with where your son is and if they feel a year of intensive lessons and practice would be in his best interest. Based on my exposure to them, I would expect nothing less than honest and helpful.</p>
<p>Though not music specific, a wonderful post by mikemac from the admissions forum <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/900606-few-words-rejected-revised-edition.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/900606-few-words-rejected-revised-edition.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks for linking that. Truer words were never spoken on CC.</p>
<p>mom4 - Excellent point. Health care took the gap year option off the table for my D. I can’t help but wonder if that might have made a big difference in her choices.</p>
<p>Those who reside in New Jersey and have college graduates under the age of 30 who are also living in the state of New Jersey (need not be in the same home) should check out a program that is not all that well advertised. Called either DU31 or Chapter 375 coverage, there are a number of conditions that must be met, but we were able to cover our daughter for about $300 per month between the time she graduated and the time she moved out of state. There is more information at [Continuation</a> Coverage of Young Adults](<a href=“http://www.state.nj.us/dobi/division_consumers/du31.html]Continuation”>Coverage of Young Adults in New Jersey Up to Age 31)</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for all the support. As of April 23 my son was accepted into the Northern Ill U percussion department. It was an extremely tense time, waiting to get off the wait list. We are now breathing a sigh of relief that he will be a music major. The department at NIU has great teachers in Robert Chapell, Greg Beyer, and Liam Teague. He will work hard and then assess his situation and possibly go back and apply to IU again. In the meantime he will have many performance possibilities and the added advantage of taking lessons in Chicago from other outstanding teachers.</p>
<p>Congratulations, percussionist! My S is a percussionist also, and although he decided not to pursue percussion in college, we had wondered along the way if he would go that direction. I could certainly feel your pain in what could have been a grim outcome, and rejoice for you and your S now with the happy conclusion.</p>