Applying for Fall 2013

[zrjz]

If I ever get on one of these admissions panels, I'm sending that in place of a rejection.

 

 

 

(and this to the waitlistees!)

Edited March 26, 2013 by zrjz

[runn]

I am sorry that you have had bad luck and bad advice along the way. I also understand that to an extent you are trying to be uplifting to those who didn't get acceptance, however all that shines out is bitterness. I take offense to your comment about "not living in the real world." Do you think that after six years of study we get a house/job/money handed to us and we do not work another day of our lives? That we never venture outside of a campus (many which are INNER CITY-hardly isolated) to eat, live, learn, interact? Do you not think that we do not know about the lack of positions for professors in the humanities? Thats there is a tough job market? I am sorry to say it folks: getting a degree from the humanities IS important if you want to be a professor. It OPENS the next chapter. Without that piece of paper you can hardly get a job in the college humanities. So try again! If this is truely what you want (and if you do not want it that bad please consider a different career! Job market is tough!), then try again! Reapply if you cannot consider doing anything but staying in academia. So many factors come into place for admissions and most of it is fit. Does your research fit with faculty interests? Does your research fit with this years incoming cohort? Who on faculty would be your advisor? if you did not get accepted it is not because you are not good enough. As has already been mentioned many apply for 2-3 slots. Fit is so important. Good Luck everyone!

 

I think composition and performance are slightly different animals. I mean, fit can still come into play. John Adams probably couldn't get into somewhere like  Stanford, and that's an issue of style. 

 

There is an element of "you're not good enough" (or, rather, your portfolio/audition wasn't good enough) in composition, I believe. I've heard over and over again that the composition portfolio is the most important part of the application. If that part is unacceptable, there is not much you can do to overcome that. 

[Daisy Spiegelman]

Fair enough, fair enough -- your points are well-taken, everybody. I will say this though, I have a couple of friends who are also applying to graduate programs having had professional lives with outstanding practical credentials in their fields of study and outstanding academic records who are bewildered by their negative application experiences. As to my sanctimony, yeah, maybe I am somewhat sanctimonious, but when one is far away from one's twenties s/he expects to be extended certain courtesies that younger people tend not to expect -- or demand. Furthermore, I happen to get along quite well with colleagues, but again, as one gets older one becomes less tolerant of nonsense. So no, I'm not bitter -- but I am disappointed. Just for the record, doctoral work in epidemiology is real-world based. An entire career based upon the music of a village near the Macedonian border is la-la land. And to those of you who are pursuing this path which is extremely difficult and doesn't hold the same security as it did in years past -- my comments were not to diminish your accomplishments or choices. On the contrary, they were to illuminate the need to keep the work of academics relevant -- to you and to your students. People in their twenties tend to want to have an impact on the greater society. People who are my age (which will include your professors) usually have more mundane and self-focused concerns. You are the future of academia -- stay young at heart.

Edited March 26, 2013 by Daisy Spiegelman

[echopw]

I just got accepted to NYU's MM in film scoring program.  I'm more than happy to tell you about my experience in applying and what my portfolio and profile was like.

 

First off, I've only been composing for 3.5 years in the course of my undergraduate study - so I don't have a ton of experience. However, I have done a lot of writing, and my submitted scores included an orchestral score that I wrote (and had performed by my university's orchestra), a 12 minute saxophone quartet, a 10 minute string quartet, and a short piano piece (and very basic at that). I did also submit a movie trailer with original music, but I didn't send in the score for it (mostly because I didn't want to take the time or have the time to notate it).

 

I most certainly didn't have a recommendation from anyone famous. My undergraduate university is very small, with less than 3,000 undergrads in total. The music department has less than a hundred majors.

 

My music isn't particularly difficult, and I don't have any real ethnic background to draw from. I think what they're looking for isn't really that you can write with complexity or compose difficult pieces. Honestly, I've never found either of those things to be terribly difficult to as a composer. I think they're more focused on whether or not your music is going to translate well to the screen, or whatever media you'll be composing for.

 

Here's a link to my soundcloud if you'd like to hear some of my stuff. https://soundcloud.com/theevilmayor/sets/portfolio

 

 

 

On a side note, I was wondering if anyone knows much about the program. It certainly has a reputation for being good, but I don't know if it's worth the ridiculous tuition they're probably going to charge me. Does anyone happen to know how many students they add to the program each year?

 

Thanks for your response, I am sorry that I didnt check forum for many days. I knew a Chinese got into this project last year, she said less than 20 each year. And of course, UCLA and USC are better than this, but compared with others, NYU is a good choice.

