Need help! Concert pianist to MPIA, IR studies?

[musicman]

     So, I know that the 'am I competitive' thread exists for a reason... but I think I have a rather unique background.  I'm curious if having another Master's degree helps in applying for top IR programs, if those programs are really worth the money, or if they're really necessary to... let's say work in the State Department in or the foreign service. 

 

     I just want to, like everyone else, have as many opportunities as possible.  I may not ever be able to go to a really top school, but I want to know if it's worth it to begin with, or if the other schools (instead of the top 10, the top 25) are even worth going to. 

 

Bachelor of Music: 2.96 (not good)

Master of Music:    3.16  (not much better)

GRE: Verb 165 - Quan 162 - AW 4.0

Good recs (I think) + Good pers state

My GPA isn't so good because I was training to be a concert pianist, often practicing 7 hours or more per day, sometimes 11 hours each day for several days in a row.  This took ALL my time, and studying in a classical music conservatory, music came before everything else.  EVERYTHING.  It was expected. (I've been playing since I was 4 years old)

 

However, I performed quartets, trios, semi-professionally in Switzerland and Italy, have played in internat piano competitions in France and Romania, in multiple rounds with orchestra, have had all foreign friends while studying to be a concert pianist (bunch of Russians, ex-soviets), have worked with Europeans countless times here and in Europe, performances, rehearsals, fundraisers etc, masterclasses...  (Plus community service)     

 

The problem is that I applied for schools here in Florida (which are worthless for MIA), Univ Pittsburgh GSPIA, and NYU GloAffairs.  These schools are at best #22, #23... but few good schools have spring admissions. 

   So what should I do-   Given my background and internat experience, should I wait a semester, then apply for the top 10 schools?  Or just go now, wherever I'm accepted, look for internships, apply for gov jobs at the same time? 

 

I've heard over and over that if you can't go to one of the 'best 10' IR schools... then it's not worth going.  Is this really true?  I would apply... just for the sake of it, for the whole lot of them just on the off chance...  But I much rather be in school in spring for financial, other practical reasons.

 

Thanks in advance, just looking for an honest assessment.

Hope this thread's in the right place.

                   

 

[queenleblanc]

I am a music performer/educator who is going back to school (albeit for a different degree than IR), but maybe my perspective can help.  

 

As music students, the expectation was clearly to put music above everything -- and that dedication pays off in your musical accomplishments, those things that you can list on your resume like the masterclasses, international competitions, etc.   Your GPA does meet the minimums (3.0) for most programs but you may find some programs to have some bias about GPA's because the folks coming straight out of undergrad into the MP-IR programs have been concentrating solely on academics and may have higher GPA's on average, compared to students like (us) you.  

 

That being said -- the fact that you have a previous master's degree, and did VERY well in it (3.16 is NOT shabby in a music master's, let me tell you), speaks volumes for you.  Additionally, if you have professors who can write about your dedication, persistence, perseverance, "shooting for the stars" mentality, those LOR's will weigh heavily in your favor when your application reaches the ad-comm.  

 

As far as the decision on where to apply / status or ranking of schools to apply (etc), I can tell you that one thing to look for is a school that also has an active music department/school of music.  Why is that even relevant?  Well... if a school has a stronger arts/music programs, there is an increased likelihood that professors in other departments may have some degree of cultural appreciation and may even understand that a music degree is highly demanding.  Grades from music professors are entirely subjective, whereas other departments there is at least some degree of objectivity and the delineation of clear expectations.  That all-elusive "A" is just NOT going to happen with some music professors, no matter how good you are, no matter how much time you put into practice or research, and no matter how much you think you're meeting their expectations.  In schools of music, professors are constantly changing the target and requiring music students to adjust on the fly and devote increasing amounts of time to practice and research pertaining to the history and intention of every piece of music we study.  As an example (out of your area), the UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine accepts 92% of music majors who apply -- but for most other majors, the acceptance rate is closer to 50%.  Those stats are several years old but they were on a steady path at the time that I read them in 2006-2007.  

 

Apply to the schools you WANT to go to.  Deciding those wants may depend on school ranking, availability of funding/scholarships, professors you want to study with, and what kind of career in IR you see yourself doing -- look up career placement info from the schools to see if there are schools that match up with the kind of career you want in IR.  If a top 10 school is something you really want, set your application up for success by getting the best test scores you can on the GRE (or whatever other tests are required), and get really great LOR's.  Your SOP is absolutely critical -- why are you going from a M.Mus to MPAI-IR?  What drives you?  What inspires you?  What can you bring to the school / department / future career?  With your international exposure due to music, you may have some advantages over people with no international experience, but what about any exposure to IR?  

 

Whether or not you apply to top 10 schools also comes down to $$ --- those applications can be expensive.  If that's what you want, and you can afford to apply even if you don't get in, then I would say try anyway.  They can say no, or maybe they'll say yes.  But you won't know unless you try.  :-)

 

Hopefully someone with more specific IR knowledge can come and provide assistance about the other parts of your post.  Best of luck to you!! 

[musicman]

Thank you for your reply.  Yes... sometimes it's frustrating because it seems like very few people understand what it takes to be a 'competitive' classical musician... so thanks for your comments.

 

However, I wish someone might answer my questions..  Is NYU GloAffairs actually very good, or not so much?  Pitt GSPIA?

And about my GRE, does my AW 4.0 hold me back- but my other scores are good right?

 

How do people see Korbel? 

I think I have a very good PersState, because I tied together playing overseas and cooperation (which is NOT easy, and takes much experience to learn) with Internat cooperation through public service. 

So... Are those 'top 10' schools really worth it?  Should I wait and apply for them?

And if I have good recs, a good statement, but my undergrad GPA suffers, this GRE.... is it possible I could get into a good program?

 

I wouldn't post my PersState here (ha) but I think it makes sense, ties together my concert pianist studies and experience with IR-diplomacy. 

At Verbier Fest it was all internat students...

[musicman]

Anyway, just as an update..

Was accepted to GSPIA, NYU Glo Affairs, Korbel.

Funding? Not sure yet, but it doesn't look good at all.

I am planning to study Arabic abroad in an immersive setting for a year and then apply to the Peace Corps for Jordan.

Does this seem like a wise choice?

I didn't apply for the real 'elite' schools because 1) it was for spring semester 2) and two I really want to focus on Middle East Studies, but have to immersed in Arabic for a few years first...

Can anyone comment on this/ give me feedback?

Thank you!

If I don't get a response... will post in the am I competitive thread... sigh...