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<p>Hi again, GertrudeMcFuzz. Are you saying the cast members were Muir College students? If so, then you have hit upon the sort of thing I touched on in my first marathon post. If your D isn’t interested in a concert or opera soloist career, but would rather just <em>generally</em> major in music while majoring in science, then there are a world of opportunities available to her in all sorts of interesting schools – and Muir College may be one of those schools.</p>
<p>I know next to nothing about Muir College (or the UC system). But after reading your post, I briefly perused Muir’s website. First of all, it was pretty hard to find a list of academic majors at Muir! It looks like a very broad-based, very liberal artsy school that offers a whole lot of cool options.</p>
<p>BUT, the music major curriculum I finally found on the Muir College site (again, just briefly perusing) was just a shell of the music curriculum one would take in a BM Vocal Performance degree plan at a true “school of music.” There were options for a Performance emphasis. But again, the degree plan paled in comparison to the depth and breadth that would be required at a “real” school of music.</p>
<p>Likewise, I expect that a “neuroscience” degree plan at Muir College would not look like a true “neuroscience” degree plan at a school that specializes in such a thing. (I couldn’t actually find a neuroscience major on the Muir College site in my quick search, but there were plenty of other science majors.)</p>
<p>It’d be interesting to know what ultimately appears on the diploma at the end of the day. Bachelor of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience, as opposed to a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience? Probably.</p>
<p>I promise you, and I am positive about this, the logistical possibility of doing a true Vocal Performance degree (BM) AND a science degree in 4 years is slim to none at the vast majority of schools. And, as musicamusica says – there are schools that simply won’t allow it.</p>
<p>There are, however, lots of LAC’s and state schools across the country with reputable schools of music that would allow a double degree – the problem comes in trying to actually make it happen, logistically.</p>
<p>At my son’s fairly recent admissions session at a very selective music conservatory, a prospective undergrad addressed the panel and expressed an interest in double majoring in biology and VP. My son (a prospective grad student) told me that the faculty member on the admissions panel said something like, “We really frown on that here. We are a very academically challenging and very selective music school. We select students who have the capability and drive to perform music for a living. Therefore, we expect those students to devote their time to our program and focus their attention on all that we hope to teach them. We also want them to spend a good amount of time in the practice room. You can’t really do that if you’re worried about a science project in your other degree. So, we would say that if you’re the kind of student who wants to double major in music and an unrelated-to-music field, then perhaps another school would be a more appropriate choice for you.” It made a real impression on my son because he originally entered undergrad with the hopes of double-majoring in two opposing fields. (He did not apply to this particular school for undergrad, though, nor did he apply to any conservatory-only schools.) He felt a little embarrassed for the girl who asked the question. :o</p>
<p>I’ve read, here on CC, and in other places, that it is possible to have an opera career with almost any sort of musical background. Surely, that would include a music degree from a fun, broad school like Muir College, right? BUT, I would think that the odds of having that career, and certainly the odds of getting into a good music grad school, would be greatly increased with a BM in Vocal Performance (or a BA in music that more closely approximates the typical BM Vocal Performance degree plan). It’s just that a lot of music grad schools are going to want to see some very specific undergraduate courses on one’s transcript before admitting a student to their school, and Muir College doesn’t appear to have all of those courses in its Music Performance curriculum.</p>
<p>At one of my son’s very recent university award ceremonies, the dean of his music school spoke on this subject. He talked about how he had recently visited … can’t remember which school, but it was a very well-respected, exceptional LAC that I easily recognized. He said that as he made his way around the school, talking to the students, he was amazed to hear about all that they were studying. He said that nearly every music student he spoke to was triple majoring in chemistry, music performance, and economics (for example) with minors in mathematics and French! He was impressed and ecstatic for them that they were able to indulge themselves in all of the wonderful opportunities that their special school had to offer. He found it to be a very exciting place. But HERE, he said (referring to his own school of the arts – my son’s school), we pride ourselves on our ability to really specialize. We intentionally focus our energies on educating our students with the full breadth and depth of all that their graduate schools and music careers will demand of them. … and so on.</p>
<p>I thought it was a very good speech. I happen to love all sorts of schools. I have always had an affinity for special little schools like some of those I mentioned in my first post. I read that “Colleges that Can Change Lives” book when it first came out, and I wanted each of my kids and myself to attend ALL of those schools starting tomorrow! 
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<p>But, it makes sense that IF one attends one of those schools that permits a triple major and double minor in vastly different fields with virtually the same amount of credit hours that one takes to major in “Just” music or “just” neuroscience … well, SOMETHING has to give! And what’s giving is the specialized education in favor of the broad, captivating generalized education. And I believe that evidence of the generalized degree would be reflected on the diploma, as well. (No problem, if that’s what one wants. A generalized degree can be very good for lots of career fields!)</p>
<p>THAT’s why I inquired about your D’s wants and needs in my first marathon post – because a much bigger list of options is available to her if she’s NOT particularly interested in an opera/concert performance career. </p>
<p>For some reason, I got the impression from the start that maybe your D was one of those who preferred one of the more funky, highly rated LACs that would allow her to do a little bit of everything. I LOVE those kinds of schools! But if I’m right, then she should go in with her eyes wide open. She will not be getting the same depth and breadth that her peers will be getting at schools with more specialized majors. That’s not to say that one is better than the other. But if her intention is to have a career in Vocal Performance, a more specialized music degree might be better than the Muir College type of music degree in terms of practicality and progressing forward after undergrad.</p>
<p>(Btw, Pomona, Chapman, and Santa Clara are all schools that came to mind when I first read your post. I also love USC, but it’s in a different category than the others, imo. All good schools!)</p>
<p>Best of luck to you and your D! :)</p>