<p>I am a junior in high school looking for ideas of colleges to apply to. I want to double major in English and Vocal Performance. I am a mezzo soprano. I have very strong academics (all As with honors and AP classes) and very good test scores (33 ACT so far, and haven't taken SAT, but PSAT was 213, so I'm expecting at least 2100). I would like to apply to very competitive vocal programs in liberal arts schools as well as schools with very strong academics but easier voice programs. I live in Michigan, and don't want to go too far (New York is fine, out west is not).</p>
<p>Look into NYU Steinhardt for their Vocal performance program (BM degree). If you come in with AP credits, you can probably double major with English. Journalism would be easier, but D looked into doubling up with English. Instead she is doing VP, a minor in English and a minor called the Business of Media, Entertainment and Technology. As a VP major you can study classical voice or musical theatre.</p>
<p>What sort of singing are you looking to do? Do you want the program to be primarily operatic, or are you interested in musical theatre, jazz and popular styles, and/or choral singing? Would those be in addition to or instead of operatic training? Are you primarily interested in a 4-year double major program, or would you be open to a 5-year dual degree program? Are there any specialties within English of particular interest? Literature, Creative Writing, Poetry, a specific time period, or anything else?</p>
<p>MusicLife, is there any reason you’re not looking at University of Michigan, or is the voice program too rigorous for what you’re aiming for? (Voice is the one program I know nothing about, so excuse my ignorance. I do know many of the other programs are among the top.) The SOM, while large for a university music program, has a small LAC feel and makes UMich feel much more intimate. The creative writing at LSA is truly fab, and they offer an MFA. It is possible to combine degrees, or for that matter, take a bachelor of musical arts instead of the more rigid BMUS and still receive private instruction. There are a plethora of performance opportunities for singers, SOM and otherwise. Your stats are a match for UMich, and you’d be paying considerably less than you would for any privates or out-of-state schools. (By comparison, NYU is expensive and not known for great aid. Eg. $54,000 a year, more than double in-state cost at UMich. You also might receive scholarships at UMich if you distinguish yourself in your essays, etc.)
So, you are very fortunate to have a world class university and robust collection of well-ranked music degree programs at your doorstep. I know that a lot of people in Michigan don’t always realize that our “state school” is nationally and internationally acclaimed, but just in case you weren’t aware, please take a look at what is available to you at a fraction of the cost.
[UM</a> School of Music, Theatre & Dance](<a href=“http://www.music.umich.edu%5DUM”>http://www.music.umich.edu)
By comparison, music theater students from across the country pay $34,000 in tuition alone to attend the SOM ;)</p>
<p>take a look at Oberlin, which has a very strong English department both for creative writing and academic English/American literature studies in all periods; it is one of Oberlin’s most popular departments and one of its largest, in terms of faculty. It also has a conservatory, of course.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that VP majors at conservatories or more rigorous voice programs usually take more credits than do instrumentalists (languages, etc), so that may limit your time for other academics.</p>