Throughout February, I auditioned at four schools, and was awaiting all of the results in order to make my final decision.
(In order from last to first choice):
CSU Northridge: accepted to the classical piano major
CSU Fullerton: accepted to the classical piano major, with a $1500 scholarship (total, not annual) and free lessons ($1000-ish value yearly)
CSU Long Beach: accepted to the classical piano major, with free lessons ($1000-ish value yearly)
UC Irvine: accepted to the classical piano major!
So, I got in everywhere I auditioned, and even got some scholarship offers based on my auditions. Interestingly, I felt I did best at my Northridge and Fullerton auditions, felt so-so about my UCI audition, and absolutely terrible about my CSULB audition. You never know how it's going to go.
Despite the scholarship offers, my first choice was so far in front of the other three that I'd made up my mind well before that if I were accepted, I was going, no matter what loans etc. would be needed.
The professor at UCI, Nina Scolnik, is incredible: she is a Julliard grad, whose students go on to the top graduate schools such as USC and Manhattan School of Music and Julliard, and was my own lifelong teacher's teacher!
Plus, the degree offered at UCI is a B.M., not a B.A., which holds slightly more prestige (not a factor that would have ultimately mattered, but an added perk), as does a degree from a UC over a CSU. The program at UCI is smaller than the CSU's, which will give me many more performance opportunities, individual attention from faculty, and closer connections with other music majors. The most important factor, though, is that I will be studying with Nina Scolnik.
So, it's really happening! I am on-track to graduate from LBCC with my A.A. in music on May 25th, and am headed to UCI as a junior in the Fall! I've sent in my acceptance of their offer of admission, and have begun the preliminary slew of paperwork required... I'm on my way!
And to explain the title of this post... UCI's mascot is the Anteater, and the Anteater cheer is ZOT ZOT ZOT!
I'll make another post sometime around graduation, about my teachers at city and elsewhere that have made this possible and supported me etc. etc., but right now... you know... FINALS/STUDYING/PAPERS/CRAZINESS.
