musicmage09

I'd say you're about right. I think the season is winding down. I think we only really have rejections and waitlist acceptances left to hear about.

I received a somewhat generic email from their graduate assistant last Wednesday asking for specific times to conduct an interview. My response was then forwarded to my POI, but I am not sure if all the invitations have gone out yet. You could probably email the graduate student and ask if all invitations have gone out. Send me a message if you want the email address. I received my acceptance from Columbia last week, and again I do not know if they sent out the other acceptances at the same time. I know nothing about NYU as I did not apply, but it seems some other people on this forum are also waiting to hear.from programs there.

Good luck! UPenn is only now holding interviews.

Hi all! I got accepted to Columbia over the weekend. Still making my decision, but would love to hear what people think of Columbia. Cheers!

Thanks : )

Anyone who applied for musicology heard from Yale? I do not know anyone who has been admitted.

frozen yogurt

Nothing on my end from Yale. I can't imagine it will be long before they start calling their top applicants....if they haven't already...

You will find that most schools say that

GRE minimums exist for all schools that ask for it. That is well known. Minimums are the cut off lines. They are not standard across the board or even across departments in a university.

Certainly I myself cannot speak for composition, however I can speak (in a general sense) for programs at prestigious universities. While I understand that we would all like to take comfort in the thought that GRE scores are towards the bottom of the list for importance, they do exist as a requirement for a reason. I agree that standardized tests are not indicators of skill (at least in music--only my opinion of course), however--as I mentioned before-- University-wide fellowships rely on the GRE (and GPA) and therefore this can make the difference between you being one of the accepted or the one on the wait list. When you have three highly qualified applicants and two spots every part counts and can make a difference. It can also grant you the possibility of being an extra acceptance (if the department really wants all three they will try to find funding for the extra person and an option is through one of these university-wide fellowship competitions). Furthermore, schools have a GRE "cut off line" but rarely make that line public (at least my schools did not). I assume this could be because that line fluctuates depending on the number of (highly qualified) applicants in that season. It is no surprise that more selective schools have a higher cut off, and they use GRE scores to weed out applicants. If you scored as I did then you are in the range where you aren't quite sure if your score is high enough for the top of the top-tier schools. If you are feeling confident that your score is that high then you certainly do not need to worry! Of course, there is no exact formula that will get you in (score XXX on GRE, X.X GPA, +recommendations +etc.= you're in!), and certainly different schools have different weights for the various elements of the application (you can get a sense for what they consider most important by viewing the PDF of your application and observing the ordering of the various parts). Naturally, your craft is the most important aspect, and THIS is what makes you a highly qualified applicant. I have researched and asked a lot on the subject as it relates to the musicology programs I applied to (my GRE scores are the weakest part of my applications), and the answers I received (and scenarios that I have passed along) seemed applicable across the board. Certainly, GRE scores should weigh even less for composition majors than for musicology/theory/ethno. I certainly wish GRE scores were not required at my programs.

Usually, departments make "recommendations" to the main graduate department of the candidates they want. Say they recommend three students but the main graduate department decides they only have enough funding for two. At this point the candidates are "equal." Then its a matter of which student can pull more funding (i.e. based on minority status, etc.). University wide fellowships etc. rely heavily on GRE scores (only standardized way to judge candidates from different disciplines). Therefore, the GRE (at certain schools) can determine funding and as a result admittance. This is especially true for departments where its students must receive full funding+stipend.

Looks like I'm in good company. On a more agreeable topic: Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!

Wonder if the same holds true for musicology applicants to Cornell.....typically they release results around this time....any musicologist/theorist/ethno get this email too?

Welcome! Its great to have you join us for this torturous wait. Here is what i know about your schools: Chicago- looks like there were some acceptances Feb. 1 on the board; Harvard- 3 students were offered admission in musicology. There is a waiting list; Duke- one acceptance posted Jan. 24 ; Michigan- there were a couple of acceptances last week; UNC Chapel Hill- board only shows an acceptance to the masters program; Yale/ Cornell/ Penn: I've heard zip from these camps. We might hear from Cornell and/or Penn as early as the end of this week. Anyone else heard from these programs? Any intelligence? I would keep your hopes up! Even if some of the schools have started releasing decisions I wouldn't despair yet. They might not have contacted everyone yet or they maybe re-evaluating their finances. Or you could have been wait listed. Best of luck!

Spoke to someone at Columbia. Department decisions have been made, but now need to be approved through the graduate department which will be holding its meeting later this month.

For anyone applying to Harvard musicology: 3 were accepted. Columbia will not make decisions until after Feb. 19th. Most likely we will hear beginning of March.

I was told the same thing. Originally, I had a long list that included back up schools. Then I was reminded about the competitiveness of the job market for our field. My school hired a new professor this year, and I was able to observe some of the selecting process. All of those offered interviews came from big name schools with the exception of one who was never even interviewed because the job was offered to someone from a big name school (the school was afraid the professor would take an offer from another university). Not that you can't make it with a degree from a lesser known school (especially if its a big school in your field). Certainly if you win big prizes or have a distinguished record it can be done. I suppose I am inclined to believe that the opportunities/ resources/ environment for success are general more available at very prestigious universities/programs, and certainly level of expertise/ experience/ accomplishment is expected when you graduate from these programs. I was told not all doctorates are equal. I was also told that I should only go into this field if I could think of no other way to live my life because the job market is so competitive, and that receiving a degree from a less prestigious school would only make it harder to stand out when the job hunt begins.

Just slept the majority of the weekend. I haven't been able to sleep a night straight through since Mid-January so I kind of collasped this weekend. It was quite refreshing! Besides if you sleep you aren't thinking about applications right..... But now its Monday and the wait takes a major toll on the nerves. I could sleep another weekend away....

Really I think its to early for you to assume you've struck out. You still have plenty of programs to hear from. I am not familiar with any of those "back up" programs but I would really take a look at the faculty and make sure there is someone who would work with your interests. Secondly, would you be happy going to any of those schools? Furthermore, the job market for musicologists is so competitive and you should weigh whether those programs will get you to where you want to be (this is no reflection on these programs. I just know nothing about them).If I strike out I would rather wait til next round and try again. But I understand your feeling of wanting to get in somewhere. If it makes you feel better then apply, but I wouldn't assume defeat yet! You can't give up! I'm sending good luck your way!

Hello! nice to have you join us! I've been thinking about starting a new research project to pass the time. Maybe you could start a new composition? I know the wait is hard. I might hear from a school in the next two weeks but, I do not expect to hear from most until very late Feb. and early March. We definitely will not hear from Columbia until March it seems. Of course that does not stop me from checking all the time!

So maybe there has already been a thread about this but hey technology changes. Anyone want to share their favorite apps that have helped in your research?

I'll be 23 when I start....if i get in...

Wow! Six 30min. interviews! Best of luck! Let us know how it goes. All in all it seems like a nice trip!

My top choice will notify beginning of March