<p>Actually, it isn't really the question. The question is, what are your thoughts and some of your wisdom regarding Early Decision and the possibility of getting non-need based merit and/or music scholarships? Do colleges with music schools award these types of scholarships to early decision applicants?</p>
<p>Auditioned music schools don’t do ED–they do auditions in February and March. However, you might do well on merit and music scholarships if you send in a music supplement to a non-auditioned program and the institution wants you. My stepdaughter was a lackluster violinist who sent in a supplement to an LAC with a lackluster music program. As a National Merit finalist, she caught the eye of the admissions department and they cobbled together a bunch of scholarships to sweeten the deal, including a music scholarship I don’t think she would have won if she had not been a NMF. Not sure from your question whether you think the academic or the musicianship might be your kid’s meal ticket.</p>
<p>Thanks for your comment! S actually is most likely doing ED for a well respected audition only music program at a college that does early auditions. I just wonder if ED students get the same type of consideration for talent and/or merit scholarships. S is a skilled musician as well as a strong academic.</p>
<p>There are several well known schools which do offer ED (binding) or EA (not binding).Those with binding decisions will make their offer early in the game. Good luck to your son and to you as the season approaches!</p>
<p>Thanks,@Mezzo’sMama, it is an exciting and nerve wracking time. My older S did theatre auditions but this is so much more intense, that is for sure. </p>
<p>My S did an early audition at the school he eventually picked. He received the same merit scholarship that he would have, had he auditioned in the Spring. The advantage for him was that it was his first choice (he cancelled his other auditions when he was accepted) and, once accepted, he could turn his focus to other things for the 2nd half of his senior year. </p>
<p>Some people recommend doing an early audition, if it is not binding, at school’s that are not your top choice. You can perhaps get some sort of feedback and practice auditioning. But, of course, if it is a binding decision, then only audition if you know for sure that it is your first choice (and the teacher that you want has room in their studio). </p>
<p>Funny that your other kid is a theatre major. My older D was a musical theatre major and her audition cycle was much more intense than S. She did 12 auditions, all over the country, even in the middle of a snowstorm. S was “one and done.” Good luck!</p>
<p>S is auditioning ED binding. It would be wonderful to be one and done!! He still has to complete the apps and do some pre-screen videos for the other schools since they are due December 1. Both of my guys know themselves, that is for sure. Older S only auditioned for 2 schools and did a regional audition mainly for audition experience.</p>
<p>For ED Binding one must assume it doesn’t matter to you what kind of merit and financial aid your son receives - that he would attend at full pay. Is that correct?</p>
<p>Most likely, but we will likely apply for financial aid too.</p>
<p>In my experience merit aid is given to attract a candidate to the school - and sometimes raised if there are other schools in the running offering more. If your son is applying ED binding than the school has no need to offer anything at all, except to meet a reasonable financial need per their policy. Perhaps they will, if it’s just automatic that everyone gets it anyway - but you’ve taken away the incentive. What is the reason he would be applying ED? Is there an increased chance of acceptance on his instrument?</p>
<p>@SpiritManager, what you have stated is sort of my gut feeling–that applying ED takes away any incentive. The reason he wants to apply ED is because this isthe professor he wants to work with and he sees himself in this particular studio at this school. He wants to show that he is very serious. </p>
<p>But you can always talk to the financial aid office to ask for assistance or to appeal awards…</p>
<p>I kind of am in the school of thought wondering if an ED would do any good…yes, it shows you are serious about the school, if it is binding, but as others have pointed out, it also limits your freedom. The other thing I wonder about is how much does ED really influence getting into a program, is the idea that because there are a limited pool of kids who do ED, there is less competition? As far as ED being serious,I think it would demonstrate that, but would that influence the decision to admit someone? if this is a program where there is only one teacher on the instrument, I could see it doing that, but if there are more than 1 or so, would it?</p>
<p>All good questions,to be sure @musicprnt . There is one Professor who takes 3 or so students per year.</p>
<p>Just a thought that might help with your dilemma, does the school in question also have rolling admissions as well as ED? Many times the admission decisions are handled differently by each studio. For example, the trombone studio might use rolling admissions while the bass studio would wait until all were heard and then decide on admissions at the end. Check with the school and the studio prof in question about how he or she handles admissions. Many of them will share this information if asked.
Another time honored technique, if applying regular decision, is to assure the studio Prof that yes, your son only wants to work with him/her and that the school is his first choice. </p>
<p>No rolling decision.</p>
<p>Has your S talked to the professor in question and asked if he accepts ED? Sometimes the school does ED but the music program does not (Rice does this) and just rolls the ED applicants to the regular pool . </p>
<p>Just having that conversation might be enough to indicate seriousness as well.</p>
<p>Yes, S has talked with the Professor and the music school does audition and accept ED.</p>