Joel418

Actually, I just happened to call Mark Kagan (grad dept coordinator) the day after they'd made their decision; I received my package through snail mail about 5-6 days later.

RE: Brandeis Music composition decisions have gone out, and the final meeting to make a decision on musicology will be held on Thursday; those who applied should be hearing soon after that. Good luck everyone! Joel

Close friend at BU who is close to those making the decision says that decisions are very close, but not all out yet. Best of luck! Joel

The number of master's students has gone up the past few years, in an effort to help the school recoup some losses related to the Madoff scandal. This year I think they took 6 musicology MA/MFA folks. Best of luck everyone! I'll look forward to meeting some of you next year perhaps

I'm at Brandeis right now, and I talked to Eric Chafe the other day. He said they are coming close to their decisions; they're offering two regular admissions to the PhD program and offering a President's scholarship to a third. Of course, this school sometimes waits to notify until the very last minute (I didn't hear until around the first or second week of March). Best of luck! Joel

Hi there! I went through this process two years ago, and I would offer a few pieces of knowledge that I wish I had back then: Preparation and research 1. Of course you'll want to find professors with your interests, but don't toss one out just because they're not exactly in your area of expertise; you'd be surprised how much it helps to have a professor who has a similar approach or philosophy, even coming from a different subject. Of course, if you're an incoming Master's student, there's always a possibility that your interests will change, so who knows. Full listing of musicology programs at http://www.ams-net.org/gradprog.php. 2. Be sure to contact the professors you would like to study with as well as students currently at the school; if possible, try to find recent grads to discuss how their job-hunt is going with a degree in hand from University X. Be sure to attend the national AMS conference in Indianapolis in November. Go go go to the receptions, meet students and professors, and even try to sit in on students giving papers from the schools in which you're interested to get an idea of the caliber of the work at the school. 3. If possible, visit the campuses. I realize that this can get very expensive very quickly, but if you have the means, it really helps to show your interest and of course put a "face" on your application. The application 1. DO NOT underestimate the importance of the GRE if you are applying to any schools if the programs you are interested in: a. admit only students that they can fund b. find funding in a school-wide competition (as opposed to programs that control their own funding) If both of these are the case, then the GRE is the only "standard of comparison" between departments. I can tell you from personal experience that such schools will take an applicant with the higher GRE score over the better qualified (one professor was even kind enough to tell me so...after the fact). I can tell you upfront that several of the "big-name" schools are in this situation. You will find plenty of folks that have a story of getting in with sub-par GRE scores, but don't listen to them. Getting into each type of department is different, and each school is different; if you're really not sure, call the department and ask them the two questions above. 2. Although in my opinion it should be the most important part, the next most important thing is your statement of purpose. Have a clear statement of why you wish to pursue a career in musicology, how your past experiences have prepared you for graduate studies, and how you will fit into the program. If some part of your past academic life requires explanation, this is the time to do it, but be sure it's something that really must be explained (a bad semester or two, if followed by clear improvement, does not require explanation--unless a "bad semester" means all D's and F's One last note: undergrad admissions committees want to know how diverse your interests are, grad admissions committees want to know how focused you are. 3. Be ready with all the paperwork: order your transcripts well in advance, make sure you're not waiting until the last possible test date to take the GRE so that you're not paying extra for expedited scores. Also, be ready to pay a lot in application fees; they will range from $50-100 per school, so certainly don't waste your money if you won't fit into a school at all. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have, and best of luck in your applications!

