Frequently Asked Questions
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- What percentage of applicants get accepted?
- What is the difference between a Conservatory and a University?
- Can I take a lesson with an instructor at NEC before I apply?
- Do I get to pick my studio instructor?
- How long after the audition will I hear if I have been accepted?
- What percentage of students receive financial aid?
- What type of merit money is given out?
- Are there teaching assistantships?
- Where can I live on campus?
- How many students are graduate students, undergraduate students?
- What are the deadlines for admission? (2008-2009)
- Do I have to submit a tape?
- What if I can’t come to an audition?
- What degrees do you offer?
- What is the difference between a diploma and a degree program?
- What is the Tufts double degree program?
- What is the Harvard double degree program?
- Can I apply to both the Tufts and Harvard dual degree programs?
- Is the audition more important than academics?
- What are the academic achievements expected of undergraduate applicants?
- I am an international student. Do I need to take the TOEFL?
- If I transfer to NEC, will I enter NEC at the same level I am at my current school?
- Does NEC accept AP credits?
What percentage of applicants get accepted?
NEC generally accepts between 35-40% of the applicant pool. Each major has a specific quota of total enrollment (not by class level). The specific number of admits in each major varies from year to year and is determined by the number of openings created by the number of graduating students.
What is the difference between a Conservatory and a University?
Conservatories offer concentration in one specific area. Although the student does have liberal arts and seminar requirements, all other academic courses center around music. Students also study privately in weekly lessons with their assigned faculty member.
Can I take a lesson with an instructor at NEC before I apply?
Many members of the faculty will meet with prospective students, according to their availability. Students should contact the chair of the department of interest, who will assist them in contacting and arranging a time to meet with members of their department. Students may also contact the Office of Admission for assistance in this process.
Do I get to pick my studio instructor?
Each applicant is offered the opportunity on the application to indicate two choices of studio teacher. At the time of admission, studio assignment is announced to each applicant. The department chairperson in consultation with each faculty member makes all studio assignments. Students who do not indicate a preference are assigned at the beginning of the semester.
How long after the audition will I hear if I have been accepted?
All applications decisions are mailed by April 1. NEC will not give admission decisions over the phone or by e-mail.
What percentage of students receive financial aid?
80% of students who apply for financial aid receive some type of financial aid.
What type of merit money is given out?
NEC offers merit based scholarships to eligible students. All students interested in being considered for any form of financial aid must submit the NEC Financial Aid form. All U.S. citizens and permanent residents must also submit the FAFSA. International students may apply for NEC financial aid only. (Please note: The NEC Financial Aid form is contained within our online application for admission at www.unifiedapps.org. If you submit the online application, you do not need to download and complete a paper copy of the NEC Financial Aid form. Only those applicants who choose to submit a paper copy of our application for admission must also download and complete the paper version of the NEC Financial Aid form at NEC Financial Aid Office Forms.)
Are there teaching assistantships?
In general, there are no graduate teaching assistantships. However, selected students may have the possibility of teaching non-majors.
Where can I live on campus?
The Conservatory Residence Hall provides double rooms, with a small number of single rooms and graduate suites. All undergraduates, including transfer students, must live in the Residence Hall during their first year at the Conservatory unless they are living at home with parents, 21 years of age or older, or married.
How many students are graduate students, undergraduate students?
NEC is generally divided equally between undergraduate and graduate students.
What are the deadlines for admission? (2007-2008)
- November 1: January (Spring) admission applications.
- December 1: Priority deadline for September (Fall) admission and financial aid applications and preliminary audition recordings.
- February 1: Filing deadline for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- February 1: Deadline for receipt of audition recordings for applicants not requesting an in-person audition.
- March 1: Deadline for receipt of TOEFL results for all non-native English-speaking applicants.
Do I have to submit a tape?
All applicants in Jazz Studies, Flute, Contemporary Improvisation, Conducting, Piano, Violin, Cello, Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy are required to submit a preliminary tape or CD. In addition, all applicants to the Artist Diploma, DMA and Harvard/NEC Double Degree programs are required to submit preliminary audition tapes or CDs. Preliminary tapes are due with the application for admission on December 1. After review, qualified applicants will be invited to present an in-person audition at NEC.
What if I can’t come to an audition?