 

Thanks for your sharing, congratulations

[musicmage09]

I was wondering how everyone was doing withthe decision making process. April 15 is just over two weeks away, and i still haven't made my decision. I have campus visits coming up in that time. Looks like I will be making my decision April 13 or 14th. I know some people here have already made their decision. How about others?

[runn]

I'll be spending this next year avoiding the crushing weight of complete rejection by sending new flavor suggestions to Ben & Jerry's. ("Xanadu" = Xanax + Honeydew melon)

[SunnyComposer]

I was wondering how everyone was doing withthe decision making process. April 15 is just over two weeks away, and i still haven't made my decision. I have campus visits coming up in that time. Looks like I will be making my decision April 13 or 14th. I know some people here have already made their decision. How about others?

 

I'm also having trouble deciding!  I'm visiting Stony Brook next week again, after having visited Grad Center's prospective music day a couple weeks back.  It would be clearer to me if one were really offering me a sweet deal, but both have pluses and minuses.  What are your options?

[musicmage09]

I'm also having trouble deciding!  I'm visiting Stony Brook next week again, after having visited Grad Center's prospective music day a couple weeks back.  It would be clearer to me if one were really offering me a sweet deal, but both have pluses and minuses.  What are your options?

Columbia, Penn, and maybe Harvard. All three have pluses and minuses as well. I know i have great options to choose from, but its a hard decision. I am hoping that after campus visits are done I will have a decisive answer.

[Karajan]

Columbia, Penn, and maybe Harvard. All three have pluses and minuses as well. I know i have great options to choose from, but its a hard decision. I am hoping that after campus visits are done I will have a decisive answer.

 

What are your research areas? 

[TheEvilMayor]

NYU is my only option this year, and while it's a phenomenal opportunity, I'm not sure I really want to be taking out $60,000 in loans for next year. Tough choice for me.

[musicmage09]

What are your research areas? 

I haven't made my decision on what exactly to focus on (just finishing undergrad) but my 18th c. interests are well covered at Columbia/ Penn. Harvard not so much but (granted I get off the waitlist) they have offered a great package and their funding is fantastic. Harvard has some gaps in their faculty lineup. That being said, they foster a GREAT graduate community and highly promote interdisciplinary studies. They also do a great job caring for their graduates. Columbia has a solid faculty and great course selections and resources. Amazing faculty. Being located in New York, I hear the students are not as close knit as at Harvard/ Penn. Penn just lost several senior professors and are looking to hire new people. I am waiting out to hear who will be joining. Several of their remaining professors have been in contact with me and we share similar interest. I also hear they have a great community.

[Karajan]

I haven't made my decision on what exactly to focus on (just finishing undergrad) but my 18th c. interests are well covered at Columbia/ Penn. Harvard not so much but (granted I get off the waitlist) they have offered a great package and their funding is fantastic. Harvard has some gaps in their faculty lineup. That being said, they foster a GREAT graduate community and highly promote interdisciplinary studies. They also do a great job caring for their graduates. Columbia has a solid faculty and great course selections and resources. Amazing faculty. Being located in New York, I hear the students are not as close knit as at Harvard/ Penn. Penn just lost several senior professors and are looking to hire new people. I am waiting out to hear who will be joining. Several of their remaining professors have been in contact with me and we share similar interest. I also hear they have a great community.

 

Sounds like Columbia would be a good fit for you as an 18th c. person... 

[musichistorygeek]

I was wondering how everyone was doing withthe decision making process. April 15 is just over two weeks away, and i still haven't made my decision. I have campus visits coming up in that time. Looks like I will be making my decision April 13 or 14th. I know some people here have already made their decision. How about others?

 

I'm pretty much deciding between McGill and UW-Madison at this point. I liked the folks at CUNY, but I just don't think I'm ready to move to NYC at this point.

[violingeek]

Hello all!

 

I'm new to the forum, but I've been following this thread for a bit, as I have also been out there making the rounds on the application/interview circuit this semester.

 

I applied to PhD programs in music theory, and I got into four schools.  Of these four, I've narrowed it down to University of Western Ontario and University of Massachusetts Amherst.  At this point though, I'm having trouble deciding, so I thought I'd ask everybody if they know or have heard anything about the reputation of either of these programs?  Also, I'm just a little scared of moving to Canada (I live in the states, and I'm told its not that different, but still...I'm hesitant).  Any thoughts on making that transition?

