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Are you thinking about applying to Bienen School of Music? This post explores all the details of Bienen School Of Music Application, bienen school of music audition requirements, bienen school of music acceptance rate, bienen school of music tuition and bienen school of music ranking.

If so, you might be wondering how to go about it. Luckily for you, we’ve got some great news: you can apply to the school through the Common Application! The Common Application is an online application that allows you to apply to multiple schools at once. You will be asked to provide information about yourself, your academic history and your interests. TRead on to know more about Bienen School Of Music Application, bienen school of music audition requirements, bienen school of music acceptance rate, bienen school of music tuition and bienen school of music ranking.

Once you’ve finished filling out your application, you’ll need to submit it by December 15 if you want it considered for early decision or February 1 if you want it considered regular decision. If you haven’t finished filling out your application yet, don’t worry! There’s still time! Just remember that the earlier in the year that you submit it, the better chance that Bienen School of Music will get a chance to review it before making any decisions about whether or not they want to admit you.

The Common Application makes applying to colleges easier than ever before. You can apply to Bienen School of Music and other colleges at the same time, and you only need to fill out one application!

The Common Application is an online application that allows you to apply to multiple schools at once. You will be asked to provide information about yourself, your academic history and your interests.

After completing the Common Application, you will submit it electronically to Bienen School of Music. Your application will be reviewed by our admissions committee, along with those from other applicants who applied through the Common Application. If you are accepted, we will send you an email with instructions on how to complete your enrollment paperwork.

Bienen School Of Music Application

We begin with Bienen School Of Music Application, then bienen school of music audition requirements, bienen school of music acceptance rate, bienen school of music tuition and bienen school of music ranking.


Undergraduate Application & Timeline

Click on the links below to start your Bienen School Supplement and review detailed application instructions from the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Undergraduate Application Checklist

  • Music prescreening (if applicable)/Composition portfolio/Bachelor of Arts application materials via Bienen School Supplement (NOTE: ALL Bienen School applicants, regardless of chosen major, must complete this application component) 
  • Common Application or Coalition Application sent to Northwestern University, including the non-refundable application fee of $75 or fee waiver
  • Secondary School Report (includes high school transcript and counselor recommendation letter)
  • Academic Teacher Recommendation (request and upload via the Common Application)
  • Counselor Recommendation (request and upload via the Common Application)
  • Music Teacher Recommendation (preferred but not required; request and upload via the Common Application)
  • Optional for Fall 2022 Admission: Standardized Test Scores (The Office of Undergraduate Admission has adopted a test-optional policy for fall 2022 applicants. Northwestern University accepts both the ACT and the SAT. Some applicants may be required to submit SAT II subject tests. Please review the Undergraduate Admission website for more details). 
  • Early Decision Agreement (Early Decision applicants only)
  • Midyear Report (Regular Decision applicants only)
  • TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test exam results (international applicants only) 
Chamber Music | Northwestern Bienen School of Music

All prescreening recordings and music program requirements should be uploaded to the Bienen School of Music Supplement.

Do not mail any materials to the Bienen School of Music; items that are mailed to the Bienen School of Music will not be returned.


Fall 2022 Freshman Early Decision Timeline

August 1Bienen School Supplement available onlineOctober 15BM and BA applicants: prescreening materials (if applicable) and Bienen School Supplement due (BM composition applicants have a separate Bienen School Supplement deadline; see below)November 1Common Application due through NorthwesternNovember 15BM Composition applicants: composition portfolios and Bienen School Supplement dueNovember 23Auditions must be completed byMid-DecemberNorthwestern admission decision releasedFebruary 1Enrollment deposit due

NOTE: Finalists from the QuestBridge application process applying to the Bienen School must submit prescreening materials by October 15, 2021 and complete their performance audition before November 13, 2021, regardless of whether applying Early or Regular Decision.

