Transferring to String Music Education

College Majors Music Major
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<p>Note: This is mostly a copy and paste of a previous post I made in the Texas Colleges forum, before realizing there was a forum for music majors.</p>

<p>I already made a post about this before, but decided to refresh it, since it's been a few months and I've done a bit more research and development since then. I'm currently a first-year Electrical Engineering major at UT Austin, but have decided to pursue my true passion in music. Thus, I am going to attempt to switch to becoming a Music Education major with emphasis on strings and orchestra, beginning Fall 2015.
(For the previous post, see here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/texas-colleges/1659576-viable-options-for-music-education-program.html#latest"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/texas-colleges/1659576-viable-options-for-music-education-program.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/p>

<p>Currently, my top choices are UT (internal transfer), UTSA, Texas State, Texas Tech, Baylor, and UNT, primarily because I'm told all of these universities have active String Projects, providing undergrad students with hands-on paid teaching experience. (Also, I really hope to remain in-state, as do my parents, mostly for cost purposes. I'm an official resident of Texas).</p>

<p>Money is an issue in the sense that my parents are very reluctant to fund an expensive music education. My family is well-off to the point that FAFSA offers very little, if anything. Any scholarship I could hope for will likely have to be either merit-based or audition-based.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any opinions on these schools' programs for prospective string education majors? Or perhaps suggestions for other possible schools in Texas with good programs and providing of experience? Possibility of scholarships? Also, since I'm going to be applying to all schools as a transfer student, are all of my achievements before college, both academic and musical, rendered obsolete and useless now? I would greatly appreciate if some or all of these questions could be answered. Thanks much!</p>

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<p>Are you saying that your parents are fine with funding electrical engineering but not music education?</p>

<p>It seems as if an internal transfer would be easiest. Have you investigated, talked to anyone, gone to concerts, looked up professors and so on?</p>

<p>(I don’t know much about Texas schools except that UNT has a great composition grad program, sorry…)</p>

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<p>@compmom Unfortunately, yes, that is exactly what I’m saying…my parents have the notion that job prospects of a music education major are both dimmer and pay less than that of an engineer. Which might be statistically true, but I disagree in that it really depends on how well you do and how hard you work on whatever your major is. They also probably personally view engineering as more prestigious than music, which is also a typical notion.</p>

<p>I have done as much research as I possibly can, short of talking to the actual professors at UT, and professors and students at other schools. It’s still a bit ambiguous as to whether anywhere’s “better” with the research I’ve done, so scholarships might be a more deciding factor.</p>

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<p>Is there anyone who can help convince your parents of the merit of this other path, in music ed?</p>

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<p>@compmom Haha, I’ve had hour-long discussions with them, and my high school orchestra directors have talked with them about it too, but in the end one thing that won’t change will be the prestige of the careers in their eyes (hate to stereotype, but I’m Asian, with Asian parents). They’re still letting me do it, they just prefer that I’m offered good scholarships (and of course, I’d prefer that as well)</p>

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<p>@vorpoler Based on your comments, can I assume that your parents are currently paying for your education and will continue to pay (albeit reluctantly - as they disapprove of your change in major)??? I think we need to clarify this point in order to help you further. </p>

<p>My DS is a freshman performance major at UT Butler, is working hard and loves it. He did get a scholarship from the school of music. Several of the freshman in his studio are Music Ed majors. </p>

<p>UT makes the most sense (to me) since you are already there. I suggest that you immediately contact the viola professor for a lesson. Please tell us that you have your viola at school with you? </p>

<p>Also, this and next week you register for next semester classes. I hope you have already discussed this major change with your counselor in the Engineering school and he/she is helping you reach out to the music school so you register for classes that may transfer - even if they are TX core classes. See if they will allow you to take music theory and or piano class. IF the viola prof has room, you may even be able to take a private lesson for credit as well. Not sure if they can be this accommodating, but you should certainly ask. </p>

<p>UT will also be the most competitive to get into as it is the only one on your list I am aware of that requires a prescreen video recording due December 1. <a href=“http://ww4.austin.utexas.edu/bsom/getFile/pdf.aspx?id=%20146”>http://ww4.austin.utexas.edu/bsom/getFile/pdf.aspx?id=%20146&lt;/a&gt;. If you have begun a relationship with the prof you may be able to bypass this. </p>

<p>Lots of ways you can reduce cost of attendance moving forward like applying to be a Resident Assistant (covers cost of room and board) or a job on campus. So know what you are willing to contribute as well when your parents ask about cost/scholarships. </p>

<p>If you don’t have a car on campus and / or support from your parents (to transport you to auditions) then logistically this is a huge hurdle for auditioning around the state. Plus mapping out audition dates, you may find that you cannot physically make it to all these schools and you will have to drop some. </p>

<p>Right now, time (not $) is your largest obstacle IMO. </p>

<p>People on this board can only give anecdotal info on scholarships - as it changes each year with the needs of the studios and the available funds, etc. You MAY get better info by contacting the departments, but honestly until they hear you audition, scholarship $ remains an unknown. </p>