This is the LAST THREAD I'll make about college applications

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Sorry guys, it's just that I won't be able to sleep until like March.

I've submitted my prescreening materials already, and now I have to play the waiting game.  But I'l still in the dark concerning my chances of getting in to the colleges I want to get in to.  So this is the list that I'm concerned about.  Keep in mind that I have some other schools I'm doing, but I'm not too worried about them.

U of I (urbana)
Oberlin conservatory
New England conservatory
San Francisco conservatory of music
Depaul

I NEED TO KNOW MY CHANCES!!!  I like haven't blinked or sat down since I submitted my freaking applications!!!  Can I at least get past the prescreenings?  How many people usually audition for freshman undergraduate piano at these schools?  What's the acceptance rate for piano specifically?  etc...

Most of my prescreening audition is in the audition room.  If you want me to send you them privately, then I'll be semi-happy to do so.  

[j_menz]

You should probably check out https://www.campusdiscovery.com; they seem to have an overall  chance of admission thingie for each college.

NEC has a 28% success rate overall, but may vary from course to course according to their web site.

In some cases it also depends on your academic results.

 IMO, your audition material should get you to an audition for all of them; the live screening is then up to you.

BTW - change the title to "last thread I'll make about college applications". We all look forward to many more about your life and experiences at whichever of them is wise enough to accept you.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

You should probably check out https://www.campusdiscovery.com; they seem to have an overall  chance of admission thingie for each college.

NEC has a 28% success rate overall, but may vary from course to course according to their web site.

In some cases it also depends on your academic results.

 IMO, your audition material should get you to an audition for all of them; the live screening is then up to you.

BTW - change the title to "last thread I'll make about college applications". We all look forward to many more about your life and experiences at whichever of them is wise enough to accept you.

Just changed the title. 

That website doesn't exactly help me out because I don't know about the piano department admissions rate.

[j_menz]

That website doesn't exactly help me out because I don't know about the piano department admissions rate.

True, but it also doesn't tell you how they weight the various components of your application or indeed how good those components are in your case.

I'm afraid it's just a waiting game for now. The only thing you can do to affect the outcome is to make damn sure your up to speed for your live auditions.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I'm afraid it's just a waiting game for now. The only thing you can do to affect the outcome is to make damn sure your up to speed for your live auditions.

*stretching*

Well...!

Got some work to do...

[j_menz]

Got some work to do...

So go do it. If you do, you'll be fine.

[Bob]

You'll never know.  One of the profs could decide to take on another student and hey.. That's you.  Or they might not like you for some reason and you're out.  You'll never find out.

Is this just for music?  I thought there was another set of hurdles to jump through to get into places in general, not specifically for music.  But being accepted into a program meant you were pretty much in the place "generally."  Two ways you had to be accepted.

I've heard of New England and Oberlin.  DePaul I think too... I might be mixing that up with somewhere else though.

[tchristec]

Just wanted to say good luck with your applications.  I'm sure you will get into a great program.

[outin]

You think now that the waiting will be as bad until March, but it won 't. You are still suffering from the aftermath of all the stress you had from recording and sending your applications. Soon you will have enough other things to worry about (like your math exams) and won't even remember the college thing until you suddenly get those letters and start obsessiong about the live auditions. Don't forget to practice, but I think it might be good to let these pieces rest a bit and work on something else? You might get some new insights to them...

[rachmaninoff_forever]

WHAT THE FREAKING HECK?!!?!

I was supposed to submit my ACT and my secondary school report by freaking yesterday!!!

Oberlin freaking emailed that to me today!!!  What the heck?!!?!?  You should've freaking told me earlier!!!

[j_menz]

You should've freaking told me earlier!!!

Like on their application checklist:

https://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/admissions/apply/checklist.dot

 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Like on their application checklist:

https://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/admissions/apply/checklist.dot

 

Do you think they're gonna penalize me?

[faulty_damper]

Dude, you applied to SF Conservatory...?
I guess you just like the city cause the teachers suck (according to some pianists I know who went there.)

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Dude, you applied to SF Conservatory...?
I guess you just like the city cause the teachers suck (according to some pianists I know who went there.)

You get a free piano.

[j_menz]

Do you think they're gonna penalize me?

I doubt it.

[ajspiano]

Do you think they're gonna penalize me?

Only if you suck at piano...  or in more practical terms, are perceived as being equal to some other auditioning student.

