<p>Have you read RKOpera’s link on vocal performance studies, and also the Peabody link I posted regarding ways to study music in general? I think you need to start there, with more general questions rather than starting off with specific schools. Please please read them and show your parents too.</p>
<p>I honestly think you might want to focus on what you want to do as an undergrad without regard to what you want to do as a career or for grad school- as yet (and, if it is your passion, just focus on VP). Your indecision is coming from a focus on the future rather than the present, and undergrad studies may be one of the last times in your life you can focus on the present, explore and grow w/out external pressures of adulthood</p>
<p>Your academic talents are also impressive. But do you have an interest in learning about art and history and literature and biology along with VP? That is a really key question.</p>
<p>If you read RKOpera’s link, you will see that students going to Carnegie Mellon, Vassar, Williams and other schools ended up doing well in opera, in addition to those at Juilliard. (Vassar apparently has an opera company.)</p>
<p>You would do 2/3-3/4 of your studies in music at a conservatory or music school/BM. This would include theory, music history, languages, and other subjects along with lessons and performance. At a college or university BA program, as a music major, you would do 1/4-1/3 music classes, and might have distribution requirements as well as electives. You can also major in something else entirely and take lessons privately, perform as an extracurricular. Do you like theory and other aspects of a music major? Finally, you can double major, but that does take some stamina!</p>
<p>You can apply for all of these options and decide at the end of senior year.</p>
<p>Is your voice teacher offering any advice?</p>
<p>With your academic stats and vocal experience, you can think about some very top colleges, including Ivy League. Yale, Princeton, Harvard (has a double degree program with NEC and I personally know an opera student doing that), Columbia (across the street from Manhattan School of Music and affiliated with Juilliard-no need to take it off the list I think).</p>
<p>Or elective liberal arts colleges. Look at this:
<a href=“Music Department Courses and Requirements | Pomona College in Claremont, California - Pomona College”>http://www.pomona.edu/academics/departments/music/courses-requirements/</a>
<a href=“Performance Courses | Pomona College in Claremont, California - Pomona College”>http://www.pomona.edu/academics/departments/music/courses-requirements/perfomance-courses.aspx</a>
Pomona has a Repertory Opera Company. What could be better?
Vassar, Skidmore, Tufts (Tufts also has a double degree program with NEC), Barnard (next to Manhattan, classes at Columbia), Williams.</p>
<p>Or conservatories at selective universities/colleges. Oberlin, Lawrence, Bard, Michigan, Indiana, Eastman, Carnegie Mellon. Or conservatories that are freestanding. Juilliard, NEC, Peabody, SF Conservatory, BoCo, etc.
For California, look at sites like this: <a href=“The Best Music Colleges in California - Synonym”>http://classroom.synonym.com/music-colleges-california-2496.html</a></p>
<p>You need to decide in general what you want- but can delay that, as I said, and apply to several options. Don’t overload yourself with too many schools though. Decide on location, size and vibe that you want. And how you want to study music. For VP, you have lots of time. Talk to your teacher and try to contact others who have studied voice in the past perhaps.</p>
<p>Finally, improve your research skills 
Take each school that is suggested and find info similar to what I posted about Pomona. Look at teachers, classes, requirements, scholarships, performance opportunities, academics. Whittle your list down.</p>
<p>There are many paths so have confidence that things will work out. Anxiety can create confusion. Please reach high with your talents, both musical and academic.</p>