I’d love to hear from music majors at Michigan. We are specifically wanting to know if they integrate into central campus life or tend to stay on North Campus? As we research housing, it seems like North Campus is dreaded and most students try to avoid being placed there. Is that true for music students as well? Before we read that it seemed like North would be perfect for her since most classes will be there - now not so sure. My D is serious about her music studies but is also social and wants to go to parties and football games. Thank you for any information!
@sopranosings - My D is in music and CoE (dual degree) finishing her second year. She lived in Baits on North campus as a Freshman. Living on North is quiet and Baits is not very social, but she loved being able to easily walk to the music building because she spent a lot of time there. Most of her friends the first year were in music - they spend so much time together in studios and ensembles they can become close rather quickly, and most live on or near North campus. That said, none of her suite mates were in music and she had non-music friends as well. Freshman year my D went to several football games, at least one hockey match, lots of group dinners and informal gatherings (including meeting friends on Central for dinner/movie/coffee), trips to mall with friends, some parties and a ton of recitals/concerts. Many music kids do have parties (mostly on/near North) and go to football games. BTW, my D loves Michigan. Happy to answer any specific questions via PM.
Thank you @sopranosings for asking this question, and thank you @MomOf2TeenGirls for your insight. This helps clarify some things I was wondering about as well!
The same thing happens at IU. If you decide to live by the music school it sounds like you may be committing social suicide. Not true. These schools are large with many, many social opportunities. My D went to frat parties and tailgated her first year. Her dorm was considered “quiet by rumor” but still you have a tower jam packed with 18 - 20 year olds - so think about it - how quiet (and clean) is it really?
Thank you bridgenail and momof2, this makes me feel much better. I expected she would want a smaller school but Michigan is really attractive to her and she loved the teacher she had a lesson with there. I’m personally overwhelmed by such a large school 
How are the dorms and bathrooms at Baits? Are they pretty clean and livable? How would you rate their cafeteria food? Thanks.
@sopranosings - My D was actually worried about the size, but in hindsight wonders why she was ever worried. I think being a part of the music community makes it feel smaller in some ways.
@Apso555 - Baits is older (but renovated so very nice looking) suite-style dorm. Different suites have different layouts, but my D’s was fairly large in total - 4 girls in the suite w/ 2 small bedrooms, 2 small common areas, and one bathroom. No AC, so take fans (was really warm for first few weeks). Large windows that open. Students clean their own bathrooms, so how clean they are is up to them! Cafeteria on North is at Bursley, huge dorm a block away. My D said most food is OK to very good, but variety gets old. They can eat at any cafeteria, though, so she ate on Central at times - more variety that way as different ones may have different specialties (pasta bar, sushi, etc).
On North, Bursley is much larger and probably more social than Baits and has the cafeteria, but can be noisy and has communal hall baths. Baits is quieter, larger suite-style rooms, and closer to music building.
To current students/parents of UMich students: How and when are studio assignments made? They asked for choices on the application, so my D put down names based on hearsay but she is going out for sample lessons during Easter break now that she has been accepted-- can she change her mind before accepting and do they honor student choices?
@songbirdmama - Apologies as I can’t help you with Qs on studio assignments as my D’s instrument only has one professor/studio. Hopefully someone else will chime in! Perhaps even better, your D could call or email the music department and ask. They are typically quite helpful.
@songbirdmama I am a little concerned about this too. I feel like there may be some unwritten rules, so some general advice (not necessarily strictly about Michigan) could also be helpful.
Even though D filled out studio preference form, she did not wait for the school to assign her a teacher. She contacted the teacher she wanted to study with via email.
We called to ask about this today and they said studios for VP are assigned over the summer and that they do try to take preferences listed into account. I didn’t push this since we haven’t received FA info yet. Once we know that Michigan is a financial option, is it worth trying to get an assignment before D commits? I am not musical…at all…but have always heard that the teacher is crucial D had a great sample lesson there but I would have to think they have several wonderful teachers.