I think you'll find that if your audition is a bit more important than being a day late for something...  at this stage you can get in regardless of what crap you pull because the schools want good pianists in whom they can see potential for improvement - that's all that matters now... good students, that in turn will appreciate their time at the institution and become brilliant make the school look good.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I think you'll find that if your audition is a bit more important than being a day late for something...  at this stage you can get in regardless of what crap you pull because the schools want good pianists in whom they can see potential for improvement - that's all that matters now... good students, that in turn will appreciate their time at the institution and become brilliant make the school look good.

I read somewhere that 80% of the admissions is the audition.

But I'm not gonna be a day late for my secondary school report.  I can't give it to my counselor until tomorrow.  And she'll probably mail it by Tuesady.  Then the school will get it by Thursday.

[Bob]

Colleges are very slow on everything they do.  I've heard the only fast thing they can do is to fire people, IF they're able to actually fire someone.

[ajspiano]

I read somewhere that 80% of the admissions is the audition.

Seems likely..  when I was doing this I did audition prep lessons at the school (there was really only one school) with the department head. He talked about the whole process and my chances of getting in, and it was all very "just make sure your playing is up the scratch, the rest will all get sorted out in due course"..

I also think that you're pretty safe as far as your playing since that was at a high end school and to be fair my playing wasn't that great back then re the course I was looking at and the guy seemed pretty happy about me, which i suspect was all about attitude and desire..  which you have mountains of, to go along with your good playing.

[faulty_damper]

I read somewhere that 80% of the admissions is the audition.

If you can play, they'll want you.  They won't penalize you.

At my previous school, one of the piano teachers liked one of the auditions so much that she hunted down the person to get the missing paperwork which wasn't even submitted.  I don't think the auditioner accepted the seat because she was accepted to another school.   But anyway, if you're good, they'll want you.

[faulty_damper]

You get a free piano.

You do not!  You get a practice room.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

You do not!  You get a practice room.

Oh really?  Is that so?

https://www.sfcm.edu/piano

Piano Lending Program: pianos owned by the Conservatory are loaned to students free of charge for home use for the duration of their studies

[j_menz]

Don't borrow a Fazioli - you'll be charged a fortune when you get it wet from all that crying.

[faulty_damper]

Oh really?  Is that so?

https://www.sfcm.edu/piano

Wow, they're really desperate.

But it's not a free piano; it's just a loan.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I got freaking denied to San freaking Francisco!  They didn't even invite me to a live audition!


SO...  That school had like a 38-40% acceptance rate.  Does that mean that I'll get denied to my other top two schools whose acceptance rate are both like 30%?

But San Francisco did only have 188 students while Oberlin has 615 and NEC has like 775 students.  359 graduate and 416 undergraduate. 

If I don't get in to one of those, then my plans for winning the heart of Valentina Lisitsa will be sabotaged!  But my teacher said that I'm not getting into NEC...  So I have to freaking get into Oberlin or else I'll have to find another girl to help me end the world!!!

[j_menz]

That school had like a 38-40% acceptance rate.  Does that mean that I'll get denied to my other top two schools whose acceptance rate are both like 30%?

Only if they apply exactly the same criteria and the same approach when assessing audition recordings. I doubt either of those are the case (and don't think the latter is even possible).

[p2u_]

If I don't get in to one of those, then my plans for winning the heart of Valentina Lisitsa will be sabotaged!

I'm sure Valentina likes you already the way you are. She might even comfort you by saying that your are actually in good company: even Franz Liszt was denied admittance to conservatory and not for incompetence (in the French capital called Paris an Italian - Luigi Cherubini - denies a Hungarian - Franz Liszt just because he's a foreigner; what a system, man!).
P.S.: Take your time. Even if you can't get in anywhere right now, it's not the end of the world yet (no pun intended).

Paul

[rachmaninoff_forever]

P.S.: Take your time. Even if you can't get in anywhere right now, it's not the end of the world yet (no pun intended).

Paul

Of course it's not the end of the world!  Wanna know why?  Because I haven't ended it yet!

[rachmaninoff_forever]

(and don't think the latter is even possible).

What the heck does "the latter" mean?!

[j_menz]

What the heck does "the latter" mean?!

I mentioned two matters (the same criteria and the same approach); "the latter" means the second of them (the same approach).

[perprocrastinate]

EDIT: Well, j_menz beat me to it, but what the heck?

