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kccur

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    music theory PhD

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  1. Don't worry about GRE scores. I've heard professors at multiple top schools say that they basically don't care about your GRE scores at all. I think it's one of those things that is generally only required because of university-wide or graduate school policies, and most music schools/departments would be just as happy if they weren't required. Maybe some schools care about GRE scores, or maybe they can sometimes come into play for scholarships/fellowships or if you completely bomb them, but from what I've heard, musicology/theory admissions almost never take GRE scores seriously.
  2. Additionally, some schools change whether they do interviews from year to year. Some schools do interviews for a few of the people on their short list while accepting others without interviewing them. Had that experience when I was applying -- a friend and I were applying to the same place, I got an interview and he didn't so he thought he was out of the running, then it turned out that he was accepted and I was waitlisted. You just never know. While that's almost definitely not the norm, don't count yourself out based on interview notices. And I know you've all heard it already, but it's worth repeating -- applications are a crapshoot, top schools have to reject people they like and think are great every year, schools are factoring in things like research interests and cohort fit, you might get rejected by a school one year and accepted by them the next jut because different admissions committees have different preferences, and whether schools accept or reject your application isn't a reflection of your value as a person or even your value as a scholar. It's stressful, but you're doing great, and you'll get through it.
  3. I'm pretty sure that most of the time, schools aren't going to eliminate your application just because one of your rec letters isn't in at the deadline. I think the first time I was applying I had a problem with a rec letter and it didn't really become an issue until two or three weeks after the deadline. So if any of you are still waiting for one, you're probably okay as long as it's in soon. Good luck, try not to stress too much (as if it's possible to help it)
  4. Definitely sit in a class if possible (although sometimes you can end up one that may not be particularly representative of the program). Probably the most important thing imo is to talk to the grad students who are already there. Ask them about the culture of the program, how professors of interest are to work with, how they like being there, etc.
  5. Definitely worrying too much It's pretty common for people to take a year off to apply, to have been doing performance or composition before applying to academic tracks, and to have LORs from undergrad professors. The "non-traditional" applicant profile (i.e., anything other than applying right out of some sort of related-field undergrad or masters program) is maybe even more common than "traditional" profiles for ethno programs. That you already have both anthropology/ethnography research experience and performance experience will also be great. As for research interests, I think it's usually good to express a general idea of the subject areas you're interested in (probably particularly for ethno and field/archive research-heavy veins of musicology) but don't feel like you need to pretend that you know exactly what you want to do. I'm no ethnomusicologist, but it basically sounds like you have the sort of background that programs are looking for.
  6. Your scores are probably fine. Every music professor that I've ever heard talk about GRE scores has said that their admissions committees pretty much don't even look at GRE scores. I'm sure there are places where they are a factor, and I've that there are places where the graduate school or university as a whole has minimum score requirements (although I've never actually of specific institutions that do this), but generally speaking I think the GRE score is probably a non-factor. I imagine that committees also know that GRE verbal scores don't accurately reflect anyone's actual understanding of language, much less understanding and ability for international students. You might want to get in touch with the director of graduate studies or a professor of interest at places you're considering applying and ask them about how they weigh GRE scores. I think a lot of times, places will be pretty straight-forward with you about what they value.
  7. kccur

    Applying for Fall 2015

    I didn't apply to very many places (in hindsight, it was stupid of me to not apply to more schools but I eventually got in to my top pick anyways, so it didn't matter in the end), so by mid-March I knew it was down to either staying at the school I was already at or getting in to a different school off the wait list. The faculty were really supportive and understanding that if I got into the place where I was waitlisted that I was going to go, which made things a little easier. I got an email around 3:30 on the 15th from the wait-list school and emailed back the response immediately, it wasn't a big deal for them for the decision to be sent by email rather than post. Best of luck on waiting it out (it worked for me!), and from what I understand it's really rare for it to actually go down to the last hours of the last day for decisions to be made. I would try to trim down your list by around the end of March and just be transparent with the school contacts about what's going on -- they know how the game works, and they'll be understanding if you're waiting on wait-list decisions to make your final choice, but they'll also definitely appreciate it if you can keep them in the loop.
  8. kccur

    Applying for Fall 2015

    I'll second this. I was on a wait-list and was waiting until 3:30pm on April 15th for a person who was accepted to finally make their decision. That was somewhat unpleasant.
  9. kccur

    Applying for Fall 2015

    Yale theory offers are probably out, they tend to go out at the same time as the music history admits. However, wait-list decisions don't always go out at the same time.
  10. kccur

    Applying for Fall 2015

    This week will probably be a big one. Good luck, everyone! (And man, composers, you guys are really making me not sad that I went into theory instead. Your applications/admissions process sounds far more nightmarish than ours, and ours is still a huge pain)
  11. kccur

    Applying for Fall 2015

    Not sure. Also, last year they accepted at least one person without interviewing them, so the Yale picture might not become clear for another week or so.
  12. kccur

    Applying for Fall 2015

    Best of luck! I'm looking forward to hearing how everyone here does once the results start rolling in.
  13. kccur

    Applying for Fall 2015

    Don't worry too much about the lack of interviews. A lot of music theory schools don't do interviews (or, like Yale, sometimes interview and sometimes don't).
  14. kccur

    Applying for Fall 2015

    Just reading this thread made me anxious, and I'm in my PhD program already. Sheesh. Good luck everyone, try to relax as much as possible, and it'll all be over in the only somewhat distant future.
  15. Nooooope, not yet. But I have been kept up to date with things, so I know there are decisions still out and I definitely still have a chance. May not have slept last night, but whatever! It all ends today! Dawn of the final day, 24(ish) hours remain! It's the final countdown! etc., etc.
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