Top 30 schools / SLACs where music could be a "hook"?

[Anonymous]

Have already done a lot of brainstorming with counselor and kid, but wondering if anyone has insights about selective schools WITHOUT a school of music (so, just regular BA in music with no audition required) where applying as a music major (having talent + activities to back it up) can be a tip? Someone mentioned Duke on another thread as actively looking for music majors. Wondering if this is a real thing.

[Anonymous]

Every single top school appreciates a student with TRUE musical accomplishment. Is your kid the best in his state at their instrument? If not, then it will be tough.

[Anonymous]

It might also depend on the instrument? Everyone and their grandma, including my DC, plays piano. Bagpipes or the accordion may be more exciting to an AO.

That said, I’d be interested to know which schools are seeking music (double) majors.

[Anonymous]

Skidmore really likes students with musical backgrounds. They allow the submission of arts supplementals even if the applicant isn’t planning to major or minor in music.

I recommend looking for schools that accept artistic submissions with the applications, as that indicates it’s something they review, value, and consider.

[Anonymous]

Not sure what you’re looking for exactly…yes, music accompaniments are good ECs. But, you want to say your kid is going to major in music but don’t want to send an audition tape? Why? If you’re talented enough to major in music a tape should be no problem.

[Anonymous]

Following up on my post above, this looks like a good list to start from that outlines schools that accept and consider artistic supplementals and portfolio submissions.

https://www.ivyscholars.com/art-portfolios-for-top-colleges/

[Anonymous]

The ability to contribute to a school's musical culture absolutely can be a hook at some schools, and no, you don't need national awards or to be the best ever for musical (or other artistic) talent to help in the process. But your DC does need to be both very, very good and likely to contribute to the school's music scene AND be able to show all that on a music supplement.

Start by looking at whether the schools your DC is interested in offer the opportunity to provide music supplement (that will be on the school's admissions website). If they do, it generally means that they might consider it as some sort of hook. Then see whether what your kid has meets what they are looking for.

Just be aware that music supplements take a LOT of work -- often way more than typical essays and supplements. Schools with supplements typically want videos of multiple pieces -- sometimes very specific categories of pieces -- as well as music specific resumes and extra short essays describing how they would participate in the school's music scene.

My sense from my DC's experience is that a great music supplement isn't going to make up for not meeting the mark on academic criteria, but it absolutely could give a kid who is one of the many who meet those criteria the factor that moves them into the yes pile.

[Anonymous]

Awards in music?
If not, it’s not really relevant

[Anonymous]

This is a massive hook for Pomona

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Awards in music?
If not, it’s not really relevant

\

I really don't know where this view comes from. Having gone through the process with kid who got into multiple Top 30s, including T15s, with no national awards but plenty of demonstrated talent, I can tell you this is just not true. Schools that take this seriously forward the supplements to the relevant music/instrumental professors, and they evaluate the student's talent, presumably along with the dedication they've shown as well as the likelihood they will pursue music in college. A student with great videos and experience is going to win out every time against a kid with a national award but not a great video.

[Anonymous]

Swarthmore desperately needs trumpet players. They are losing their entire trumpet section at the end of this year.

My daughter was the only accepted student from her high school into Swarthmore. She submitted a Music portfolio and is double majoring in music and mathematics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have already done a lot of brainstorming with counselor and kid, but wondering if anyone has insights about selective schools WITHOUT a school of music (so, just regular BA in music with no audition required) where applying as a music major (having talent + activities to back it up) can be a tip? Someone mentioned Duke on another thread as actively looking for music majors. Wondering if this is a real thing.

Northwestern? One of the Music BAs may not require an audition.
Brown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what you’re looking for exactly…yes, music accompaniments are good ECs. But, you want to say your kid is going to major in music but don’t want to send an audition tape? Why? If you’re talented enough to major in music a tape should be no problem.

OP here. No, they would send in an arts supplement for sure. Some schools with actual, stand-alone music schools that grant BMs (in addition to BAs, maybe) require pre-screen videos and auditions - I'm not asking about those. I'm wondering specifically about schools that don't require that, don't admit by music major, but would look favorably on a kid who plans to major in music and be a very active musician on campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a massive hook for Pomona

Source?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a massive hook for Pomona

Source?

Admissions. Musi recruitment is the same boost as athletic according to our regional AO