Kand

Just some advice on those applyingto musicology: Research is incredibly important as is presenting. If you are applying to the Ivies without presenting you better write a killer set of essays because most people applying will have this kind of experience. As far as applying straight from an undergraduate degree: I asked about this at each place I visited. All of them said they had close to 50/50 (half without masters and half with). In my cohort I believe only one of the three (in historical) has a masters. Where you did your previous degrees does not really matter as long as you can show that you have taken as much advantage of the resources available there. Best of luck everyone! I remember being where you all are now.I am available if you have any questions!

Hi George.
 
I'm also finishing my first year of a master's program and plan on applying for fall of 2014. Although there is still some time to build on the CV, I've been able to get a few publications in professional journals and two conference presentations this spring. Aside from that, I think finding professor(s) with similar interests is immensely important in choosing the schools you apply to. I, like you, plan on applying to an Ivy (Harvard) and match up with several of the faculty members there (I'm focused on 20th/21st cent. music, modernism, etc.). 
 
At least in my experience from the previous application season, which I unfortunately went into with little guidance, I get the sense that your GPA is the lowest bar that will basically get your application looked at (so it needs to be solid!) and where you did your undergraduate is probably of little to no importance. I personally went to an "unexposed" school for undergrad and had a bit of complex about it during the last app season. I'd like to think that it isn't a huge deal, particularly considering that where you do the master's degree is far more relevant and topical. GRE scores also appear to be hit or miss depending on the school, although it seems verbal/writing is the only thing that might be looked at. The writing samples are of paramount importance, along with the SOP and recommendations, so cultivating your personal writing style and relationships with professors is crucial.

Ultimately, I think the admission committees want to see a master's student that has demonstrated an ability to conduct quality research and has at least some experience presenting that research at a conference. Anything you can do in the publications/conference aspect of your CV would be immensely beneficial. There is still plenty of time to apply for those and the networking is great! 

I'm actually curious if anyone here is studying at UC Berkeley currently. I would love to work with Richard Taruskin, but I'm worried he may retire soon!

My fellow travelers: A number of years ago I met with the dean of the music department of a local university at his suggestion.Long story short, he was demeaning and condescending, insisting that because my primary instrument is voice I cannot read music having learned everything by rote. (I didn't bother advising him that having also studied piano, I can read three clefs and, if I've had enough coffee, four.) After that meeting I abandoned the idea of graduate work in ethnomusicology. I revisited this path last summer and applied to five schools to begin work in the fall of 2013. I followed the rules, filled out the forms, assembled the documents, paid the fees and did my due diligence. I admit, I had lousy grades as a Political Science major in college, but my grades in 42 credits of music courses are mostly As. I scored a 166 on the verbal section of the GRE. I am a licensed attorney so I have a great deal of experience in interviewing, research, and writing. I will be presenting on one topic at an international conference on the arts and humanities next week and another topic at Oxford this summer. Why wasn't I accepted? Who knows? Who cares? It's an entirely subjective process. Lousy grades? I'm too old at 48? I have a child? I have goats? (Yes, I really do have goats.) Since I've probably been around the block several times more than most, if not all, of you -- trust me -- academia is not for those who live in the real world (from which I need a break -- which is I why I wanted to hang out in la-la land for a few years!) Think BIGGER than this chapter! No matter what, LIVE your lives and LIVE your music -- no one needs a piece of paper from an insulated institution and their whopping $20K a year stipend to call oneself a student of music (and that goes double for you composers). For those of you who will be attending a program -- this is just the BEGINNING of your professional lives. Please don't allow yourselves to be seduced by self-importance and complacency. Remember -- someday you will be on a Ph.D. admissions committee.

So, I realize the majority of you will not be checking this forum now that you have been accepted and are all set for the Fall. However, I am planning on applying for Fall 2014. I am working on my Masters in Music History and Literature now and I am just finishing up my first year. I was just wondering what credentials you all have. I understand this is very personal information so if you don't care to reply I understand. But I have been wondering about my chances at some of the Ivy Leagues and other more selective PhD programs in musicology. Where did you get your undergrad? What was your GPA? What did you get on the GRE? Do you have a Masters? Where did you get it? What was your GPA? I don't want to waste thousands on application fees to school where I have no chance. 
Thanks in advance!

Hi George.
 
I'm also finishing my first year of a master's program and plan on applying for fall of 2014. Although there is still some time to build on the CV, I've been able to get a few publications in professional journals and two conference presentations this spring. Aside from that, I think finding professor(s) with similar interests is immensely important in choosing the schools you apply to. I, like you, plan on applying to an Ivy (Harvard) and match up with several of the faculty members there (I'm focused on 20th/21st cent. music, modernism, etc.). 
 
At least in my experience from the previous application season, which I unfortunately went into with little guidance, I get the sense that your GPA is the lowest bar that will basically get your application looked at (so it needs to be solid!) and where you did your undergraduate is probably of little to no importance. I personally went to an "unexposed" school for undergrad and had a bit of complex about it during the last app season. I'd like to think that it isn't a huge deal, particularly considering that where you do the master's degree is far more relevant and topical. GRE scores also appear to be hit or miss depending on the school, although it seems verbal/writing is the only thing that might be looked at. The writing samples are of paramount importance, along with the SOP and recommendations, so cultivating your personal writing style and relationships with professors is crucial.

Ultimately, I think the admission committees want to see a master's student that has demonstrated an ability to conduct quality research and has at least some experience presenting that research at a conference. Anything you can do in the publications/conference aspect of your CV would be immensely beneficial. There is still plenty of time to apply for those and the networking is great! 

I'm actually curious if anyone here is studying at UC Berkeley currently. I would love to work with Richard Taruskin, but I'm worried he may retire soon!