Fast Facts / FAQ
Eastman at a glance
Visiting Eastman
Auditions
Applying
Financial Aid
Enrolling and Living Here
Additional questions
EASTMAN AT A GLANCE
- About 500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students are enrolled.
- About 2,100 applications are received each year, and about 135 freshmen and 125 graduate students enroll.
- The student/total faculty ratio is 6:1.
- Students come from almost every state, and approximately 25% are from foreign countries.
- The School campus includes the Main Building, Annex, Student Living Center, Sibley Music Library, Miller Center, and Messinger Hall.
- Sibley Music Library is the largest academic music library in North America, with 344,000 books and scores, and 84,000 recordings.
- Eastman's 24-hour computer lab (Mac and Windows) for general student use is located in the Student Living Center, which is completely wired for high-speed internet access. There is also an Internet Café in the basement of the Main Building. Many additional computers are available in the Sibley Music Library.
- Eastman has a state-of-the-art computer music center and a lab maintained by the Theory Department for advanced research and creative activities which are restricted for use by students enrolled in specific courses. Eastman also has a state-of-the-art recording studio.
- Eastman alumni are members of all leading American orchestras, as well as respected orchestras around the world, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra, and the New Zealand Philharmonic.
- Five Eastman-trained composers and three former professors have been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music.
- Eastman alumni have won Grammy Awards, including Renée Fleming, Mitch Miller, William Warfield, and Maria Schneider.
- Eastman composition graduates have won the Prix de Rome, Guggenheim Fellowships, the Bearns Prize, the Charles Ives Award, and major awards from ASCAP and BMI.
- Eastman students have won many high-profile competitions, including the BBC Young Musicians Competition, NSO Young Soloist Competition, and the Russian-American Music Association Young Virtuosos Competition.
VISITING EASTMAN
Where is Eastman located?
The Eastman School of Music is located in downtown Rochester, New York. The Eastman Theatre is in the School of Music. Directions
Information: 585-274-1000
How far is New York City?
New York City is approximately 350 miles from Rochester. You can get there by plane, train, bus, or automobile. While Rochester is much smaller than New York City, Eastman is at the heart of the Rochester music scene. There are three professional orchestras within easy reach (Rochester Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic, and Syracuse Symphony).
How can I arrange a visit to the School?
The Eastman Admissions Office offers information sessions and tours for prospective students several times per week. If you are interested in scheduling a visit, please click here for more information.
May I meet with a faculty member while I'm there?
We encourage prospective students to meet with Eastman faculty, however, the Admissions Office does not make appointments for faculty members. Once you know the date of your visit, contact the faculty member or department directly for an appointment. Visit the department pages for a listing of faculty within each department, or view our faculty database.
AUDITIONS
What are your audition requirements for my instrument/voice?
Our audition requirements are listed in this web site. Please note that these are guidelines only. They are provided so that you can consult with your private teacher and decide what pieces represent you the best, within the guidelines.
Do I have to memorize my audition?
You must memorize your audition repertory if it is common practice for performances on your instrument/voice to be memorized.
What time is my audition?
Auditions in Rochester last an entire day. You will receive a letter confirming your audition date, and you must be available from 9 am to 6 pm on that day. For Spring 2008, piano performance applicants need to be available from 9 am until as late as 10 pm, and graduate piano performance need to be available for two days. Auditions at regional audition centers require that you are available for half a day. This is to accommodate both the large number of auditionees and the many different appointments that may be scheduled. More information on audition scheduling can be found here.
Do I have to be available the entire audition day?
Yes. We are aware that the audition process at some schools is very brief. At Eastman, we believe that the purpose of the audition day is to learn as much as possible about our applicants and to give them an opportunity to fully inform themselves about the School. An audition day at Eastman will include appointments other than the audition itself (Examples of such appointments are interviews, testing, group meetings, auditions/interviews for Graduate Awards, etc.). Due to the large numbers of applicants auditioning on any one day (often more than 250), we require that all applicants be available the entire day.
The audition day at regional centers is somewhat less elaborate; generally applicants should plan on being available for half a day. Graduate students, however, are expected to audition in Rochester.
May I change my audition day once I am scheduled?
It is generally not possible to change an audition once it has been confirmed. Any request for change must be submitted to the Director of Admissions in writing and must be accompanied by a rescheduling fee of $50. Please note that Eastman faculty CANNOT approve changes in audition dates. No changes will be made after Feb. 1.