For placement effectiveness, check out: http://www.wikihost.org/w/academe/music ... 2008-2009/ A listing of jobs listed last year, who they went to (when info is available), and where they're from. If you can, try and figure out how many of the hires were straight out of PhD (usually have to find them online). Also take care to notice if the hires are only out of one side of the department (historical or ethno). More than anything, try to communicate with grads from the schools you are interested in who are presently in the job market. http://www.phds.org You can plug in your discipline and get rankings for each school, including placement. Use this one with caution; these are only broad brush strokes (don't forget that "music" includes performance and scholarship). The truth is, an applicant's effectiveness in the job market is most effected by two factors: first, how well is your adviser known (there are really only a couple of schools whose name alone improves your chances)? second, how strong is your scholarship (illustrated in number and quality of publications, or failing that, the quality of your dissertation)? I'll be honest, the job market outside of professorships is very limited. I suppose there are jobs on musicological journal staffs (though editors tend to be professors), or perhaps consultants for performing groups; library sciences is another field that I've seen musicologists turn to (although it requires further certification and I believe another degree program). In general, secondary school districts won't have the money for or interest in hiring a music historian, as there are generally not enough interested teenagers to justify the hiring of a full-time staff member to teach or serve on administration; also, public school districts will be pretty insistent on educational certification, which would probably be another 2-3 years of classes for you. When applying, I would recommend that you omit, or at least play down, your "outside" interests and try to present yourself as an applicant who is fully focused on musicology (though you certainly should be sure to mention your interests in terms of periods of study, such as German Baroque, French Post-Modernism, etc.). Undergrad committees are impressed by "well-rounded" individuals, grad committees want to see that you're focused on your intended field. (Two of the schools that accepted me last year went out of their way to mention how the focus in my statement of purpose was a primary factor in their decision.) Finally, I would recommend that you focus on the hurdle immediately in front of you (admission) before start working on the next one (grants). Best of luck!

Are you planning to apply for MFA/MA or PhD programs in Musicology?

Happy to help, and best of luck with your applications If I can offer one more piece of advice: aim as high as possible with the GREs. During periods of financial recession, the number of and competition between graduate applicants goes way up (in other words, a score of 1000 may get you past the cut-off point, but may not be as competitive as the other applicants). I'm loving Brandeis! The classes are great, good community of colleagues, and the professors are brilliant. The funding is exceptionally solid: a large stipend with health insurance, all guaranteed for 5 years; this includes four years of teaching, which will be especially helpful when it comes time to apply for jobs (at most of the other schools I applied to, you only assist as a "glorified grader" without anything that you can honestly put down as college teaching experience on your resume). Best of all, they really treat you like a "colleague in training", not just an advanced undergraduate who needs to be spoon-fed or led through a series of arbitrary activities. Of course it's also great to have Boston at your fingertips I'm sorry that you were turned off by your interaction with the Brandeis chair; if you do have any specific questions for me about the institution, I would be happy to help. I focus on the French Baroque, in particular the influence of Italian sacred dramas of the 17th century on French sacred dramas of the same period. My writings focus primarily on Marc-Antoine Charpentier, as he was basically peerless in his generation as a composer of dramatic works on sacred themes, though I will be studying his predecessors as well as those who picked up the genre in the early 18th century. I will be working on my dissertation under Dr. Eric Chafe, whose brilliance in the study of Monteverdi and Bach will be a considerable help to me (Monteverdi being the "spiritual father" of the Italian musical dramatists of the 17th century (such as Carissimi), and like Charpentier, Bach having mixed the Italian style with his own nationalistic style in the creation of sacred dramatic works). Again, all the best, and I'll hope to have a chance to meet you in Philly!

Don't count on a school's ability to overlook your AWA score. I had a 3.5AWA along with a strong SOP and two major publications, and had a few schools where it made a BIG difference (one told me so directly). Here's why: if the program only admits students that it can fund, and the department must submit requests for funding from a school-wide pool, GRE scores are the only "standard of comparison". So ask the schools you're applying to if this is the case, and if so, retake the test. Best of luck!

I think this suggestion is trying to tell the writer that he or she should give a clear picture of how they plan to apply the educational training in the professional arena. Would you prefer to remain in academe so that you may spend your career writing and teaching; would you wish to become an curriculum administrator in the secondary school system; do you plan to start a community foundation for the promotion of literary literacy? etc. etc... I don't think committees object to your saying that you wish to work in academe, but they may be concerned with an applicant who doesn't seem to understand what a career in any particular arena entails. Good luck!

It is a good sign, but don't allow yourself to jump to conclusions. We did have some folks in a similar circumstance who did not get in, despite a lot of encouragement from a particular professor Best of luck!

