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Office of Music Admissions |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bloomington, Indiana? Bloomington (pop. 69,000) is nestled in the wooded hills of southern Indiana. Bloomington is a one-hour drive south from Indianapolis, the state’s capital. With its central location in the heart of the Midwest, Bloomington is easy to get to by car, bus, or plane. Bloomington is also within close driving distance to Chicago (4 hours); Cincinnati, Ohio (less than 2 hours); Columbus, Ohio (3.5 hours); Louisville, Kentucky (less than 2 hours); and, St. Louis, Missouri (4 hours). What is there to do in Bloomington? Music, art, dance, sports, outdoor recreation, ethnic food…it’s all here, in a serene Midwest city surrounded by natural beauty. You will find coffeehouses, live music, festivals, bookstores, open-air markets, historic architecture, lakes, parks, museums, and theaters. You will get all the activities and conveniences of a major metropolitan area without the complications of a large city. Bloomington, Indiana is the quintessential college town, and was recently named by USA Today as one of the country’s top 10 college towns. About the Jacobs School of Music: Is the Jacobs School of Music too large? Will I get lost? Size is often a consideration in choosing a college. There are many advantages to choosing a large institution. Indiana University offers 134 different undergraduate majors; 328 degree programs; 19 libraries with more than 6 million books; thousands of courses; hundreds of clubs, sports, and special activities; and, an abundant social life. The Jacobs School of Music has over 1,600 students (half undergraduates and half graduates-this is smaller than many high schools), with 170 faculty in residence, and state of the art performance and research facilities. The Jacobs School of Music has 200 practice rooms; 7 recording/production studios and 2 electronic labs; a music library housing more than a half-million cataloged items; five music buildings; and presents more than 1,100 concerts and recitals a year, including 8 fully-staged operas and 3 ballets. Performing groups include 6 orchestras, 13 choral ensembles, 4 bands, 4 jazz bands and various chamber ensembles.
How large are the classes? Our courses average 34 students per class and fewer than 6% of the undergraduate classes at IU have more than 100 students (most of those being introductory classes). Many courses include small discussion groups and/or labs for more personal attention. Every music major studies privately with a member of our faculty. I’ve heard the Jacobs School of Music is really just a graduate school. Are there many performing opportunities for undergraduates? With approximately 1,600 students enrolled at the Jacobs School of Music; half being graduate and half being undergraduate; with 6 orchestras, 4 jazz bands, 4 bands, 13 choral ensembles, 8 operas a year, etc., there are numerous performing opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduate and graduate students perform together in ensembles, assuring that students learn from each other while maintaining the highest level of musical excellence. Do I need advanced training in order to apply? Yes. The Jacobs School of Music is a conservatory within a university and offers pre-professional training in its programs, with a highly competitive applicant pool. How do I apply? To access our online application and complete instructions, please visit the music Web site: music.indiana.edu/admissions/apply.shtml. There is a different process for undergraduates and graduates and also for international and domestic students. Please note, you are required to apply to Indiana University first, then to the Jacobs School of Music. Please complete both applications by December 1. You can find explanations of all degree and diploma programs on our web site. Since there are different requirements for the various departments, it is important to carefully review the requirements for the department or instrumental area for which you intend to apply. Visit the following Web site for specific requirements: music.indiana.edu/admissions/requirements.shtml Do I have to be admitted by the university before applying to the Jacobs School of Music? No. Undergraduates (domestic and international) do not need to be admitted to the university before applying to the Jacobs School of Music. However, you will have to be admitted to the university before an admissions decision can be made by the Jacobs School of Music
When are applications due? The application deadline for fall admission consideration is December 1. The deadline for spring admission consideration is September 1, and the deadline for second summer session admission consideration is April 1. Materials need to be received by the deadline date. Auditions are scheduled once we have received a complete application. In many cases, there is a pre-screening process before auditions are granted. Refer to the audition requirements for your specific area/instrument on our Web site: music. indiana.edu/admissions/requirements.shtml. Do I need to submit letters of recommendation if I am a prospective student? We do not require letters of recommendation from undergraduate applicants. If you would like to submit them, we are happy to include them in your application file. We do require three letters of recommendation for graduate applicants. Visit the Graduate Additional Materials Requirements page for more information. How do I schedule an audition/interview? When you complete the Jacobs School of Music application, you will indicate your preferred audition weekend. You will receive written confirmation of your audition date and audition/interview time by mail. We make every attempt to schedule you during the weekend you request, although we cannot guarantee which day it will take place. Applications are processed in the order they are received. In many cases, there is a pre-screening process before auditions are granted. Refer to the audition requirements for your specific area/instrument on our Web site: music.indiana.edu/admissions/requirements.shtml. How do I change my audition date? All requests to change audition dates must be received in writing with the change of date fee. You may mail the request and fee to the Office of Music Admissions. Please include the applicants name on the check. May I send a recorded audition or do I have to come to campus to audition? You may send a final recorded audition by December 1. Please submit your recording with the audition requirements that are listed on our Web site: music.indiana.edu/admissions/requirements.shtml What happens during the audition weekend besides my audition? Do I need to be available the whole day? You will receive more detailed information about the audition weekend by mail before your audition. We offer tours of campus, tours of the music facilities, and information sessions for students and families. Undergraduates will take the basic musicianship test, which is typically an hour long basic theory test used for placement purposes. Also, specific departments offer additional activities that are advertised in