@glassharmonica Is it ok to email them or do you think it is better if the student call? Also, what are your thoughts about putting down a deposit at a festival (so this is not accepting something like a full-ride fellowship but rather paying for a full-tuition festival) and then withdrawing prior to final payment (in this case the potential withdraw would be shortly after the deposit, not well into the spring, etc and a larger festival, not an intimate one - i think these points matter) if a much better offer presents itself and the student isnāt able to get an extension from the offer in hand or an early reply from outstanding offers. It realize this is not ideal, but I imagine it happens and festivals expect it to happen given the wide window of notifications and short window of committing with a deposit (in fact i think this is by design from the festivals that notify earlier on and have a short commitment period - āforcingā students to commit to them before they know all of their options). Thoughts? I think my student is going to be in this position timewise where she is waiting on at least one answer after the initial deposit is due and that answer would be coming 1-2 weeks later.
My position on deposits is that if youāre willing to lose them, they are a hedge in a situation like this. If you put down the deposit but your student is accepted to the preferred festival that notifies late, then the next in line for the deposited-on festival will get your studentās released spot. And the festival gets to keep the deposit. Joy trickles down to all.
Anyone know what is typical in terms of scholarship offers from these summer music programs? The tuitions at some are very high and curious to know what to expect in terms of scholarship.
I donāt think there is a typical scholarship. Some pay full freight; some are given scholarships via a combination of merit (mostly) and need.
The waiting game is killing us. My daughter was accepted to Interlochen (one week instrumental institute and orchestra), Brevard, and very high (top 2 and top 3) on the waitlist for BUTI YAO and instrumental workshop. She was also waitlisted for the string quartet institute, which is her top choice of everything but sheās only in the middle of the pack for that waitlist so less likelihood sheāll make it in. For geographic reasons, and sentimental (her older brother went three years) we would prefer BUTI.
We got an extension for Interlochen, we havenāt acted on Brevard yet because we just got that acceptance yesterday and we still have eight more days to respond. But BUTI is killing us. Itās been 15 days since she got the email - so we are now well past the date by which accepted students should have responded. As high as she was on the waitlist, we figured we would have heard something by now. (Yes, we did email them about her other acceptances so they are aware we are pushing against deadlines.) I totally understand that they are dependent on the responses of other families before they can get back to us, so itās not their fault. But Iām surprised it hasnāt moved a little faster.
Weāre probably going to accept Interlochenās one week instrumental institute because there are teachers there who she might want to study with in college. But weāll decline the orchestra. And then weāll cross our fingers that we hear from BUTI before we have to respond to Brevard. Brevard would be a fine choice too. I just hate to have her be so close to getting into YAO and not make it.
If a festival or program is very selective or takes only a small number of students, I think you really do have to abide by their deadline for accepting the offer and it would not be at all negotiable. There is an argument for bird in the hand, so to speak, but also for holding out for oneās top choice. The big picture is that our kids will benefit no matter what they choose to do 
I think one of the hardest issues is whether to go for a financial reach or āsettle.ā My own view is that paying what we can manage during later high school ends up paying for itself in terms of scholarships and aid at the undergrad level.
Iām curious, has anybody heard from Bowdoin Festival yet, and if not, do you know when they usually send results?
Our daughter was rejected from Bowdoin yesterday. She is 17, and all the other camps emailed both the student and parents. In the case of Bowdoin, they only emailed my daughter. So you may want to have your child check their email account.
@nanava, Iām sorry your daughter didnāt get in to Bowdoin, and I hope she has some other options that she can look forward to. This is my daughterās third year applying to Bowdoin, and weāre hoping 3 is the charmā¦ Are you familiar with Kinhaven? My daughter will be attending the one-week Kinhaven Young Artist Seminar. It sounds like itās an amazing place for chamber music. The YAS is for students 18 and over who have had one year of college, but there is also a 6-week senior session, in case youāre interested.
Thanks! We have some options (see above).
@nanava oops sorry! I had read your previous post but forgot to scroll up again after your more recent one and did not make the connection between the two. Congrats to your daughter for these wonderful acceptances and good luck on your decision-making!
Yay! She heard from BUTI - sheās been invited to be in the YAO. Sheās thrilled. It took about 17 days altogether to move from #2 on the waitlist to an acceptance.
@nanava YAY!! I must admit we are a bit jealous as my D has not moved off yet to the YAOā¦ although brass there are less spots. We did call and they said she was high on the waitlist so maybe still
Good luck!!!
@khill87 - are you talking about BUTI or TMC when you say "Tanglewood? Just curious. Congrats on the acceptances!
Anyone have an idea of when all the regular notifications from summer festivals are completed by? End of this month maybe? S was wait listed for Tanglewood and told that he is in upper tier of the list. I know that the acceptances eventually trickle down to those on the wait list, but I would like to start planning for our family vacation already.
@Busy_Momma the waitlist can go all the way to the time of the festival. My daughter last year had someone drop out due to sickness and she moved into that spotā¦ so it depends how much you want to wait
Thanks, @mperrine. Thatās hopeful, esp given that I know your D is similarly on one of āthoseā instruments that make up a small, yet important, part of the orchestra. Iāve just lightly discussed a deadline (4/1) with S about how long Iām willing to wait before I need to start planning. I do appreciate how Tanglewood is very positive with their wait list outlook. Last year, another festival that wait listed S just basically said, youāre on the wait list, have a good summer, bye only to accept him a month or so later and then asking why we werenāt accepting.
We have the wonderful dilemma of trying to decide between some great summer options. Iām pulling for D to accept orchestra at Interlochen. Itās hurting my mama heart a little that sheād be gone for so long before her last year in HS. She nervous and excited. Worried that sheāll miss out on things at home, and that the time away will feel too long. Wondering if any of you can speak to these concerns? I have a feeling sheāll get there and never look back! My biggest worry may actually be getting her to come home and settle back in after such a musically fulfilling summer! Sheās been ready to move on from HS for awhile now. Could make senior year a bear!
@MusicNerd2 - S was in that position last year, only as a rising junior. Yes, he did think it was too long in that he barely had any summer left by the time he returned home (he also left school a week earlier to attend the institute), and yes, he did miss out on a lot of things including requisite high school volunteer hours that he couldāve completed already, celebrations, etc. Despite that, he stated that it was such a fantastic learning opportunity where he made such great connections that he would not have traded it at all. He has had his other foot out the door for a couple of years now and wants to be on the opposite coast for college. I think once S leaves, heāll never look back. However, he really didnāt have a problem settling in back at home. He was glad to be back home and enjoy time, however limited, with his friends before school resumed. A few weeks after Interlochen, he said it almost felt as if it never happened. He felt more confident as a musician (actually too confident, which is why he only submitted one summer festival application this year). Hopefully, your D will be āappropriatelyā confident and finely tuned upon her return in preparation for those prescreening videos. Good luck.