Questions About Applications and Application Fees Questions About Auditions and Audition Requirements Questions About a Meal Plan Questions About Our Residence Hall Questions About Faculty Contact Questions About Special Programs/Enrollment Questions About Test Scores Questions About Tuition and Cost of Attendance
Q: When is my application due?
A: The online application and prescreening deadline for Fall 2012 is December 1, 2011. In addition, all supplementary documents, except Recommendation Letters, (eg. transcripts, TOEFL, etc.) must be submitted by December 1, 2011. Recommendation Letters are due by February 1, 2012.
Q: Does Manhattan School of Music accept applications submitted after the deadline?
A: Late applications must be approved by the Associate Dean of Enrollment Management and will be charged a $50.00 U.S. late fee.
Q: How much is the application fee?
A: The application fee is $100.00 U.S. ($50.00 for college alumni and current MSM college and precollege students). There is no application fee for exchange students applying to study at MSM from a partner exchange program institutions.
Q: How do I pay the application fee?
A: The application fee is paid using your VISA, Mastercard or Discover card as part of the online application (Unified Application) for admission, which can be found at www.unifiedapps.org. Money orders, checks, and cash are not accepted.
Q: Can I apply to more than one major/division (e.g., Classical Voice and Classical Piano or Classical Voice and Jazz Voice)?
Q: Where and when are Manhattan School of Music auditions held?
A: Auditions are held in Seoul, Korea from December 4-7, 2011 and on campus in New York from March 2-9, 2012. For Seoul, Korea audition procedures and registration, email www.msmaat.com. For New York, NY auditions held at MSM, visit the Audition Procedures page.
Q: Can I submit a recorded audition?
A: Applicants residing outside North America and cello, tuba, harp and double bass applicants may either audition live in New York or opt to submit a recorded audition (except for Composition, Accompanying, and Doctoral Program applicants, who must have a live audition). Prescreening recordings must be submitted online through our ArtsApp portal, www.ArtsApp.com/msmnyc. After registering with ArtsApp, you may upload your prescreening recording.
Q: Do I have to take any entrance exams when I audition?
A: Doctoral Program, Classical Composition, and Jazz Composition applicants are required to take entrance exams during auditions. All graduate (MM, PS, DMA) voice applicants will be required to complete a short diction assessment either before or after the audition. This diction assessment is optional for undergraduate voice applicants. Jazz applicants for BM or MM must take a short theory test prior to their scheduled audition. Other placement and qualifying exams are given in the fall, prior to registration.
Q: Where can I find out what I need to play at my audition?
A: Applicants can locate repertoire requirements by visiting the academic department page. Once there, applicants can click their department and navigate to the requirements of their intended major.
Q: Does Manhattan School of Music have a meal plan?
Q: Does Manhattan School of Music have a residence hall?
A: Yes. Andersen Residence Hall opened in the fall of 2001. The 19-story hall is adjacent to the academic building and contains student residential rooms, practice rooms, computer facilities, mailboxes, a lounge and outdoor patio, laundry, vending, and an exercise room, and it can house up to 380 students. The hall is staffed with a full-time professional residence life director, and student resident assistants are located on every floor. Security coverage at the residence hall operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Q: Are Manhattan School of Music students required to live in the residence hall?
A: First- and second-year undergraduate students are required to live on campus, with freshmen sharing double rooms and sophomores having the option of living in a single room, as space allows. Upper-class students and graduate students may also apply for housing in the residence hall.
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Q: Does the residence hall have different floor designations?
A: Floor designations may be as follows:
Q: Does Manhattan School of Music provide assistance to upperclassmen/graduate students in locating housing?
A:The Office of Student Life provides information regarding alternative housing options.
Q: How much does it cost to live in the residence hall?
A:The 2011-2012 academic year rates, per person, are as follows:
Q: How do I choose a faculty member with whom to study?
