Choose a school! Fill out the application! Get your ACT scores sent over! Don’t forget your transcripts! Apply for available scholarships! Apply for federal aid! Schedule your audition! Write a resumé! Get two letters of recommendation!
And, oh yeah, PRACTICE!!
The life of a college bound senior looking to be a music major can be quite overwhelming, and that’s from a parent’s standpoint. I have tremendous respect for the students that are balancing all of the above responsibilities with the daily pressures of teen life. Wow.
I was hoping to write this with a friendly word of advice for those that will venture down this road in the future, but truth is we’re flying by the seat of our pants!
Perhaps a checklist is something that would’ve been helpful when we started out. There are so many things that you not only need to do, but there are often extra things you can do for additional help. For example, small scholarships may be offered for attending informational seminars, or submitting an application early may get you a small bonus toward tuition. These are just a couple things to look for.
Make sure to ask the schools about the many ways you can get financial help.
I would urge any high school student who wants to be a music major in college to get prepared now. Go online and find out what schools want to see at an audition. Start thinking about it and preparing.
And if you play the scholarship game efficiently, that stinkin’ student loan that we expect you to pay off somewhere around your 40th birthday just might get paid before you’re 30.