APPLYING
When is the deadline for submitting my application?
The deadline for all applicants is December 1.
Do I need test scores?
At the undergraduate level, SAT/SAT II scores are required only from home-schooled applicants. SAT/SAT II, ACT and PSAT scores are optional for other applicants. However, since part of our admissions decision is based on academic performance, strong test scores help support an application.
At the graduate level, certain degree programs require GRE scores as follows:
• All MA, PHD, and MA/PHD applicants must provide GRE General Test scores.
• Applicants to programs in music theory pedagogy must also provide GRE Music Test scores.
My native language is not English. Must I take the TOEFL?
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required from ALL non-native English speakers (international students, U.S. citizens, and permanent residents). The only exception is for undergraduate applicants who moved permanently to a country where the primary language is English prior to their 14th birthday. These undergraduate applicants must instead submit SAT Test scores. All TOEFL and SAT results must be received by the application deadline. We cannot make an admissions decision without a TOEFL score. Please consult the Non-Native English speaker form within the application for the policy details.
When are application materials available? May I use last year's forms?
You may not use outdated forms because application materials are revised each year. Students must apply by December 1 prior to the year in which they intend to begin studies. The online application for degree study at Eastman is available on September 1 here.
Does Eastman have an Early Decision program for undergraduate applicants?
Eastman does not have an Early Decision program. Due to the small number of applicants that we are able to admit, we audition and/or interview all of our applicants before making final admission decisions. Most applicants know by mid-April if they have been accepted and what their financial aid package may be. According to standard ethical practices in music admissions, freshman applicants have until May 1 to decide whether they will accept an offer of admission.
Do I have to apply to Eastman if I applied to the University of Rochester?
YES. Unlike some schools, the process of application and admission to Eastman is not joined to the undergraduate admission process at the UR College. Eastman has a separate application form, different admission criteria, earlier deadlines, and distinct financial aid. The rule is: If you want a Bachelor of Music degree, apply to Eastman. If you want a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree, apply to the College. And if you want both a BM and a BA or BS, you must apply to both Eastman and the College.
Do I have to apply to the University of Rochester if I just want to go to Eastman?
No. If you want only a Bachelor of Music degree from Eastman, then you do not need to apply to the University of Rochester. Eastman has its own application and application/audition process.
How many people do you accept?
We accept approximately 24% of our applicants each year, ultimately enrolling about 13% of our applicant pool. The thing to remember is that you have no chance of being accepted if you do not apply. Likewise, we cannot offer you financial assistance if you do not apply, so before you decide that either the odds of being accepted or the cost of tuition are against you, the first step is to submit the application!
When will I hear whether or not I got in?
Decisions are made beginning in mid-March and notification of admissions decisions continues throughout April.
When will I know who my teacher is?
Applicants are generally notified of teacher assignments in May or June, after they have made the decision to study at Eastman. These assignments are made by the Dean of Academic Affairs. Any student may request a particular teacher by completing the Teacher Preference Form. Applicants who have a strong preference for a particular teacher are encouraged to contact that teacher well before the audition date to let the teacher know of their interest.
Which of my college credits will transfer?
This determination is ultimately made by the Registrar at Eastman, after the student has been accepted and enrolled, though we try to provide guidance to admitted students as to their likely class standing if they choose to enroll. Freshmen who have taken college courses during high school may or may not be given credit for the courses; in general, if the college course was required for high school graduation, it cannot count for college credit. Otherwise, it will be reviewed for credit by the registrar. Further details may be found on the Registrar's web site.
Does Eastman accept AP courses?
Advanced standing may be granted for some AP courses. Specific requirements are described on the Registrar's web site.
FINANCIAL AID
How much scholarship will I get?
One of Eastman's attractions as a professional and comprehensive training school for musicians is the strength and depth of its entire student population. Eastman values and rewards excellence through its scholarship programs. The Eastman School of Music believes in the value of the Eastman experience and in the investment of our resources in our student body.
Scholarships are aimed to represent candidates standing in the context of their peer group within the incoming class, and are awarded equitably and fairly.
