 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: vials
Date: 2008-11-22 11:35
Hi, I'm in the process of applying to colleges with clarinet performance as my major, and my main question is how important my applications, including essays, SAT scores, statement of obectives, etc are compared to the auditions.
I know that the audition is the single most important factor, but I really have no idea how much my essays and all that other stuff matters when the school considers me for admission. I am applying to the following schools:
USC
Indiana University
Northwestern University
As it's extremely expensive to attend any of these schools, I'm in huge need of financial aid and scholarships, otherwise it won't matter how good I am at playing the clarinet; I won't have enough money to study there even if I get accepted. So when the school decides which students should receive financial aid (and how much), is my audition even in this aspect the most important factor, or does my application material matter more?
Probably hard to answer, and I understand it's a combination of both, but nonetheless it would be nice to hear your opinions and thoughts!
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2008-11-22 15:03
Those are all excellent universities with competitive admissions processes outside of the music school. You'll have to meet all the requirements, but the music school should have the final word on admission. Sometimes students will be admitted as a non-degree student (Conservatory or Performer's Diploma are among the titles given to these undergraduate level degrees) on a probationary status until they've proven they are able to succeed academically as well as artistically.
Truthfully, if you're a clarinet player looking to go to school for little or no cost, I'd find another school or two to add to your list as a precautionary measure.
Christopher Nichols, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Clarinet
University of Delaware
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2008-11-22 15:26
vials wrote:
y
>
> As it's extremely expensive to attend any of these schools, I'm
> in huge need of financial aid and scholarships, otherwise it
> won't matter how good I am at playing the clarinet; I won't
> have enough money to study there even if I get accepted. So
> when the school decides which students should receive financial
> aid (and how much), is my audition even in this aspect the most
> important factor, or does my application material matter more?
It depends on where the scholarship money comes from - if the music school - audition - if needs-based - FAFSA and other material, etc.
My son went to CIM, so admissions was based on audition + academics (since Case-Western provides the academic side, you had to meet minimum qualifications for Case-Western). His scholarship money came from the music school (audition), unfortunately not the academics ![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif)
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2008-11-22 15:40
Adding to David's suggestion, make sure that at least one of your safe schools won't break the bank. There are some real bargains hiding out there.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: grifffinity
Date: 2008-11-22 16:19
Financial Aid and Merit scholarship are two different beasts. I am guessing you are not a U.S. citizen based solely on your IP address, so I'm not sure how FAFSA would work for you . FAFSA is a U.S. government college loan, if you are not a U.S. citizen I am fairly certain you cannot apply. However, the government may have a loan program for foreign student or perhaps your own government has a loan program.
Also, the fact that you are an international student may help or hurt, depending on the schools culture. Some schools absolutely cater (ie. full ride) to international students while others favor local students (state schools offer lower tuition rates to state residence).
As noted above, you may be accepted to the Music Dept. but denied acceptance into the school based on academic record. You can't rely on the Clarinet alone unless you are auditioning for a Conservatory of Music - as most do not require or really consider SAT or GRE scores.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2008-11-22 17:46
grifffinity wrote:
> You can't rely on the Clarinet alone unless you are auditioning
> for a Conservatory of Music - as most do not require or really
> consider SAT or GRE scores.
If you want a bachelors degree at a conservatory (such as CIM) then academics count. If you want a performance certificate then they don't.
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Author: bcl1dso
Date: 2008-11-22 19:57
I obviously can't comment on what you will get for financial aid, however as far as USC goes, there are usually about 95 applicants and the top 5 are the ones who will recieve a scholarship based on audition.
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Author: vials
Date: 2008-11-22 21:13
thanks for all the replies! yes I'm an international student, from Sweden, so the FAFSA won't work for me as I've understood it. Adding a safe school is of course a good idea, but the reason I decided not to do that is that if I don't get accepted to any of the "top" schools in the U.S, then I feel I might as well continue my clarinet education here in Sweden, which by the way is totally free. And also, the application deadline for most schools are Dec 1, which means I don't have time to apply to a large number of schools; I'm already worried about not finishing my application essays for these 3 schools on time :(
bc11dso, do you mean that there usually are 95 clarinetists applying to USC, and that 5 of them get accepted and receive scholarships? I think I'm misunderstanding something, because 5 freshman clarinetists seems like a lot, or is that correct? And the students, like the 5 you're talking about, who do receive scholarships, about how large are these scholarships generally? Are we talking about 5% or 50% of the tuition?
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Author: Dileep Gangolli
Date: 2008-11-22 21:18
I would be real careful of taking on debt given the tuition of an NU or USC. You have to really have a good chance at a career in music to pay four years of tuition, room and board, and expenses at a school like those ones.
Graduate work is usually cheaper and of shorter duration. NU now gives its DMA students free tuition and a generous stipend.
Rather than USC, you may want to research the Colburn School (also in LA) where Gilad teaches as well. That is tuition free and they are trying to become the "Curtis" of the West Coast. I have heard good things about that school.
IU is the cheapest option of the three, and perhaps the best value for doing four years of undergraduate if you do not get a scholarship. Also, they have other programs related to music (music adminstration, music education, etc) that may allow you to explore options if the performing ceases to be a realistic option.
Dileep Gangolli
NU Performance Certificate '93
(pupil of Robert Marcellus)
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Author: vials
Date: 2008-11-22 23:18
Thank you for that information I actually don't know why I haven't considered Colburn. Maybe because I don't here a lot of people talking about it, at least not on this board. And I had no idea that it's tuition free!
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Author: brycon
Date: 2008-11-23 01:26
I auditioned at USC two years ago, and received a pretty good scholarship. I don't know how many students auditioned, but I think only 3 or 4 were accepted. I'm also not sure how many got scholarships, but I think you have a better chance as a graduate student.
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Author: bcl1dso
Date: 2008-11-23 02:28
i mean that of the 95 that audition, 5 total will be accepted. (meaning a mixture of grad and undergrad.) Colburn may be free, however you are then fighting against even better people for fewer spots. With Colburn you also have to send a VERY demanding prescreening DVD.
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