Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beautiful campus. Excellent institution. Some top programs. Proximity to Chicago.

Mine was accepted last year, and it was one of her final choices. She chose elsewhere in part because of the inflexibility of the music dept.

You probably know this, but ED does not increase chances greatly. Mine was admitted RD. Friend, excellent student w/ excellent ECs, was rejected in ED.

How was the music department inflexible? My DD is applying.

Mine did not want to major in music, even though she would be a contender for performance, but they wouldn't let her take the departmental music theory classes or instrument lessons as a nonmajor, even though she is a serious musician and composer. There was some intro to music theory for non-majors available, but she is already beyond that. They wouldn't even let her take it if she got a composition minor (& they don't have any performance minors). Not sure how composition minors are supposed to get any decent theory to base orchestration on. They told her to do a music major -- ask to audition for dual degree or take a gen music major (which would not get her the lessons, only the music theory) -- and then drop it. If yours is planning on majoring, it shouldn't be a problem, but if they are a serious musician who does not want to major, it likely will.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beautiful campus. Excellent institution. Some top programs. Proximity to Chicago.

Mine was accepted last year, and it was one of her final choices. She chose elsewhere in part because of the inflexibility of the music dept.

You probably know this, but ED does not increase chances greatly. Mine was admitted RD. Friend, excellent student w/ excellent ECs, was rejected in ED.

How was the music department inflexible? My DD is applying.

Not the PP, but there are certain classes/ensembles you cannot be a part of if you are not a music major. You won't be in the Symphony Orch or Wind Ensemble (top Orch and Band) if you are not a music major. You cannot take the normal Music theory and Music history if you are not a music major---you will be taking Music Theory Lite/MH Lite.
However, if you are a music major and double major with something else, the music dept is extremely flexible.
Because you need to remember, that NU's music dept is in the Top 5 in the country and competes with Music Conservatories. It's audition based for the top groups and top teachers.

This sounds quite… reasonable?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beautiful campus. Excellent institution. Some top programs. Proximity to Chicago.

Mine was accepted last year, and it was one of her final choices. She chose elsewhere in part because of the inflexibility of the music dept.

You probably know this, but ED does not increase chances greatly. Mine was admitted RD. Friend, excellent student w/ excellent ECs, was rejected in ED.

How was the music department inflexible? My DD is applying.

Not the PP, but there are certain classes/ensembles you cannot be a part of if you are not a music major. You won't be in the Symphony Orch or Wind Ensemble (top Orch and Band) if you are not a music major. You cannot take the normal Music theory and Music history if you are not a music major---you will be taking Music Theory Lite/MH Lite.
However, if you are a music major and double major with something else, the music dept is extremely flexible.
Because you need to remember, that NU's music dept is in the Top 5 in the country and competes with Music Conservatories. It's audition based for the top groups and top teachers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern much more down to earth than many other schools.

I’m the person who hated Northwestern myself but think it’s a fine school.

To me, it seemed to be a very hardheaded, practical, down-to-earth place. Example: I can’t remember anyone talking about any books, movies, plays, musicians or TV shows outside of class. Some of the class readings were wonderful, and one of us talked about them.

So, if my experience was typical, it might be more of a place for down-to-earth students who see getting a degree as a means to an end than for students who want to talk about literature and philosophy over cups of espresso till 4 a.m.

This wasn't my experience at all. We all got together and watched Battlestar Galactica on Friday nights, for one. And music and plays? Jones did that open mic every Sunday. There were all kind of theater, music, and dance stuff even for non majors.

Yeah, I do not think this Northwestern hater made any effort to partake in all NU has to offer. Jones was a great place for students from all backgrounds---we even discussed books and non-music/theater/arts stuff. I had a variety of friends into many different interests. You just had to make an effort (really not much) to find that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Need blind and 100% of need met.

perhaps, but to be clear, that is determined by FAFSA, which most people reading this (ourselves included) will receive a 100% EFC from . . . so before getting people excited about something they will never see, tell them to

a) do the calculator on Northwestern's page. If they get anything promised take a snapshot of it.
b) but don't believe, file FAFSA (and CSS) early and find out where you really are because, truly, most of DCUM people reading here will get 100% EFC as we did.
c) don't count on merit or financial aid until you've done the above.