What the heck does "the latter" mean?!

https://lmgtfy.com/?q=define%3A+latter

This is meant to briefly ridicule you in a totally friendly, non-condescending way.

Enjoy.

[j_menz]

https://lmgtfy.com/?q=define%3A+latter

LOL - I am so stealing that! 

[ahinton]

If I don't get in to one of those, then my plans for winning the heart of Valentina Lisitsa will be sabotaged!

I suppose that it was only a matter of time. Is there a subject that you can discuss without bringing her into it at some point?

Best,

Alistair

[starlady]

I suppose that it was only a matter of time. Is there a subject that you can discuss without bringing her into it at some point?

Best,

Alistair

Ah, c'est l'amour........

[rachmaninoff_forever]

What the heck I freking misread the repertoire section for my application and freaking only put in my audition program!!!

[oxy60]

Did Julliard close? No one is mentioning it.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Did Julliard close? No one is mentioning it.

Who's doing Juilliard?

[cmg]

I

If I don't get in to one of those, then my plans for winning the heart of Valentina Lisitsa will be sabotaged!  But my teacher said that I'm not getting into NEC...  So I have to freaking get into Oberlin or else I'll have to find another girl to help me end the world!!!

Now, now, don't panic.  Valentina is here by my side as I type this and she wants you to know that her two last boyfriends were a) a failed tuba player and b) an accordion player who had a pet monkey and worked the subway tunnels of NYC.  She is very democratic and not at all a snob. 

She STILL has room in her heart for you, she said.  Just don't give up.  SHE HATES QUITTERS!

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Now, now, don't panic.  Valentina is here by my side as I type this and she wants you to know that her two last boyfriends were a) a failed tuba player and b) an accordion player who had a pet monkey and worked the subway tunnels of NYC.  She is very democratic and not at all a snob. 

She STILL has room in her heart for you, she said.  Just don't give up.  SHE HATES QUITTERS!

I must try my absolute best for Valentina Lisitsa!!!

[outin]

What the heck I freking misread the repertoire section for my application and freaking only put in my audition program!!!

It seems your playing is much better than your ability to fill in applications...If you notice clear mistakes, it may be worth to ask if you can send in corrections/corrections...don't know how strict the procedure is around there.

[faulty_damper]

Yeah, my ability to do a job is much better than my ability to apply for one.  There really needs to be a class on how to apply for a job for all college majors.

[emill]

I got freaking denied to San freaking Francisco!  They didn't even invite me to a live audition!

HHmmmnnn....  the last word we had from San Francisco Conservatory was - "If you have requested to audition in San Francisco or at a regional audition site, you will receive your audition schedule by email before the holiday break." 

We requested to audition in Boston.....  but that was about 2 weeks ago and until now no word yet .....   ahhhhhh .....  this is nerve wracking for the parents..... but my son seems to taking it in stride and concentrating instead on his coming solo recital on January 12.

I think we made a mistake by applying in too many schools (10) ....hehheee   I likely developed stomach ulcers from the stress generated in filling up a mountain of questions and the nightmarish experience of uploading almost 1.5 gb of video files per school when our upload speed is at best 200 Kbps, taking almost 24 hours per school.  The severe frustration on 2 occasions when we were 90% finished with the upload only to find out that the internet stopped!!!   ggggrrrrr...

So far we have been invited to a live audition in 2 schools..... hoping for the best. GOOD LUCK TO YOU TOO .... take it easy.... it is in their hands now.

[oxy60]

HHmmmnnn....  the last word we had from San Francisco Conservatory was - "If you have requested to audition in San Francisco or at a regional audition site, you will receive your audition schedule by email before the holiday break." 

We requested to audition in Boston.....  but that was about 2 weeks ago and until now no word yet .....   ahhhhhh .....  this is nerve wracking for the parents..... but my son seems to taking it in stride and concentrating instead on his coming solo recital on January 12.

I think we made a mistake by applying in too many schools (10) ....hehheee   I likely developed stomach ulcers from the stress generated in filling up a mountain of questions and the nightmarish experience of uploading almost 1.5 gb of video files per school when our upload speed is at best 200 Kbps, taking almost 24 hours per school.  The severe frustration on 2 occasions when we were 90% finished with the upload only to find out that the internet stopped!!!   ggggrrrrr...