Fall 2022 Freshman Regular Decision Timeline

August 1Bienen School Supplement available onlineDecember 1BM and BA applicants: prescreening materials (if applicable) and Bienen School Supplement due (BM composition applicants have a separate Bienen School Supplement deadline; see below)January 3Common Application due through NorthwesternJanuary 31-February 21Virtual auditions *NOTE:* Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all fall 2022 auditions will be held in virtual and remote formats.February 1BM Composition applicants: composition portfolios and Bienen School Supplement dueFebruary 15Recorded auditions dueMarchNorthwestern admission decision releasedMay 1Enrollment deposit due

NOTE: Bienen School transfer applicants are strongly encouraged to apply via Northwesternโ€™s Regular Decision round. Application and audition deadlines may be found above. Transfer applicants who do not submit a Bienen School Supplement by December 1 will need to wait until after March 15 to schedule a live audition.

https://youtu.be/i5bGqUnIecc

Fall 2022 Transfer Applicant Timeline

March 15Bienen School Supplement dueMarch 15Prescreening materials, portfolios, or recorded final auditions dueMarch 15Common Application and all supplemental materials dueAprilVirtual auditionsMayNorthwestern admission decision released

Dual Degree and Double Major Applicants

Applicants interested in pursuing a double major or dual degree should indicate this on the Common Application. 

When you apply for a double major or dual degree and complete all requirements, you will receive a single admission decision from Northwestern Universityโ€™s Office of Undergraduate Admission. This decision will include information on which school(s) you have been accepted to within Northwestern University, including the Bienen School of Music. Northwestern offers dual degrees with the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences; the McCormick School of Engineering; the Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications; the School of Communication; and the School of Education and Social Policy.

International Applicants

International applicants to Northwestern include citizens of foreign countries in foreign education systems, citizens of foreign countries in the United States educational system, and United States citizens studying abroad. All applicants to Northwestern, international and domestic, apply using the same process and timeline. Northwestern University requires all undergraduate applicants, whether educated in the United States or abroad, to submit the results of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT Reasoning Test) or; American College Test (ACT) with writing.

International applicants must demonstrate a high level of English proficiency. An evaluation of English proficiency includes reviewing all test scores, grades in classes taught in English, writing samples, and comments by recommenders. International applicants whose first language is not English are required to submit exam results from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test (DET). International applicants who complete 3 to 4 years of their secondary school curriculum in English and score 650 or above on the Critical Reading section of the SAT Reasoning Test are not required to submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or DET score. Northwestern does not accept scores from English proficiency exams not listed above, including the TOEFL Institutional Testing Program (ITP).

bienen school of music audition requirements

Next, we consider bienen school of music audition requirements, bienen school of music acceptance rate, bienen school of music tuition and bienen school of music ranking.

Undergraduate Auditions

Each year, Bienen School faculty will listen to thousands of the nationโ€™s most promising young musicians to determine who will be selected for admission to Northwestern University.

Step-by-step instructions for auditioning for the Bienen School of Music are outlined below.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all fall 2022 auditions will be held in virtual and remote formats. There will be no in-person auditions. Applicants will receive direct email communications with more details. Updated 1/6/2022

1. Submit the Bienen School Supplement

In most cases, a performance audition is required.* 

*NOTE: Bachelor of Arts and Music Composition applications do not have an audition component, but must submit music application materials via our Bienen School Supplement following the deadlines listed on our Application & Timeline page.

Important Audition Dates

November 23, 2021Early Decision auditions must be completed byJanuary 31-February 21, 2022Regular Decision virtual auditionsFebruary 15, 2022Deadline to submit recorded auditions

Composition applicants for Regular Decision have until February 1, 2022 to upload the required portfolio. However, if you wish to apply to both the Composition program and to a performance major, you should submit a second Supplement with the necessary performance major prescreening (if applicable) and audition requirements.

*Applicants auditioning by recording do not receive prescreening decisions; applicants will only receive a final admission decision. 

2. Prepare for Your Audition

We recommend starting early by taking the audition requirements to your music teacher. Prepare for your audition by bringing musical selections that best showcase what you do well.  It is better to beautifully perform a piece that requires moderate skill, as opposed to a mediocre performance of a very difficult piece.

For prescreening recordings and final audition recordings, it is not necessary to have them made in a professional studio. The most important aspect is that the sound quality of your recording is excellent, so find a good microphone and play your recording for multiple people before you submit it.

Northwestern University Bienen School of Music - Music Major - Majoring in  Music

Accompaniment

Please see your program’s individual Audition & Program Requirements page for information about accompaniment requirements. 

