Danielle is a singer and violinist who is applying to music programs. She shares her passion for singing through essays describing her experiences in music programs. She found her calling last summer focusing on music and science. A vocal program helped her gain confidence to pursue music in college. In her artistic statement for NEC, she details why their program is a good fit, allowing her to develop operatically and take classes in various styles and languages. Community performance opportunities also appeal to her. Her essays convey her dedication to music and suitability for intensive conservatory programs.

1. AdmitMe: Why College ApplicationEssays
andArtistic Statements Matter
RebeccaJoseph,PhD
AssociateProfessor,CalStateUniversity
rjoseph@calstatela.edu
FB: getmetocollege freeadvice
FB page: All College Essays
iPad/iPhone App: All College Application Essays
Instagram: Getmetocollege

2. Danielle’s Essay
I find English, the everyday language that rings in my ear, just as complex to
understand as any other language, despite the fact that it is my native
tongue. Within words, I stumble upon meanings that are lucid. My mind is
lost amidst a storm of overflowing words that to me fall from nowhere: I
have to meticulously make sense of them and plow through their puddles
of chaos in order to comprehend the art of language and visualize the
structure and process behind it.
Singing is another world of communication, a seamless way of expressing
oneself to full potential. With singing, one can take beautifully spoken
phrases of any kind, whether colloquial, foreign, or from poetic works, and
people who listen will understand the purpose of the singer. This is what I
find beautiful about poetry and any other type of word form, such as
speaking, mixed with the art of music.
JB

3. More Danielle
The three minutes I spend on any stage are a gift to me. Walking on the
stage in a long, black dress is like walking on with an air of mystery. On
that stage, I am able to plant myself firmly on the ground and let my
internal energy become the external energy that diffuses into the air and
fills all corners of the concert hall. No one in the audience may know
anything about the piece of music I am singing, except what is listed in the
concert program. This is often just one’s name, piece, and composer. All
they can do is use their inner ear to gather a sense of the connotation of
the phrases that I sing, whether they are in English, Italian or French.

4. Even More Danielle
When the poetic phrases fuse together in song, I let my emotions connect
with the music and use the words to share my passion for the story in my
head. The audience is free to interpret what the piece of music means to
them and understand that there is no right answer. For them, the process
of hearing a gorgeous and passionate Italian art song leaves stillness into
the air, as everyone’s thoughts, including mine, turn to internal experiences
and memories that are related to the song.
I feel thoroughly connected to the poetry I am singing, I feel the sense of
freedom that comes from each three minute song extend into other parts
of my life. I no longer feel the urge to act reserved, as this is how I
sometimes feel about situations in my normal, everyday life. Now I
imagine I can feel, communicate, and express the phrases I want to speak
with the same confidence I communicate while singing. This is the power
of the human voice: as I start to sing, its magic diffuses to my everyday
communications.

5. Danielle
Resume
• Top Grades
• Medium test scores
• Singer
• Violinist
• What do we learn about
her from essay?
RJJ

6. Essays = Opportunity
Show unique stories that make applicants jump off the page
Master the highest ranked non-academic aspect of the application
Realize the package of essays counts…not just one
Share their unique voices
Express who they really are
Challenge stereotypes
Reflect on their growth and development, including
accomplishments and service
Seek to understand what the admission officers are looking for
RJJ

7. Successful Admissions Writing
includes:
• Introspection ~ Self reflection allows for depth in writing
• Complex Thinking ~ Identify & showcase multi-dimensions
• Keep it Simple ~ Addressing the question/prompt
• Coherence ~ Arrangement of qualities with examples of them
• Style and Tone (personal) ~ Be true to oneself
• Syntax and Format (maturity) ~ Multiple drafts are a must
JB/SJ

8. How Important Are the Essays?
1. Grades
2. Rigor of Coursework, School
3. Test Scores
4. Essays*
5. Recommendations-Teacher and/or Counselor
6. Activities-Sustained consistency, development,
leadership, and initiative
7. Special skills, talents, awards, community service
and passions
RJJ

9. Application Essay Vs. ArtisticStatement
•Application Essays are stories that
communicate key messages. They are
creative and can vary in format.
•Artistic Statements are linear
autobiographical pieces that reveal
why your progression as an artist and
why you are a good match for
program or college or conservatory

10. Steps to Success
1)Understand the essays you will have to write
2)Create a master chart to highlight patterns
3) Write two resumes
4)Different brainstorming strategies
5)Brainstorm core qualities and unique stories
6)Use effective organizational structures
7)Revise and revise
L

