here in Portugal you can have a degree in music when you finish the conservatory, and that over 8th grade.
but you can have classes (really good ones) in some school and also go to university.
in spite off the background, you ave to make 2 exams before you are accepted, one in for example Portuguese (totally related to music) and other in the instrument you want to play.
a grade 3... is not ready to such environment... at least a 5 and more I suppose... just to survive.
just for curiosity, what is her major now? maybe it was a best ideia for to finish what she is doing now...
way doesn't she finnishy her major study piano to improve and get to a bigger level? then she would be in the level of the other piano majors or she could do other kind of exams to be able to be a pianist... I'm going to do this... kind of lolz
I'm doing History and learning piano and getting ready to make the exam fr the 5th grade in the conservatory as an external student, and then I will work my way to the 8th grade, and when I have money I will enter the conservatory and have the conservatory course because I can jump right to the last year XD