So far we have been invited to a live audition in 2 schools..... hoping for the best. GOOD LUCK TO YOU TOO .... take it easy.... it is in their hands now.

What a terrible experience! My advice to others is to upgrade your connection before you start uploading. It will cost more but will be well worth it just for the month or so you need. It is a bit of a secret that up and download speeds on most services are QUITE different.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I think we made a mistake by applying in too many schools (10) ....hehheee  I likely developed stomach ulcers from the stress generated in filling up a mountain of questions and the nightmarish experience of uploading almost 1.5 gb of video files per school when our upload speed is at best 200 Kbps, taking almost 24 hours per school.  The severe frustration on 2 occasions when we were 90% finished with the upload only to find out that the internet stopped!!!   ggggrrrrr...

This was PRECISELY the reason why I uploaded the prescreenings at the school.  And even at the school it took me like freaking a whole day to upload them.

I wish I could audition to more schools, but my parents didn't want to pay for the application.

[cmg]

I think we made a mistake by applying in too many schools (10) ....hehheee  I likely developed stomach ulcers from the stress generated in filling up a mountain of questions and the nightmarish experience of uploading almost 1.5 gb of video files per school when our upload speed is at best 200 Kbps, taking almost 24 hours per school.  The severe frustration on 2 occasions when we were 90% finished with the upload only to find out that the internet stopped!!!   ggggrrrrr...

This is why I detest computers!  They DO NOT simplify our lives!  They DO NOT streamline our lives.  They are a needless, geeky complication.  In the Dark Ages when I applied to schools, you put the whole, useless boring horse manure pile of application bilge into a fat envelope (along with the absurd check) and shoved in your audio CD.  You went to the Post Office and mailed the damned thing.  Done!  In 1/100th of the time.

(The world HAS ended . . . but no one can really tell because they're stuck in front of some stupid computer screen!!!)

I wonder if Valentina has these problems???    

[emill]

I wish I could audition to more schools, but my parents didn't want to pay for the application.

Don't know really what to say as I am a parent too . . . . to a young man-teen who is wide-eyed and in awe about music school.  I am sure you have GOOD parents and must have their good reasons for not fully supporting your desire.  

As a father and if only the "practical" side of the whole thing is considered, I would have done the same thing to Enzo, my son.  The world is filled with brilliant piano prodigies who have been way laid by the dozens into emotional and economic depression (not a slump, mind you) in the terribly competitive world of the piano which in the last decades have had a surely fast dwindling audience. Being an engineer, a doctor or a dentist offers an infinitely better chance of "success" for the future.

Being the father, and being "Asian" where parental control pervades throughout the children's lives, I wanted to put my foot down on the whole matter and have my son take a second "backup" course aside from the piano .... here in Manila and not in the US.

But how does a father steer his son away from his happiness and joy?  How does a father guarantee to his son that his plan for his son's life is the superior plan?  How does a father live with the fact that he may be suppressing  a gift for the arts and music that his son may possess? ETc...etc..etc...

Perhaps these are the questions your parents are going through and can't seem to communicate with you?  Perhaps their decision not to fully support your desire to apply in many schools is an expression of their wish that you take up something else???  It is most likely that they are wishing that you be on the more "practical side" of things.  Perhaps the they feel that they are doing what they feel is best for you.

Maybe a weak side of our culture is being fatalistic.  We as parents have decided to support our son's wish to someday become an accomplished pianist and we leave the rest to GOD!  Is that a good thing .... logically NO!!!  MY is it difficult to be a parent!!!

[cmg]

Being the father, and being "Asian" where parental control pervades throughout the children's lives, I wanted to put my foot down on the whole matter and have my son take a second "backup" course aside from the piano .... here in Manila and not in the US.

But how does a father steer his son away from his happiness and joy?  How does a father guarantee to his son that his plan for his son's life is the superior plan?  How does a father live with the fact that he may be suppressing  a gift for the arts and music that his son may possess? ETc...etc..etc...


Maybe a weak side of our culture is being fatalistic.  We as parents have decided to support our son's wish to someday become an accomplished pianist and we leave the rest to GOD!  Is that a good thing .... logically NO!!!  MY is it difficult to be a parent!!!

