SunnyComposer

After being UNT's waiting list for over a month, I was finally rejected. I sent in my signed acceptance letter to Stony Brook University yesterday. After 2 years of applying, I am breathing a very big and surreal sigh of relief. On top of that, it was a strange mixed-emotions kind of day because of the Boston bombing. I hope no one here was affected. How was everyone else's D-Day? -Sunny

I'm also having trouble deciding! I'm visiting Stony Brook next week again, after having visited Grad Center's prospective music day a couple weeks back. It would be clearer to me if one were really offering me a sweet deal, but both have pluses and minuses. What are your options?

I emailed my POI directly and he gave me the bad (yet expected) news. It's strange that you have to remind some schools to reject you. Ah well.

It's a HUGE composition wing -- 70 students and 7 faculty, but the doctorate is smaller of course. They guarantee a free tuition and TA for all doctoral students, I believe. They have great facilities devoted solely to new music -- their very own performance space with high-tech visual/audio gear, etc, and have access to an incredible student body of many great performers -- now the largest school in the country. I'm also attracted to their collaborations they do with dance, theatre and film. The only draw-back is the isolation of the place, though it's close enough to Dallas/Ft. Worth. Go for it! I'm still waiting to hear from them this year (wait-listed). Good luck!

Did you ask UC Davis via email? I hadn't heard from them, so I asked the head of comp, and then he informally rejected me. Sad that I had to remind them to reject me. You think they'd do that when they make decisions. But I'm pretty sure they've already accepted who they are going to accept. USC takes forever! I had to wait until April to hear from them last year. You'll have way more experience for next year for sure. Good luck!

Hi Daisy, these are great insights, thank you. Yes, you've got the crux of it. I like the way you think -- I'll look more into the specific teachers and make sure they're worth-while to what I do. I'm not saddled by family, and can easily move -- I even know a few folks in the DFW area, so it wouldn't be too lonely. I hear what you're saying too, about growing as an artist -- I could use that. NYC has such a reputation, but the reality is, you spend most of your time just trying to pay rent here. It's a tough thing to determine when and if you've gotten enough out of a place, but that time may be coming for me. I appreciate your feedback! -Sunny

Ah, I see what you mean. I never think in those terms, but you're right, nothing's permanent! I hope they do give me the option, but I'll most likely have to wait until down to the wire to see how it pans out. Thanks for your input!

Hey Composers, I'm in a bit of a quandary. I wonder if y'all might weigh in on the subject: I've been accepted to the PhD program at CUNY with no financial aid. I've also been accepted to Stony Brook with a 75% scholarship. That's about $7000 off the cost. I'm also wait-listed at UNT, which, if they let me in, would promise a full fellowship plus a TA. All 3 would need to hear by April 15. I currently live in Queens and have established myself here as a pianist for 7 years... I'm weighing making the move to Texas should that become an option, because obviously that'd be the better financial deal. Any opinions? Help appreciated! Thanks all. I hope all your paths are clearer than mine at the moment... -Sunny

I known one person who went through that program specifically. I have more friends who did performance or traditional composition at NYU (for their Masters as well). Most give me a mixed review. The faculty is very good, but the school itself is a bit of a mess, and yes, overpriced. I've done quite a few rehearsals and attended concerts there, and can say that i was initially shocked at Steinhardt's lack-luster condition (physically and musically). After 7 years in NY, I can say that the school as a better reputation outside of NY than inside of it. But, I do know that the facilities for recording are top-notch as of a couple years ago, so that's good news for you. Like anywhere, it's probably what you make of it. If I can give any actual advice, I'd say, don't live in the dorms -- they are way overpriced. I'd try to find a cheap room uptown or in Brooklyn. That's assuming that you're not already in the area. Congratulations on getting in! I'm sure there are great experiences to be had there.

"The Jerk"! I love it. In my opinion, there's plenty of time in the day to be a composer AND professional cat-juggler.

I once had a professor tell me, "If you want to play the game, you need to write music that will be competitive." It was a strange lessons, because in effect, he was saying that all you need to do is get your foot in the door, and then you can write whatever music you want. In your case, maybe it's just a matter of making those complex elements obvious in a visual way. I'm not sure, but I totally struggle with the same things. It's a shame that most of our time spent in application is trying to "sell" ourselves as one thing, and of course, we each have more to offer that can possibly summed up in 15 minutes of music and a 1000 word essay.

Hey run_kmc -- nice screen-name btw! I only applied to the "cream of the crop" last year -- all Ivy Leagues and conservatories that get way too many applications and have too few spots. I took a hard look at why I was applying for them, and came to the conclusion that name and reputation alone did not necessarily make a good place for me (this may be obvious to others, but I had to go through that rejection). I came up with some things I knew I was looking for -- schools that fit my interests, an education that would be cheap if not free, a geographic place I would want to spend a few years in, and to have at least a few schools in which I knew I would have more of a chance -- some "back-ups". My approach to submitted materials also became more specific because I knew exactly why I was applying to each school. I still didn't get into my "top choices" this year but I'm not so crushed this time around. What about you?

So true, Karajan, in other words, "When at first you don't succeed, apply, apply again." I got flat out rejection from 6 schools last year -- it was a real blow to my ego (but was good for me too). That made me much more realistic this time around. Even still, the way it's panned out this year, I'm scratching my head until I hear if anyone's offering me mula. My standing at this point: Accepted: Stony Brook, CUNY Wait-listed: UNT, UT Rejected: Princeton, Yale, NYU No Word: Columbia (probably rejected), UC Davis (?) The only one that could potentially offer full funding is UNT, but will have to wait to hear about that. Stony Brook often offers a partial fellowship and a half-TA at least. CUNY only had 2 spots this year for funding, and I'm wait-listed for that. Such a game, such a game.

Ah, I see what you mean. That feels about right. I just chatted with the chair from UNT -- he says it depends on the year, but sometimes it can be a mad scramble on April 15 -- people pull out at the last second and others are offered it. They would be the only ones offering a full ride and TA-ship at this point, so I'm still interested. But, I thought I'd know by next week. To add another month of wondering is pretty awful... Anyway, yes, season is winding down finally!

Thanks Hiroshiman!