How is that different from anywhere else? Are you a Northwestern Financial Aid Officer?

Anonymous wrote:Beautiful campus. Excellent institution. Some top programs. Proximity to Chicago.

Mine was accepted last year, and it was one of her final choices. She chose elsewhere in part because of the inflexibility of the music dept.

You probably know this, but ED does not increase chances greatly. Mine was admitted RD. Friend, excellent student w/ excellent ECs, was rejected in ED.

Not sure if you’ll come back and see this, PP, but my child is currently interested in NU and its music school, so I’m wondering if you could explain more about those inflexibilities….? TIA!

Very similar to school to Duke and Penn, with an artsier bent. Excellent programs, phenomenal for media industry pipeline. One can only wonder how much lower it’s acceptance rate can go.

Anonymous wrote: Need blind and 100% of need met.

perhaps, but to be clear, that is determined by FAFSA, which most people reading this (ourselves included) will receive a 100% EFC from . . . so before getting people excited about something they will never see, tell them to

a) do the calculator on Northwestern's page. If they get anything promised take a snapshot of it.
b) but don't believe, file FAFSA (and CSS) early and find out where you really are because, truly, most of DCUM people reading here will get 100% EFC as we did.
c) don't count on merit or financial aid until you've done the above.

Anonymous wrote:Beautiful campus. Excellent institution. Some top programs. Proximity to Chicago.

Mine was accepted last year, and it was one of her final choices. She chose elsewhere in part because of the inflexibility of the music dept.

You probably know this, but ED does not increase chances greatly. Mine was admitted RD. Friend, excellent student w/ excellent ECs, was rejected in ED.

How was the music department inflexible? My DD is applying.

Need blind and 100% of need met.

ED is critical. Lots of great kids are rejected both ED and RD. Yield is very important to them. So is full pay. Geographic diversity is a good hook (VA, MD and dc don’t help). I believe all of this, but question the full pay angle. Isn't Northwestern need-blind?

According to our private counselor, all schools, even those with large endowments, pay attention to how many students in each class are full pay v need aid (and within that group, how much aid they need).

Anonymous wrote:ED is critical. Lots of great kids are rejected both ED and RD. Yield is very important to them. So is full pay.

Geographic diversity is a good hook (VA, MD and dc don’t help)

I believe all of this, but question the full pay angle. Isn't Northwestern need-blind?

ED is critical. Lots of great kids are rejected both ED and RD. Yield is very important to them. So is full pay.

Geographic diversity is a good hook (VA, MD and dc don’t help)

Beautiful campus. Excellent institution. Some top programs. Proximity to Chicago.

Mine was accepted last year, and it was one of her final choices. She chose elsewhere in part because of the inflexibility of the music dept.

You probably know this, but ED does not increase chances greatly. Mine was admitted RD. Friend, excellent student w/ excellent ECs, was rejected in ED.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern much more down to earth than many other schools.

I’m the person who hated Northwestern myself but think it’s a fine school.

To me, it seemed to be a very hardheaded, practical, down-to-earth place. Example: I can’t remember anyone talking about any books, movies, plays, musicians or TV shows outside of class. Some of the class readings were wonderful, and one of us talked about them.

So, if my experience was typical, it might be more of a place for down-to-earth students who see getting a degree as a means to an end than for students who want to talk about literature and philosophy over cups of espresso till 4 a.m.

This wasn't my experience at all. We all got together and watched Battlestar Galactica on Friday nights, for one. And music and plays? Jones did that open mic every Sunday. There were all kind of theater, music, and dance stuff even for non majors.