I'd be happy to get the ball rolling. Do: relate the parts of your background that have prepared you for (or inclined you to) graduate work Don't: tell stories from your life that you find fascinating, but which do not relate to your aptitude or potential in your intended studies Exception: stories that show your ability to overcome disadvantage or adversity Do: relate your accomplishments in your field Don't: talk about your extra-curriculars and/or volunteer work that do not relate your field Do: mention the professors with whom you have communicated and how their work relates to your interests Don't: mention students with whom you have communicated by name; if that student is not doing well in the program, who knows how the committee will react to your mention of the student. Do: write, then rewrite, then proofread, then proofread it again, then give it to someone else to proofread (ideally a professor who has been a part of a grad app selection committee), then let it sit for a few days, read it aloud to yourself, then proof it again. Don't: wait to begin writing it until the due date is two weeks away, proofread it only two or three times, and/or keep it to yourself! Best of luck everyone

Having been through the process, I can tell you that x-c activities mean nothing unless they are directly related to your field. If they are, list them as career experiences, either on your CV or in your statement of purpose. Here's why: Undergrad committees like to see x-c's because it shows that you have a wide range of interests (conducive to the liberal arts philosophy that permeates undergrad education) and that you will be an active part of the larger community. Grad committees want to see that you are focused on the field to which you hope to contribute. Best of luck!

No worries I used the Chicago Manual (humanities) format, leaving off my name since it's listed at the top of the CV. Here's the citation I used for an article of mine:

I didn't list them in annotated form in my SOP, though I had the opportunity to give a full listing in my CV. Will you have an opportunity to present a resume/CV in addition to your SOP?

Hi there! I've just come through the process last year, and I would be happy to answer any questions or offer any advice you may need. Here are a few pieces of knowledge that I wish I had one year ago: Preparation and research 1. Of course you'll want to find professors with your interests, but don't toss one out just because they're not exactly in your area of expertise; you'd be surprised how much it helps to have a professor who has a similar approach or philosophy, even coming from a different subject. Of course as an incoming Master's student, there's always a possibility that your interests will change, so who knows. Regarding your specific interests, I might recommend Margerita Mazo of Ohio State for Russian music, UT-Austin has a really great Ethno program (I believe with an East-African specialist), and Harvard has (or at least had a year ago) an American 20th-century expert. Here's a website that offers a full list of graduate programs in musicology: http://www.ams-net.org/gradprog.php (from the AMS website of course; if you're not yet a member, join today!) 2. Be sure to contact the professors you would like to study with as well as students currently at the school; if possible, try to find recent grads to discuss how their job-hunt is going with a degree in hand from University X. Be sure to attend the national AMS conference in Philadelphia November 12-15. Go go go to the receptions, meet students and professors, and even try to sit in on students giving papers from the schools in which you're interested to get an idea of the caliber of the work at the school. 3. If possible, visit the campuses. I realize that this can get very expensive very quickly, but if you have the means, it really helps to show your interest and of course put a "face" on your application. The application 1. Don't underestimate the importance of the GRE if you are applying to any schools if the programs you are interested in: a. admit only students that they can fund b. find funding in a school-wide competition (as opposed to programs that control their own funding) If both of these are the case, then the GRE is the only "standard of comparison" between departments. I can tell you from personal experience that such schools will take an applicant with the higher GRE score over the better qualified (one professor was even kind enough to tell me so...after the fact). I can tell you upfront that several of the "big-name" schools are in this situation. You will find plenty of folks that have a story of getting in with sub-par GRE scores, but don't listen to them. Getting into each type of department is different, and each school is different; if you're really not sure, just call the department and ask them the two questions above. 2. Although it should always be the most important part, the next most important thing is your statement of purpose. Have a clear statement of why you wish to pursue a career in musicology, how your past experiences have prepared you for graduate studies, and how you will fit into the program. If some part of your past academic life requires explanation, this is the time to do it, but be sure it's something that really must be explained (a bad semester or two, if followed by clear improvement, does not require explanation--unless a "bad semester" means all D's and F's 3. Be ready with all the paperwork: order your transcripts well in advance, make sure you're not waiting until the last possible test date to take the GRE so that you're not paying extra for expedited scores. Also, be ready to pay a lot in application fees; they will range from $50-100 per school, so certainly don't waste your money if you won't fit into a school at all. Again, please don't hesitate to ask any questions, and best of luck in the process

I taught a class with a nebulous name ("Music, Meaning, and Culture"). Instead of specifying its content and purpose in my resume, I used a quick parenthetical in my personal statement to describe it while describing how my experiences had prepared me for graduate studies. Just a thought; good luck!

