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

Questions About Applications and Application Fees

Q:
What are the deadlines for the submission of applications?
A:
The online application and prescreening deadline is December 1, 2008. The supplementary document (eg. transcripts, recommendation letters, TOEFL, etc.) deadline is February 1, 2009.

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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).

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)?
A:
You may apply to more than one major/division; the fee for each application is $100.00 U.S. Should you be accepted into both, you would need to select one in which to enroll. (See question below on "double majors".)

Q:
Must I submit all required materials by the application deadlines?
A:
Yes. The Unified Application for Admission which is submitted electronically online and prescreen materials (if required for your major) must be received by December 1, 2008.

All supplementary application materials must be mailed directly to and received by the Office of Admission no later than February 1, 2009. Supplementary application materials include: academic transcripts and translations, Guidance Counselor recommendation (for Freshman applicants), other required recommendations, Doctoral applicant recommendations, and TOEFL score (required of all students whose first language is not English).

Questions About Auditions and Audition Requirements

Q:
Where and when are Manhattan School of Music auditions held?
A:
All auditions are held on campus in New York (there are no off-site or regional auditions).  Auditions will take place February 27 - March 6, 2009.

Note: Some instruments will be auditioning in January and February 2009. For a list of these instruments, please click here to view the Dates and Deadlines page.

Q:
Can I submit a recorded audition (DVD)?
A:
Applicants residing outside North America may audition via DVD, except for all composition, accompanying, and Doctoral Program applicants, who must audition live. In addition, any cello, tuba, harp or double bass applicants who reside in North America may choose the option of auditioning by DVD; however, the live audition is highly recommended. Read about the details of this subject by visiting our Audition Procedures page.

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. Other placement and qualifying exams are given in the fall, prior to registration.

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Q:
Where can I find out what I need to play at my audition?
A:
Repertoire requirements can be found by going to the academic department page for your intended major and looking under your degree program. For instance, the audition requirements for a cellist auditioning for the Undergraduate Program are different than a cellist auditioning for the Graduate Program in Orchestral Performance.

Questions About a Meal Plan

Q:
Does Manhattan School of Music have a meal plan?
A:
Manhattan School of Music offers two meal plans, one for Andersen Hall residents and one for commuters. Residents are required to purchase a $1128 Declining Meal Plan each semester ($2255 per academic year) and commuters (all non-resident students) are required to purchase a $115 Declining Meal Plan each semester ($230 per academic year). Meal Plan funds are activated using a valid MSM ID card. This charge will be included on each tuition bill. Unspent dollars can be carried over from the Fall to the Spring, but not past the Spring semester each year. Unused Meal Plan dollars are not credited back to the student. It is possible to add more funds to the Meal Plan account in increments of $100.

Questions About Our Residence Hall

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. Visit our Residence Life page.

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.

Q:
Does the residence hall have different floor designations?
A:
Floor designations may be as follows:

• Graduate Students only
• Undergraduate Students only
• Students Over Age 21 only
• Female only

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 2008-2009 academic year rates, per person, are as follows:

• Double:
  $8,750
• Economical Single:           
  $10,300
• Regular Single:           
  $11,500
• Large Single:                       
  $11,900
• Super Single:
  $13,400

Questions About Faculty Contact

Q:        
How do I choose a faculty member with whom to study?
A:
You complete the Teacher Preference Form as part of your Unified Application, stating up to five choices for 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. You 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 at www.msmnyc.edu/faculty. To visit the MSM faculty page, please click here. Please note: the Office of Admission 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.

Questions About Special Programs/Enrollment

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 choral/orchestral conducting?
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.

Q:
I have heard about a new 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 an M.M. (Master of Music) from Manhattan School of Music and an M.A. (Master of Arts) in Music Education with New York State K-12 Music Teacher Certification from Teachers College Columbia University. To read more about this program, click here.

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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).

Questions About Test Scores

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 — in most cases — however, they are recommended.  (Please note:  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, 2008 but prior to December 1, 2008, as it can take up to two or three months to register, take an exam, and receive official results. The Office of Admission must receive official TOEFL results no later than February 1, 2008. Please note that an applicant's nationality or citizenship has no bearing on whether she or he is required to provide MSM with TOEFL scores. See 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 file an official petition for exemption of the TOEFL requirement. To file a petition, 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." To request the official petition for TOEFL exemption, click here. This petition should be turned in no later than December 1. 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 petition.  Additionally, such requests are not always approved; you will be notified of the result via email.

Q:        
Will I be denied admission to Manhattan School of Music if my TOEFL score falls below the recommended/required minimum levels?
A:   
Applicants who meet a high level in all other standards of admission, but who score below the minimum on the TOEFL may be admitted with an English requirement (if the score is close to our recommended minimum score), OR they may be denied admission (if the score is low). The recommended TOEFL score for Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, Professional Studies, and Artist Diploma is 79 iBT (213 Computer Based), and for Doctor of Musical Arts the required TOEFL score is 100 iBT (250 Computer Based).

More details on this subject are located on our International Students page.

Questions About Tuition and Cost of Attendance

Q:        
What are the tuition/attendance costs at Manhattan School of Music?
A:        
Tuition at Manhattan School of Music for the 2008 - 2009 academic year is $29,975, while fees are approximately $475. In addition, there are other direct and indirect costs, bringing the average student yearly budgets this year to between $38,350 and $49,200 for tuition, fees, room, board, music, personal/miscellaneous expenses, and transportation. Medical insurance ($2,250 for 2008-2009) is required for students who do not have proof of existing coverage. For details, visit our Cost of Attendance page.