My parents discouraged it and I was upset.  But I did a regular liberal arts schooling, continued to study piano there, graduated, worked as a journalist and realized I couldn't let go of music.  So, I decided a good compromise would be to write about music, criticism and reviewing.  So, I went back to school and quickly got a masters in piano performance and guess what I realized after doing all those recitals, master classes, lecture recitals, etc?  I realized that it would be intolerable -- knowing how difficult it is to play the piano beautifully -- to devote my life criticizing my betters.

So, back to square one.  Then it hit me:  my folks always wanted me to have a profession for safety.  So, I became what I am now:  a psychoanalyst.  I specialize in performance anxiety and work with musicians and actors.  I hear their complaints and also their great joys at being performers.  No performance life is "easy."  I admire them for their choice and sacrifices.  But, you know what, I don't envy them.  Music is my mistress not my wife.  It's an easier life for me.

I think you can only be a pianist, an actor, a painter, a writer if doing without it would be the ruination of your life.  Almost like a drug.  You MUST have it.  I'm not that sure, however, that life has so few options, so I expanded mine.  I'm quite happy with my choices and would not do them over.

What would I say to my son or daughter who wanted a music career?  I'd explain the realities of it, warn them against it in this miserable economic climate, but I ultimately would let them make the choice.  If it's the wrong choice, it's fixable and there are other avenues to success and gratification in a career.  Many people find their true callings in their mid to late 30s after trial and error.  With that experience comes maturity and the correct career decision.

Don't worry, Dad!  Let him go.  He'll find his own way, particularly if you've been loving and supportive.  And it certainly sounds like you have been.

[emill]

What would I say to my son or daughter who wanted a music career?  I'd explain the realities of it, My parents discouraged it and I was upset.  But I did a regular liberal arts schooling, continued to study piano there, graduated, worked as a journalist and realized I couldn't let go of music.  So, I decided a good compromise would be to write about music, criticism and reviewing.  So, I went back to school and quickly got a masters in piano performance and guess what I realized after doing all those recitals, master classes, lecture recitals, etc?  I realized that it would be intolerable -- knowing how difficult it is to play the piano beautifully -- to devote my life criticizing my betters.

So, back to square one.  Then it hit me:  my folks always wanted me to have a profession for safety.  So, I became what I am now:  a psychoanalyst.  I specialize in performance anxiety and work with musicians and actors.  I hear their complaints and also their great joys at being performers.  No performance life is "easy."  I admire them for their choice and sacrifices.  But, you know what, I don't envy them.  Music is my mistress not my wife.  It's an easier life for me.

I think you can only be a pianist, an actor, a painter, a writer if doing without it would be the ruination of your life.  Almost like a drug.  You MUST have it.  I'm not that sure, however, that life has so few options, so I expanded mine.  I'm quite happy with my choices and would not do them over.
warn them against it in this miserable economic climate, but I ultimately would let them make the choice.  If it's the wrong choice, it's fixable and there are other avenues to success and gratification in a career.  Many people find their true callings in their mid to late 30s after trial and error.  With that experience comes maturity and the correct career decision.

Don't worry, Dad!  Let him go.  He'll find his own way, particularly if you've been loving and supportive.  And it certainly sounds like you have been. 

Thanks, that made me feel better!!  .....  and in all probability as you said .... he will likely find his true calling later.

I was trying to look at rachmaninoff_forever's - "I wish I could audition to more schools, but my parents didn't want to pay for the application. "  I felt that it was likely not as simple as, my parents did not want to pay for the applications.  So I tried guessing what could have gone through their minds which went through mine.  Your answer surely will add more meaningful insights.  THANKS!

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Thanks, that made me feel better!!   .....  and in all probability as you said .... he will likely find his true calling later.

I was trying to look at rachmaninoff_forever's - "I wish I could audition to more schools, but my parents didn't want to pay for the application. "  I felt that it was likely not as simple as, my parents did not want to pay for the applications.  So I tried guessing what could have gone through their minds which went through mine.  Your answer surely will add more meaningful insights.  THANKS!

They really didn't want to pay for the applications.  Well, my dad didn't,  but my mom couldn't afford it.  My dad is the real problem here.  He hasn't even payed for one piano lesson in all of my eight years of playing.  

Anyways, which schools did your son hear back from?

[oxy60]

Looking back a lot of years on my music major, I have come to the conclusion that it is not the school that is important but who is teaching there, especially in performance specialties. A student needs to hear about how it really goes in the commercial music world. I had to find that out after I graduated. What a shock it was to descend from the ivory tower into the market square!