If you live more than 500 miles from Boston, you may submit a tape or CD instead of performing a live audition unless you are applying to one of the following majors for which we require an in-person audition: Jazz Studies, Contemporary Improvisation, Piano, Collaborative Piano, Conducting, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Guitar, Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy. If you will be auditioning by tape you must note this choice on the application.
What degrees do you offer?
NEC offers the Bachelor of Music, Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. In addition NEC offers Undergraduate, Graduate, and Artist diplomas.
What is the difference between a diploma and a degree program?
A diploma program focuses on performance study and does not include any required academic coursework. A diploma program does not qualify a student for admission to either the Master of Music or Doctor of Musical Arts degree.
What is the Tufts double degree program?
NEC has a joint 5-year double degree program with Tufts University. At the completion of this program, the student earns a Bachelor of Music degree from NEC and a Bachelor of Arts degree form Tufts. Tufts offers double degree students the opportunity to major in any area except music and engineering. Students interested in the 5-year program must apply and be admitted to each school, filing separate applications. Students enrolled in the Tufts/NEC program pay tuition through Tufts University and receive any scholarship awards through the Tufts University financial aid office.
If you are interested in contacting students currently enrolled in the Tufts/NEC dual degree program please e-mail or call Admissions Counselor Elizabeth Jimenez at (617) 585-1102.
For more information download the NEC / Tufts Dual Degree document. This file requires Mircosoft Word to open and read.
Read a statement about the Tufts/NEC dual degree program written by a student currently enrolled in the program.
Can I apply to both the Tufts and Harvard dual degree programs?
You can. To do so, you will need to submit one paper application to NEC and seperate applications to Tufts and Harvard. Our paper application is available for download as a PDF file at http://www.newenglandconservatory.edu/apply/download.html. Please be sure to check the appropriate boxes on page 3 of the application.
Is the audition more important than academics?
The audition is very important. However, no offer of admission is made without the receipt and review of all transcripts, test results, and supporting materials.
What are the academic achievements expected of undergraduate applicants?
All first year students applying to the Bachelor of Music program must have a high school diploma and submit official high school transcripts to NEC. Students who are home-schooled must provide SAT scores and successfully pass the GED in their state, providing a copy to the Office of Admission.
The minimum academic grade point average is 2.75 (on a 4-point scale). Please note: NEC recalculates all high school transcripts to only include academic subjects. The minimum SATI and ACT scores are 1000 and 23 respectively.
The Academic Review Committee may offer students who do not have these minimums but who successfully pass the audition portion of the application admission following special review. International students who do not meet the minimum TOEFL may be admitted subject to the requirement of intensive English study at NEC. Students entering the intensive English program at NEC should expect that their degree program might be prolonged.
I am an international student. Do I need to take the TOEFL?
Yes. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. The minimum TOEFL score for undergraduate programs is 61 iBT, 173 computer-based, and 500 paper-based. The minimum TOEFL score for Master of Music and Graduate Diploma programs is 79 iBT, 213 computer-based, or 550 paper-based. Students must submit official results of the TOEFL. Copies and student score reports are not acceptable, and will delay your application. Applicants who have completed a full-time, 4-year degree program at an English-speaking college/university may request an exemption from the TOEFL requirement in writing once they have submitted an application.
Artist Diploma and DMA applicants do not need to submit a TOEFL score.
If I transfer to NEC, will I enter NEC at the same level I am at my current school?
Auditions determine students’ studio level and ensemble requirement. Placement exams and evaluation of transcripts decide class year and the number of semesters required to complete the program. International students may transfer credit if they have met NEC’s English language requirement. NEC awards transfer credit to students previously enrolled in degree programs at other institutions after approval from the Dean’s Office. Students may transfer no more than 60 credits toward the Bachelor’s degree or 36 credits toward the Undergraduate Diploma. Students transferring into the Conservatory should expect to lose credits.
Does NEC accept AP credits?
Undergraduate students may receive up to four credits in addition to transfer credits toward the Bachelor’s degree through the Advanced Placement Program, provided they do not take courses covering the same material.NEC accepts AP scores of 3 or better in general studies and appropriate electives, but requires scores of 4 on the English Literature/Composition or the English Language/Composition exam to exempt student from the first-year writing requirement.