Present Undergraduates at Oberlin College
An Oberlin College Arts and Sciences student who wishes to switch their major to the Conservatory, specifically to TIMARA, Composition, or other areas, must follow a formal application and audition process. Here's a simplified guide to help you navigate this transition.
- Application and Audition Students interested in changing into the Conservatory programs like TIMARA or Composition need to submit an application and participate in auditions or portfolios as required by the specific Conservatory area. This is the primary method to be admitted into the Conservatory from Arts and Sciences.
- Consultation with Faculty While the exact steps about faculty consultation may not be fully detailed, typically Conservatory applications for areas like Composition or TIMARA involve meetings or consultations with faculty members for auditions and placement. Students should contact the relevant department or faculty as part of preparing their application.
- Registration Timing Students applying during their first year cannot register immediately for certain Conservatory lessons (e.g., secondary lessons) until after admission decisions, which are announced at the start of the semester, typically before the add/drop deadline.
- Deadlines Specific deadlines for changing majors into the Conservatory are not stated, but since initial Conservatory registration aligns with semester start, applications and auditions likely need to be completed before or during early semester enrollment periods. Confirming deadlines with Conservatory admissions is advised.
- Change of Degree Program Forms For other major/program changes such as BA+BFA combined degrees, students must submit a formal Change of Degree Program application. Although this describes BA+BFA rather than switching purely into Conservatory majors like TIMARA, it indicates that Oberlin has official procedural forms for program changes.
For all Conservatory students, including those in Arts and Sciences, a screening is required before auditioning for any department. Screening requirements can be found on the individual departments' audition pages.
- Screening Submission Submit your screening materials as instructed by the Conservatory. Instructions for submitting screening materials will be sent once your application is submitted.
- Audition or Interview After review of your screening submission, you will be given an audition or interview date.
- Faculty Meeting Conservatory students who wish to add or change a conservatory major need to meet with the faculty in their new intended area of study and Associate Dean Leah Brockman.
For the Musical Studies Major (formerly called the College Music Major), Arts and Sciences students should schedule an appointment to see either Director of Musical Studies, Kathryn Metz, or the Office of the Registrar.
Remember, this guide offers a general outline. For exact deadlines and detailed steps, students must consult Oberlin Conservatory’s admissions office or their departmental advisors directly, as outlined information is limited in publicly available summaries.
[1] Oberlin College Conservatory of Music: https://music.oberlin.edu/ [4] Oberlin College Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.oberlin.edu/
- Students seeking to change their major into the Conservatory programs such as TIMARA or Composition must submit an application, participate in required auditions or portfolios, and potentially engage in consultations with faculty members in their intended area of study.
- In addition to the application and audition process, prospective Conservatory students may need to submit their screening materials and attend an interview or audition following a screening submission review.
