<ol>
<li><p>Is it absolutely true that they accept at most 8 admits per year?</p></li>
<li><p>How does a resume of an admitted applicant look like?</p></li>
<li><p>Is there any chance of getting in without awards?</p></li>
<li><p>If you have exceptional musical talent but low academic standards, is there any hope?</p></li>
<li><p>Anything else about the program that prospective students should know?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I can provide a little insight on Thornton generally from what son as a freshman learned. Total Thornton freshman class is probably 100-120 violinists, pianists, harpists, compostion etc., so I wouldn’t expect more than 8 for composition if you mean traditional composition. Son is a singer/songwriter in the popular music program and that group probably has at least 8 singer/songwriters out of 20 or so. My son had limited music awards, but they liked his cd and they liked his audition. The music faculty is exceptional and they don’t need other judges to tell them who is good. Good is a judgement, but I suspect the trust theirs over someone else’s award. Particularly with composition, there isn’t really a bad day. The music is developed and they can judge it. I’m not sure if as a composition applicant you actually show up and “audition”, but for auditions, the music faculty don’t know if you have flunked out or not for audtions, they just invite you if they think you have the musical talent. If based on that they are interested in you they sit down with admissions and start with their top candidates and work their way down negotiating with admissions on the students who are academically marginal. If the music faculty want you bad enough they will negotiate harder with admissions, but I think there is standard that admissions won’t go below and the music faculty can’t go to the wall on every candidate. If you believe in your music, I would apply. My son applied thinking it would be cool just to get an audition and got accepted, so you don’t know if you don’t try. Good Luck!</p>