[catenaires]

violingeek: I have gotten acquainted with the department somewhat at Western and they have alot going for them. As for making the transition, I don't have any first hand experience in this myself, but it seems like they fund their U.S. students pretty reasonably. Life in that part of Ontario feels basically like living anywhere in the midwest or upstate new york, no major cultural shocks to deal with. I'm not too familiar with the program at UMass, but Western is definitely one of the best Canadian programs and they have just made a major theorist hire, newly minted from UChicago.

[hiroshiman]

I never heard a peep from Brandeis. Do I call them and let them know I've accepted another offer, or just not worry about it?

Amherst is a gorgeous town, by the way. I can't speak to the program, though.

[composed]

Re: Amherst theory, I met Robert Schultz once not too long ago, and he's pretty great.

[Broom Guys]

Have a bit of a dilemma:  I'm on Eastman's waitlist, but I'm beginning to suspect they won't get back to me by April 15th.  This suspicion is based on the fact that this happened to me two years ago; fortunately for me, UBC was lenient about the deadline to commit, so I had enough time to wait for Eastman to reject me.  I doubt this will be the case with Indiana (where I'm most likely to go), so I wonder whether I should email Eastman and request that they get back to me before the 15th, lest I be forced to withdraw from their waitlist.  Thoughts?

[musicmage09]

Have a bit of a dilemma:  I'm on Eastman's waitlist, but I'm beginning to suspect they won't get back to me by April 15th.  This suspicion is based on the fact that this happened to me two years ago; fortunately for me, UBC was lenient about the deadline to commit, so I had enough time to wait for Eastman to reject me.  I doubt this will be the case with Indiana (where I'm most likely to go), so I wonder whether I should email Eastman and request that they get back to me before the 15th, lest I be forced to withdraw from their waitlist.  Thoughts?

 

First of all, would you go to Eastman if you got off the waitlist? I would first weigh Eastman against your other choices as if it were an option. Do you know what Eastman's offer would be? Have you visited Eastman before? Would you accept an offer from them without visiting?

 

Either way, I would email Eastman and express your continued interest in their program, and ask where you are on the list and how possible it is to get off the list (do they think someone will turn down? How many spots? How many have accepted?). If you do not know Eastman's funding situation now would be a good time to ask. If I did get off the list how probable would it be to receive funding and what would the package look like?

 

It would be even better to call, and ask. That way you get a chance to talk to someone in the department. 

[Counterpointer]

Good luck everyone! April 15 Approaching!!! I'm prob not gonna be on here for next 1.5 year-- will come back during my 2nd year of masters program.. too bad PhD programs didn't want me yet. I can see that some of you here are Ivy league admits.. I'm quite jealous. 

[Broom Guys]

First of all, would you go to Eastman if you got off the waitlist? I would first weigh Eastman against your other choices as if it were an option. Do you know what Eastman's offer would be? Have you visited Eastman before? Would you accept an offer from them without visiting?

 

Either way, I would email Eastman and express your continued interest in their program, and ask where you are on the list and how possible it is to get off the list (do they think someone will turn down? How many spots? How many have accepted?). If you do not know Eastman's funding situation now would be a good time to ask. If I did get off the list how probable would it be to receive funding and what would the package look like?

 

It would be even better to call, and ask. That way you get a chance to talk to someone in the department. 

 

Thanks for the tips! I emailed them letting them know I'm still interested in going there and that I'll have to commit somewhere else on the 15th if they don't tell me anything by then.  I'm pretty sure they offer the full funding package if you get in off the waitlist, since they don't accept anybody they don't fund for the PhD Theory program.  I'm not totally sure I'd go there if they let me in, but I've interviewed in person there twice now and liked it a lot both times, and it is a really strong program.  Of course time's running out now, so even if they do let me in I won't have long to decide.

 

Good luck to all in making decisions!

[SunnyComposer]

After being UNT's waiting list for over a month, I was finally rejected.  I sent in my signed acceptance letter to Stony Brook University yesterday.  After 2 years of applying, I am breathing a very big and surreal sigh of relief.  On top of that, it was a strange mixed-emotions kind of day because of the Boston bombing.  I hope no one here was affected.

 

How was everyone else's D-Day?  

 

-Sunny

[Karajan]

Congrats to everyone on their decisions!  We have 3 incoming students this year in my dept -- Excited to have them join us!

[hiroshiman]

Finally received a rejection from Brandeis. I had kind of written off hearing from them. Seriously, May 2?

[georgemckean]

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!