Sooo, I’m popping back in after having been away for a while to report that we have a decision in NYC. April Angst lived up to its name, in that D’s decision had a little extra “what do you REALLY want to be when you grow up” head-spinning to it, maybe more than one would wish for a 17 year old, but such is life in the music world.
In the end, it all came down to fit. Fit fit fit. Northwestern/Bienen had the right recipe of great academics, great music school with wonderful voice faculty, and a teacher she clicked with who comes with high recommendations from multiple sources. Also, amazing facilities reasonably near one of the great cities in America, and the opportunity to combine music with other academic interests in probably the most flexible way of all her options, even if that doesn’t end up being a full dual degree (it probably won’t, the more she has learned about the realities of that path from talking to current students on her audition tours).
The angst was never about whether her ultimate choice would afford her great educational opportunities, but in having to turn down a bunch of other amazing schools and the unique opportunities they offered. In order to choose her best fit, she had to turn down (arguably) the most prestigious university she got in to, the most selective voice program she got into, and the biggest talent scholarship offer she got, which, to make things even harder, was at a truly WONDERFUL program, but which she felt would have involved either a 40 minute round trip commute between campuses for her non music classes, or getting lazy and staying at the music campus all the time and having a de facto stand-alone conservatory experience for undergrad, which was not her goal at the start, and still isn’t. Likewise, after attending the admitted students day at Prestigious U. and talking to a few serious voice students past and present there, she felt going there would have forced her to manage two lives at the the same time, and possibly would have involved commuting even further to keep her voice training going at the level she wants.
NU has everything she wants in one campus, which she feels will give her the best shot at doing everything she wants to do in undergrad without driving herself crazy. We’re all thrilled for her. Even though we’re “'dog” people, no hesitation in saying it: “Go Cats!”
And while I’m here- congrats on the final decision, @vistajay ! Best wishes for an amazing next four years to your son!
Also, huge thanks to all the members of the CC MM community who were so generous in taking time to share their experiences and insights along the way to us rookies.