A: Applicants complete the Teacher Preference Form as part of their online Unified Application, naming up to five preferred choices for a major teacher. Many students make this decision through a combination of advice from current teachers, knowledge of faculty reputation, and/or having an opportunity to take a lesson. Applicants may choose to leave this decision to the judgment of the dean of academics/dean of faculty who make every attempt to pair each student with an appropriate faculty member.
Q: I would like to arrange a sample lesson with a faculty member. Can I do this?
A: Contact information is available on the Faculty Page. Please note: the Office of Admissions does not have any information regarding faculty members' availability or schedule and is not able to set up sample lessons for prospective applicants.) You and the faculty member will need to negotiate the fee for this lesson.
Q: Do you have part-time/evening/continuing education programs?
A: Manhattan School of Music offers full-time programs only. Typically, classes are held, with some exceptions, during normal business hours, Monday through Friday.
Q: Do you have degree programs in audio recording, electronic music, or musical theater?
A: No. Degree programs are not available in these areas. Manhattan School of Music offers degrees in performance (instrumental and vocal, in classical, jazz and contemporary music), composition (classical and jazz), and vocal and instrumental accompanying. [Back to Top]
Q: I have heard about a the dual-degree program with Teachers College Columbia University. What is it?
A: Manhattan School of Music and Teachers College Columbia University offer a dual degree at the master's level. This accelerated program – designed to be completed in three years – gives the student a Master of Music from Manhattan School of Music and a Master of Arts in Education with New York State K-12 Music Teacher Certification from Teachers College, Columbia University. To read more about this program, click here.
Q: Do you have spring or midyear enrollment?
A: No. Enrollment at Manhattan School of Music, in any given academic year, is for entrance in the fall semester only.
Q: Do you offer double majors?
A: No. Due to the intensive academic load required of each individual major, MSM does not offer the option of a double major. However, students may elect to take part-time lessons in a secondary discipline (note that the cost of these lessons is not included in the regular tuition fee).
Q: Does Manhattan School of Music require SAT, ACT, or GRE scores?
A: Manhattan School of Music does not require applicants to submit SAT, ACT, or GRE scores, however they are recommended. Applicants to the undergraduate degree program who are home-schooled are required to provide MSM with both a high school diploma (or a GED) and SAT/ACT scores.
Q:Who is required to submit a TOEFL score? A: All applicants whose first language is not English must submit a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score from a test taken after January 1, 2011 but prior to November 1, 2011, as it can take up to two or three months to register, take an exam, and receive official results. The Office of Admissions MUST receive your official TOEFL results no later than December 1, 2011. An applicant's nationality or citizenship has no bearing on whether she or he is required to provide MSM with TOEFL scores.
Visit the International Students page >
Q: My first language is not English, and I am currently enrolled in a U.S. (or another English speaking) institution. May I be exempt from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) requirement?
A: Applicants who have completed a full-time, 4-year degree program at an English-speaking college/university within one year of application may request a TOEFL waiver form. The request form will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. MSM will notify students of the Admissions Committee’s final decision. The submission of a TOEFL waiver request does not guarantee exemption from the TOEFL requirement. To request an exemption form, send an email to Ms. Amy Anderson, Associate Dean of Enrollment Management, to request the required form. The subject line of your email must say "Request for TOEFL Exemption." This should be submitted by December 1, 2011. Please bear in mind that official school transcripts will be an important factor in the consideration of this request and should be submitted with the TOEFL exemption form.
Request the official petition for TOEFL exemption >
Q: Will I be denied admission to Manhattan School of Music if my TOEFL score falls below the recommended/required minimum levels?
A: The minimum TOEFL score for Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, Professional Studies, and Artist Diploma is 79 iBT and 100 iBT for Doctor of Musical Arts. Applicants who meet a high level in all other standards of admission but who have a low TOEFL score may be admitted with an additional Summer English Study (SES) requirement. An applicant may also be denied based on a low TOEFL score.
Q: What are the tuition/attendance costs at Manhattan School of Music?
Get details abut the cost of attendance >