your audition packet or by the department directly. There are also many recitals and performances that can be attended. Visit the following Web site for performance schedules and listings: music.indiana.edu/events/. We will also provide a list of classes and ensembles for observation at check-in. You are only required to be present at your audition and/or interview (if applicable). There is also an opportunity to see a ballet (on specific audition weekends) and/or an opera. Should I bring an accompanist? No. Instrumental auditions will be held without accompaniment and all voice applicants will have a piano accompanist provided. Do I need to reserve a practice room for audition weekend? No. When you check-in, we will provide you with a list of the available practice rooms. Availability is on a first-come, first-serve basis. When will I know the admissions decision? If your file is complete at the time of the audition, you will have your audition results within 3 - 4 weeks after the audition. Undergraduates must be admitted to the university before they can be admitted to the Jacobs School of Music. How many applications do you receive a year? What is the acceptance rate? On average, we receive 1,600 undergraduate applications of which approximately a quarter are admitted and 1,200 graduate applications of which approximately one third are admitted. When is orientation? Freshmen have the option of coming during one of the summer weekends for orientation or the week before classes begin in the fall. Graduate students have orientation and proficiency exams the week before classes begin. Scholarships and Financial Aid: What scholarship opportunities are available? Undergraduates The Jacobs School of Music offers merit-based scholarships. They are all based on audition results and department need. You do not need to complete a separate application to be considered for scholarship. Graduates The Jacobs School of Music offers merit-based scholarships, including graduate assistantships and associate instructorships. They are all based on audition results and department need. You do not need to complete a separate application to be considered for scholarship. If awarded an AI or GA, what does this cover? You will receive a monthly stipened and a portion of the cost of tuition. However, none of the mandatory fees will be covered. How do I apply for need-based financial aid? Need–based financial aid can be applied for by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The application can be accessed by visiting: fafsa.ed.gov/. Feel free to contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance with any questions. Will I get a chance to perform? Yes. All music majors must enroll in an ensemble every semester (except doctoral students). Students can choose from 4 symphony orchestras, a chamber orchestra, baroque orchestra, 4 concert bands, 4 jazz ensembles, 13 choral ensembles, New Music ensembles, Early Music Institute ensembles, amongst others. There are many opportunities for chamber music playing, as well as performance opportunities available within the Bloomington community. Click here to view our Ensemble Brochure. What performance opportunities are there outside of the university and the Jacobs School of Music? There are several regional orchestras in which Jacobs School of Music students hold positions. Some of the orchestras hold auditions at the Jacobs School of Music while others post information about upcoming auditions in various areas around the school. What opportunities are there for non-music majors? You may register for secondary lessons on your instrument/voice with a graduate student, take various music classes and participate in ensembles (either by audition or not). You may also minor in music. Please check with your advisor for more information. Please visit the following link for more information regarding a music minor: music.indiana.edu/department/generalstudies/minor.shtml Will I take private lessons with a graduate assistant? No. All music majors study privately with one of our 170 faculty in residence. You may study with a graduate assistant only if you enroll in secondary instrument lessons. May I take trial lessons from faculty members? Yes. Individual lessons may be scheduled directly with faculty members. The Jacobs School of Music Office of Admissions will be happy to provide faculty contact information, or you may find faculty emails and phone numbers listed on the music Web site (music.indiana.edu). When will I know who my teacher is? Teacher assignments are largely based on student preference, as indicated on your Jacobs School of Music application. Every effort is made to place students with their first choice of faculty, but, there is no guarantee. Assignments are made over the course of the spring and are finalized over the summer. Students may be in direct contact with professors and/or the Office of Music Admissions for information. All music majors will study with a faculty member.
Visiting the Jacobs School of Music: May I tour the university and the Jacobs School of Music? Yes. We offer music information sessions and tours of the music facilities throughout most of the year, Monday - Friday. The information session begins at 10:00 am, and the tour will end at approximately 11:15 am. Please email us at musicadm@indiana.edu or call 812.855.7998 to be added to our calendar for a particular date. To tour the Indiana University campus, please contact University Admissions at iuadmit@indiana.edu or 812.855.0661. When I come to visit, may I observe classes and ensembles? Yes. Please feel free to contact the Office of Music Admissions at musicadm@indiana.edu or 812.855.7998 for weekly class and ensemble schedules. Please note that due to performance schedules not all ensembles may be available for observation. My native language is not English. Do I need to take the TOEFL? Yes. Please see the following link for the required minimum scores for your desired degree: music.indiana.edu/admissions/auditioninfo.shtml#toefl. The TOEFL exam is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Please see the following Web site for more information about the TOEFL exam: ets.org/bin/getprogram.cgi?test=toefl&redirect=format The IU Bloomington campus has a testing center on-site. Please see the following Web site for more information: indiana.edu/~best/best_cbt.shtml How do I apply? Undergraduates and graduates must apply to the Office of International Admissions and the Jacobs School of Music. Please follow the application process on our Web site: music.indiana.edu/admissions/apply.shtml When will I receive the I-20? You will receive an I-20 after your application has been received for final review and processed by International Admissions. Proof of funding is required before an I-20 can be created. Please contact International Admissions, indiana.edu/~iuadmit/international/welcome/ or 812.855.4306, with questions and/or concerns. Am I eligible for scholarship if I am an international student? Yes. You are eligible for merit-based scholarships. All scholarships are based on audition results and department need. |
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