Also, does anyone have an idea of when SMTD releases FA decisions?
I would not advise committing to a program without a teacher assignment.
They told us end of March, @sopranosings
Although I agree that it’s best to know the studio assignment, surprises can happen. One of my kids had a teacher retire unexpectedly; in the Dark Ages I, personally had a teacher “bought away” to another institution where, as a senior, I was not going to follow; a friend of one of my kid’s had a teacher die mid-semester; two friends of my kid’s received the requested teacher and hated the situation. This last was at different institutions and with different teachers - both students were able to switch studios, one after just one semester and the other friend switched the next year.
So, if you are uncertain of the assignment, but all else looks good, you might ask the policies for switching studios if things don’t work out - how easy to switch, timeframe, etc.
Choirandstages - really, end of march? That would be great. I called today and was told over the summer but no later than August. March sounds much better.
@glassharmonica - Some VP programs do not allow the student to choose a teacher in advance. There are different methods for assigning teachers, with some being done in advance and still other schools waiting until the first week of classes and having all of the new students “sing” again for the faculty and then assignments are made. It’s not the “norm”, but it does happen.
As @Momofadult pointed out, things can and do happen. My D’s studio teacher decided to quit teaching altogether at the end of D’s junior year (!), which meant that a nationwide search ensued and a new faculty member was brought on and D had a new teacher for senior year. That created a nightmarish scenario in some ways, such as not being at all helpful for grad school applications, but it was advantageous in others because it lessened the overall tension in the department. The moral of this story is that you just never know what’s going to happen and you can only plan so much.It’s good to find out in advance what the policy is for changing studios, but be sure to use that judiciously and only if absolutely necessary.
I actually called today and was told that financial aid has to wait for the school of music to offer the merit money first and the the university will add their offers. I was told next week.
Not having a VP teacher assignment prior to accepting at IU is common. The faculty is large. It works together to find good matches for students. I heard of very few students who switched. And the ones that did switch didn’t seem to have an issue with hurt feelings. Even though I say how important the teacher is that is all hindsight. We stumbled around on the teacher. My D did get a studio offer and accepted it after hearing about the teacher from others. She never did a sample lesson with her. She’s still close with her teacher. In some ways the less you know the less you worry. Haha.
I think you are doing the right thing by asking. Michigan has system that must work successfully. Its reputation is pretty darn good for VP. Students seem to stay there and develop. Have faith in that.
If you are doing sample lessons ( I think you are) great. Go with an open mind and don’t be afraid to let the teachers steer her. If a couple can hear her sing they will know who is right for her. And don’t be afraid to ask what teachers usually work with her voice type.
If you go and get a bad vibe or your D would be better with certainty that may be telling you Michigan is not right. However if she feels good about the visit and the lessons go for it!
Edit by voice type I don’t just mean soprano. What type of soprano and who’s music will she possibly sing. My D ended up with a “Mozart” expert. This would have been very difficult for us to know. Voices are still so young so at schools with big faculties where there can be an “expert” it’s not a bad idea to give them the benefit of the doubt in steering you. If you know quite a bit about your kids voice (possible for females but difficult for undergrad males imho) you can sometimes check the cast lists and bios to see which teachers students keeping poping up for which composers. Still a good undergrad teacher at Michigan may not show up as much. They may specialize in developing younger voices. So again I would let the experts figure it out. Again this is based on IU. Just assuming Michigan is similar.
Thank you all! She did not do sample lessons prior to application, but applied to schools with a solid reputation and that fit her general preferences for college. Now that she has acceptances, she will try to meet at length with faculty and have a lesson. She has also listened to the faculty and their students performing on youtube (when available). She has learned that she “clicks” with some teaching styles more than others, and likes some sounds more than others, and this will figure into her final decision, but it also might not have been what she thought when she applied back in October!