I got in with mediocre+ scores (720Q, 670V, 4.0AW). What you need know is: a) does the program only admit applicants they can fund? does your program's funding come from a university-wide competition between the departments? If the answer is yes to both questions, you will need excellent GRE scores (depending on the institution, 1400-1600 combined scores with an AW score 5.0 or above) Best of luck! Joel

I hate to admit this, but just a few days before my second test, I started to memorize answers from the practice tests; you would be surprised how many of the questions are repeated or just inverted. I realize this is not the most honest approach, but the analogies & antonymns section is such a joke to begin with (see older threads for my detailed complaints regarding the GRE)!

There are a lot of older threads regarding frustration with the AW section. I scored a 3.5 and a 4.0 last year, although I have been published twice (once by one of the most prestigious companies in the field). I wish I could say that schools have the good sense to overlook this, but the truth is, if they find funding in a school-wide pool, the GRE is the only standard of comparison. For this reason, these types of schools will look at your qualifications only after they have decided that your scores are competitive enough to get funding. Through my experience last year, I can tell you that includes most of the larger, big-name schools like several of the Ivy League schools, U of Chicago, as well as several of the big state schools like the U of California schools and UNC-Chapel Hill. Best of luck!

Great story on this subject A colleague of mine applied to a doctoral program at UNC-Greensboro (sp?). She received a rejection letter, but then received an email inviting her to an accepted students weekend. As we veterans know, this kind of blip happens all the time, so she called the department to check. Even before she had finished asking whether or not she had been rejected, the person bruskly told her that she had been rejected. She tried to ask her question again, and the person put her on hold; a few moments later, the dean of the school picked up just briefly enough to say "you've been rejected, sorry!" and promptly hung up on her. She was later accepted to another program, took the offer, and moved. Two days before Greensboro's classes began, she got a call from the same office staff person asking why she hadn't enrolled for classes. My friend informed the secretary that she had personally told her that she was rejected; the secretary denied it, but my friend politely declined the school's invitation

All ye foodies: I am heading out of Tucson after five years, and I wanted to take the opportunity to share a couple of hidden gems with you all: The first is the Blue Willow on Campbell a little north of the university, a pan-european restaurant; my wife and I recently have had many a celebratory dinner there, and it is absolutely fantastic. The atmosphere is characteristically relaxed (a Southwestern trait), but the food is excellent and uncharacteristically inexpensive (you can get two salads, two entrees, drinks, and dessert for about $60). The other is Tork's Cafe, a mediterranian restaurant on Grant between Alvernon and Country Club. Even more than Blue Willow, the atmosphere is very relaxed, but the food is made by a Libyan family and is simply incredible for a pretty low price (an appatizer, two entrees, and drinks will probably run you about $50). Enjoy!

me too. In fact, at the schools where I did change earlier paragraphs to suit each school, I did not get in, so who knows...

Hey there Mentalyoga! Flying out to Boston at the in about a week-and-a-half to find a place to live. Kind of tricky right now, because my wife hasn't found a job yet, so we're just trying to find a place either very near to campus--so that I can walk or take the shuttle and she can drive to wherever her job will be--or somewhere along all the major traffic lines. I do have some moments of real euphoria thinking about forging my career in academia I've been spending the summer selling off a lot of things (craigslist is my friend...friend gooooood!), doing the packing little by little, and of course trying to make good use of the time for my own studies (also trying to avoid distractions like Facebook and GradCafe-whoops!). Well, I guess I should get back to work. Best of luck! Joel