Individual amounts of financial assistance vary, and may come in the form of merit scholarships, Eastman need-based grants, or U.S. government loans, grants, or work-study. For all applicants, notice of financial aid is mailed with the student's letter of acceptance. Note that we encourage all applicants to seek outside scholarship support as well. For more information, visit the Financial Aid section of this site.
What kind of financial aid do you have for undergraduate students?
Undergraduate applicants may apply for merit-based financial aid, need-based financial aid, both, or none. Decisions for merit awards are made based on faculty recommendation for admission and the applicant's academic record. To qualify for need-based awards, the applicant (and family) must complete the FAFSA.
What kind of financial aid do you have for graduate students?
All graduate financial aid is merit-based, and comes in the form of Graduate Awards. Applicants complete the Graduate Award application as part of the application for admission, indicating particular work specialties for which they are qualified. On their audition/interview day at Eastman, appointments are scheduled for Graduate Award interviews. Graduate Awards are made by the associate dean of graduate studies, based in part on recommendations from the faculty and the Admissions Committees.
Graduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may qualify for federal loans or work-study grants. A brief Eastman application must be completed, as well as the FAFSA.
ENROLLING AND LIVING HERE
Where do Eastman students live?
All Eastman undergraduates are required to live in the Student Living Center for the first three years. Freshmen share rooms; after the first year students live in single rooms. The SLC is located directly across the street from the School. The 17-story high rise is wired for internet access, includes a cafeteria and snack bar, a 24-hour computer lab, a recital room, and a satellite office of the University Health Services.
Eastman graduate students generally find housing in close proximity to the School with little trouble and at a reasonable cost. Eastman maintains an off-campus housing database to aid graduate students with their search.
Undergraduate students who also are pursuing a degree in The College on the main campus may choose to live either in the Eastman Student Living Center or in a residence hall on the River Campus.
When can I move into the dorm?
The Student Living Center is open for move-in just prior to orientation, normally in late August.
When is orientation?
Eastman orientation occurs just prior to the start of the Fall semester. Activities include placement testing and general orientation, as well as social events. After placement testing, new students are able to register for classes. See Eastman's annual orientation publication, "Clef Notes," found on the Orientation web page.
Is Eastman on semesters or quarters?
The Eastman academic year is in two semesters. The fall semester runs from around Labor Day until just before Christmas. After a break of several weeks, the spring semester begins in January and continues until early May. College-level courses offered during the summer term are mainly graduate and professional development courses. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for more information.
Do I have to sign up for a practice room?
No. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Most of our 135 practice rooms have grand or upright pianos and mirrors. Grand piano rooms are reserved for piano performance majors.
Where do I store my percussion, harp, tuba, or double bass?
Percussion, harp, tuba, and double bass students use their assigned practice rooms for instrument storage as well. Lockers are available for smaller instruments.
Isn't it really cold up in Rochester?
Well, sometimes it's very cold, and sometimes it is only snowy. But we figure that if it were sunny and warm all the time, you wouldn't stay as long in the nice heated practice rooms, concert halls, classrooms, and library. So the weather helps make you a better musician.
May I take classes at the University of Rochester?
Since Eastman is one of the professional schools of the University of Rochester, all Eastman students are students of the larger university as well. Eastman students may elect courses that are offered on the main university campus, subject to any course prerequisites and the recommendation of their advisers-just as students at the main campus may enroll in courses at Eastman. An Eastman student who wants to obtain an additional degree from the University of Rochester must apply directly to that degree program. This is not necessary, however, in the case of elected individual courses.
How do I get my student visa?
The process of obtaining a visa to study in the United States is regulated by the U.S. government. The University of Rochester has an International Services Office (ISO) that issues the Certificates of Eligibility (I-20 or IAP-66). The International Student Secretary at Eastman coordinates paperwork between Eastman students and the ISO.
A student must first be accepted into a degree program at Eastman before completing ISO paperwork. As part of this paperwork, all international students must prove they have the financial resources to study in the U.S. for one year. Proof may include scholarship support from the School or from the student's home country as well as family funds and/or sponsor support.
Once all the paperwork is completed by the student, the ISO issues the Certificate of Eligibility. It is then the responsibility of the student to go to the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country to obtain their student visa. In some countries, this process may take several months. Therefore, international students are urged to begin the visa process as soon as they can to ensure a timely start to their studies at Eastman.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
How do I get the rest of my questions answered?