FAQs

Auditions

Is an audition required? I am applying for a non-performance degree.
All undergraduate applicants must audition to be considered for admission and merit-based scholarships. Graduate applicants for a non-performance degree do not audition for admission. Read more about auditions.

How do I schedule an audition?
The College of Music Supplemental Application will ask you to select your preferred audition date. Since the College of Music delays most admissions decisions until the end of the audition season, no particular date is better than any other. We ask you to select a date you know you can attend after checking all possibile calendar conflicts. Should a conflict arise after you have requested an audition date, please contact the College of Music Admissions Office immediately. Students whose applications are received on or before December 1 will likely be confirmed for their preferred audition date. Students whose applications are received after December 1 will be scheduled for the preferred date as long as there is still available space. If space is not available, the College of Music Admissions Office will work with you to reschedule for the next available date. Audition date confirmations are emailed to applicants beginning in early November. Applications received after November will be confirmed within five business days of receipt. Please do not make travel plans until this confirmation is received.

How do I change my audition date?
We ask you to select a date you know you can attend and after checking all possibile calendar conflicts. Should a conflict arise after you have requested an audition date, please contact the College of Music Admissions Office immediately. Send an email message to admissions@music.msu.edu or call (517) 355-2140 as soon as possible. If space exists on another audition day, we will make the change. We are happy to work with you, but cannot guarantee there will be space available on another day. The sooner you make your request to change, the more likely we will be able to accommodate.

Applying

Do music applicants have to apply to both Michigan State University and the College of Music?
Yes. All applicants are required to submit an application for admission to the university AND to file the College of Music Supplemental Application.

Should I wait to be admitted to MSU before I submit the College of Music Supplemental Application?
No, please do not wait. Both applications can be submitted simultaneously. The deadline to file the College of Music Supplemental Application is December 1. The MSU Office of Admissions has different deadlines. Undergraduate applicants should apply to MSU by November 1 to receive maximum consideration for academic scholarship.

I have not yet taken the SAT/ACT but I am asked to supply the score on the College of Music Supplemental Application. Should I wait until I have the the scores before applying?
No, please do not wait. You will be sending your official score(s) to MSU as part of the application process. We are asking you to self-report your scores if you know them. If you don't know them at the time you apply, skip this question.

I am applying as "test-optional". Do I need to answer the SAT/ACT questions on the College of Music Supplememntal Application?
No.

Am I required to take the GRE?
No. The College of Music does not require a GRE for any of our graduate programs.

Notification

When will I know if I have been admitted?
If an audition is required for your program, you will receive notification from the College of Music any time between two weeks following your audition and the end of the audition season (typically the end of February or beginning of March). Most decisions are made toward the end of the audition season. We understand that waiting for notification is difficult. We will notify you as soon as possible but it is best to assume that you will not be notified until March.

Deadlines

When are applications due?
The deadline to submit the College of Music Supplemental Application is December 1 for summer or fall applicants. Applications for spring entry are due no later than October 1. Supporting documents are also due December 1 or, for those auditioning for admission, at least two to three weeks in advance of the scheduled audition. Some programs have more specific deadlines. Please refer to the Application Instructions section of this website for details.

Scholarships

Does the College of Music offer scholarships?
Yes. We offer scholarships to qualified music majors. Please review the Tuition, Fees, Scholarships page of this website for more information.