3. Audition

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all fall 2022 auditions will be held in virtual and remote formats. There will be no in-person auditions. Applicants will receive direct email communications with more details. Updated 1/6/2022

Early Decision and QuestBridge auditions are held on an ad-hoc basis during the month of November.

bienen school of music acceptance rate

More details coming up on bienen school of music acceptance rate, bienen school of music tuition and bienen school of music ranking.

For the Bienen School of Music, the acceptance rate is approximately 10%, which makes it a highly competitive school, although slightly more in reach than Juilliard or Colburn. At Bienen, around 200 undergraduates and graduates are accepted per year.

In addition to being a highly selective college with a very low acceptance rate, Bienen also has some of the most rigorous requirements for admission into their programs.

In order to be considered for admission, students must submit an application packet that includes:

โ€ข An application form

โ€ข A non-refundable application fee ($60)

โ€ข Official SAT/ACT scores (within two years)

โ€ข A personal statement or essay (250-600 words) explaining why you would like to attend this particular school and what sets you apart from other applicants.

bienen school of music tuition

Graduate Tuition & Fees

Graduate (MM & DMA) students attending the Bienen School of Music will only be charged tuition on their student accounts. Living expenses listed below are estimates only. Students are charged one rate for full-time enrollment (3-5 units of credit). This gives students the advantage of taking a variety of courses to supplement their musical training without additional charges.

Estimated Expenses for 2021-22

DESCRIPTION

COST

Tuition $56,907

Room & Board $14,190

Health Insurance $4,386

Other Expenses $6,900

These figures, based on average costs, include: Books and Supplies ($300), Personal Expenses ($4,800) and Transportation ($1,800)

Total $82,383

Financial Aid

Master of Music students have the opportunity to receive partial or full tuition grants. All DMA students receive a full-tuition scholarship, stipend, and fully subsidized health insurance.

bienen school of music ranking

Northwestern Music Rankings

Ranked at #6 in College Factual’s most recent rankings, Northwestern is in the top 1% of the country for music students pursuing a bachelor’s degree. It is also ranked #1 in Illinois.

Ranking TypeRank
Best Music Bachelorโ€™s Degree Schools4
Best Music Doctorโ€™s Degree Schools5
Best Music Masterโ€™s Degree Schools7
Most Popular Bachelorโ€™s Degree Colleges for Music13
Most Popular Masterโ€™s Degree Colleges for Music26
Most Popular Doctorโ€™s Degree Colleges for Music49
Most Focused Doctorโ€™s Degree Colleges for Music64
Most Focused Masterโ€™s Degree Colleges for Music73
Best Value Doctorโ€™s Degree Colleges for Music81
Best Value Masterโ€™s Degree Colleges for Music253
Most Focused Bachelorโ€™s Degree Colleges for Music311
Best Value Bachelorโ€™s Degree Colleges for Music521

Popularity of Music at Northwestern

During the 2019-2020 academic year, Northwestern University handed out 97.99999999999999 bachelor’s degrees in music. Due to this, the school was ranked #18 in popularity out of all colleges and universities that offer this degree. This is an increase of 4% over the previous year when 94 degrees were handed out.

In 2020, 62 students received their masterโ€™s degree in music from Northwestern. This makes it the #19 most popular school for music masterโ€™s degree candidates in the country.

In addition, 17 students received their doctoral degrees in music in 2020, making the school the #30 most popular school in the United States for this category of students.

Bienen School of Music is a highly competitive school, with an acceptance rate of 10%. This makes it slightly more difficult to get into than Juilliard or Colburn, but not by much. The school has around 200 undergraduates and graduates accepted per year.

The Bienen School of Music offers two tracks for undergraduate study: Music Performance (Bachelor of Music) and Music Education (Bachelor of Science). In addition to these two tracks, students can also apply for the Collaborative Piano Program (Master of Arts) and the Collaborative Piano Artist Diploma (Master of Arts). These two programs are designed to prepare students for careers in chamber music performance as well as solo performance.

The application process for Bienen’s undergraduate programs is fairly straightforward. Applicants must submit an application form, along with a letter of recommendation from someone who knows them well enough to speak on their behalf. The school recommends that applicants have taken theory and musicianship classes in high school and college; however, they do not require applicants to meet any particular requirements at this time.


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