Joel418

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 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 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 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

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!

Grizzly Adams
Professor Emeritus, Insanity in the Membranity, University of Incrediblawesome

Grizzly Adams
Professor Emeritus, Insanity in the Membranity, University of Incrediblawesome