composser

Question to composers: How is UNT for composition doctorate? I might apply there next year, if things don't work out for me financially...

So should composers assume Columbia is a no at this moment? Anybody brave enough to call them up tomorrow, and put an end to our misery?

I think you should move (if that happens). It's a great deal, and don't forget that no one is locking you up and forcing you to do the doctorate. Supposse it doesn't work, and you can't fit in... you can always transfer or re-apply. Not much to loose...

Yeah you have to take that. With the exception of Ivy all my Ph.D./ D.M.A. schools don't offer more than 14k stipend!! Plus, two extra years mean a lot. It is very healthy to discover new things and passions in Music or otherwise. I know most people get carried away and finish everything as soon as they can, which can result in a general lack of interests outside their field of study. And "specialists" are really boring! We need more people like Bucky Fuller in our schools...

Problem is that March 15 is pretty consistent for rejections

SunnyComposer I am certain there was an acceptance by UNT because I know one of the people that got it. However, I don't know if they do acceptances in rounds, or all at once and then proceed to waitlists. Good luck anyways... I on the other hand am going insane over Columbia and Cornell. When are these guys going to notify? Anyone knows if Columbia did accept for comp?

Mochabear that sucks. Sorry to hear that, though I was in that same position a couple of years ago. Let's hope Austin is positive. By the way I have a question about comp. at Columbia. Do they send the musicology and comp. emails at the same time? Because we already know of the acceptance of musicmage. Also what is the deal with MCgill? How do they notify people? Last, on Cornell, I briefly looked at the schedules of comp faculty. Seems that next Monday is the time they will all be again in town. And as I have said, they seem to notify applicants Fridays, which might be the time they have faculty meetings. But on the other hand this year they are quite late so my theory doesn't hold much...

Sure, but if they are transparent about it, they should write what these cut-offs are. Take Harvard. They require GRE, but do not post any cut-offs. In the Q&A they also mention how they are not looking for a particular score. Now, if they actually end up rejecting applicants because their GRE scores are too low, that is not ok.

I doubt it. Again, portfolio is the most important. While you think that your portfolio is strong, it might be not the kind that the comp faculty wants. It depends from school to school, and while people say that are trying to be impartial, only very few universities achieve that. I know personally faculty who base their decisions on some abstract notion of "potential," even though there was better music submitted that year. Cut-offs should not exist. If they do, it is a shame... because we are all paying the 100+ fee for the application. If the school does not post cut-offs, takes the money, and then weed people out according to those cut-offs, they are not an educational institution but just a bunch of crooks. It is too much like a scam. If anyone knows that this happens and you have facts about it, you should not remain silent, and accept the way things are, but must speak openly. Once things like this get some serious publicity, you will see how quickly they will change. Last, remember that lots of faculty go out to festivals etc. meet composers, and advice them to apply to their programs. We are competing against them too. And it is difficult, since they already have a strong connection and previous liking for that person. And faculty recs will help only if they are well-known. On an average, most recs mention that you are 5% top students ever. No one believes that, they just learn to read between the lines (and codes like this exist!), if there is something wrong with the applicant.

Another silent week. Next one will be big!

From Cornell: ... weird...

I'm afraid if by the end of this week UofC does not email, I will assume rejection. All evidence points that way. This unless a student from UofC comp. department would like to post in this thread and tell us otherwise...

Ivy or not, seems to me to be less important in composition. Although some very high percentage of all jobs are taken by the graduates of "big" schools, it is because a lot of times skill and resume coincide. Fortunately, I know many cases where they don't... especially if we think about other countries. Take for example a big school like Princeton. Not many people in Europe will be impressed about you as a composer because you studied at Princeton! Your scores, performances, intelligence, connections, with whom you studied, etc. etc. will certainly matter more. ---- Speaking of Ivys: U of Chicago, and Harvard have already notified the musicology winners (although Harvard just did that today as we can see on the board). If this year they notify both musicology and composition applicants at the same time, the ones who didn't hear anything yet, should start assuming they didn't get in. I find it is easier to just make up your mind and not kill yourself over it. Cornell should start moving soon, based on previous years. They tend to notify on Fridays, look at previous posters in composition on 2010 & 2011. Columbia is totally random it seems... a stressful situation indeed. Good Luck to all!

I'm inclined to saying that for Composition the GRE matters very very little (if at all). Perhaps, only few big universities or Ivy schools hold on to this. Cornell has dropped it some time ago and has benefited from it. And what I gathered from schools is: "If h/she is good, we don't care" To answer your question, number-wise you can still get anywhere you want. It's the portfolio that will carry the most importance anyways. ... as for musicology I have no idea. Maybe it matters just a little more. But V610 is enough.

Yes, they can. From personal experience I know 1 person who was accepted in late April, (McGill) and 1 other in AUGUST (Juilliard). Personally last year I had been wait-listed from Brandeis but no one told me until I decided to e-mail them myself around early April. Lastly, I know countless of other applicants being offered a full ride in May+ (after having been wait-listed) Suggestion: Call the departments and press for a reply over the phone!