11. Understand the Essays…
1)The Common Application: 2014-2015 Prompts!
 One Long:
 Some students have a background or story that is so central to their
identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without
it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
 Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it
affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
 Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted
you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
 Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What
do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
 Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked
your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture,
community, or family.
 Short, Activities, Additional Information, and Supplemental
2)Large Public Universities—The UCS, and other big publics
3)Private College Specific Applications
4)Other Systems (Universal Application, etc.)
JB

12. Artistic Statements
• Each schools has different prompts and requirements.
• Some are the entire application
• Some are supplements to Common Application or UC Application

13. USC Acting Program
• Step Three: Submit these items to the School of Dramatic Arts
via SlideRoom
• Upload a current picture or headshot
• Upload a Drama resume
• Upload Autobiographical essay
• The total length of your essay should not exceed 750 words
and address the following:
• What influenced your decision to apply to the USC School of
Dramatic Arts?
• What are your expectations from a college education?
• What are your professional goals and objectives
• What extenuating circumstances (if any) may have affected your
previous academic performance?

14. New England Conservatory of
Music
• Describe your educational and professional goals and tell us your
specific reasons for choosing to apply to NEC as you pursue these
goals.
• We review the essay to learn more about you as a musician and
person, as well as to assess your competency with written English.
• The essay should be 300–500 words in length and must be entered
into the appropriate page of the online application. Please note that
the online application will accept only very basic text formatting. If
you write your essay in a word processing program with the
intention of pasting it into the online application, we recommend
that you keep the formatting very simple. (Avoid using bold, italics,
underlines, indentations, or other similar formatting.)

15. NYU BFA Steinhardt Studio Art
• For slideroom.com, you will submit: 1. 15-20 images of work completed within
the last two years, done in any medium (painting, drawing, sculpture, video,
photography, digital art, installation, sound, etc.). Each image MUST contain the
work’s title, year completed, medium and size. 2. A one-page artist’s statement
describing your: a) goals as an artist; b) artistic influences, including two
contemporary artists who are nationally or internationally recognized (these
artists should have created new work within the past 20 years and they should
be represented in major art museums or art galleries which feature
contemporary visual artists); c) background and interests, including previous
art training, and films, literature, or music you enjoy and how they relate to your
art work; d) what you hope to gain from studying in the studio art program at
NYU.

16. Danielle’s Music
Autobiography
Last summer was my dream summer. Never in my life have I been able to
pursue my interests in such a short time interval: music and science. All my
life, I have thought of school as my "major" and focused my energies on my
academics for the majority of my time, while working on my music in my spare
time. Last summer I decided to focus on both. I took a conceptual physics
course at UCLA to have a solid foundation of the subject before my senior year.
At the same time, I participated in intensive vocal and violin music programs.
While I enjoyed all three programs, I truly bloomed in the two week Songfest
Program at Pepperdine. Last spring, I auditioned for and was accepted to
attend the two-week master program for classical singers from across the
country. I took master classes, private lessons, and sang in multiple
ensembles. I thought I had died and gone to heaven in this intense, yet
incredibly supportive community. The program gave me the confidence to
want to experience this kind of development and community full-time in
college. As I work with my private teacher this year, she is helping me create
the space in my mouth for the sound color, and I cannot wait to focus on my
vocal development throughout my college experience.

17. More Danielle
My desire to continue this individual and communal vocal
development full-time brings me to the New England
Conservatory. I feel that my soul and body truly merge when I
sing, and I have been blessed to work with amazing teachers in
and outside of my school. Each one helps me find new ways to
express my voice, and I like how at NEC I can also work with
world-class faculty members, who are actively working as
professional artists, including Karen Holvik, Lisa Saffer, and
Michael Meraw. Three years ago I first experienced the joys of
opera, and I have a growing passion for this genre. I am so lucky
that at NEC, I could audition for The Undergraduate Opera
Studio (UGOS), where I can develop my operatic and lyrical
singing abilities as well as taking acting and movement classes.

18. Even More Danielle
At NEC, I can immerse myself in the amazing classes that will enable
me to work with different repertoires and styles as well as develop my
diction in several languages. Through your studio classes and recitals, I
will gain the experience to prepare for public performances, and only
at NEC, can I take master classes with internationally famous artists.
Moreover, I can participate in multiple ensembles, such as the NEC
Concert Choir and NEC Chamber Singers. I love performing with
different choral groups, and I cannot wait to sing the different genres
the groups at NEC explore. I also share NEC’s commitment to serving
the community. For the past six years, I have been part of National
Charity League as well as tutoring a girl in math. I believe everyone
should experience the joys of music, and along with my voice, I can
offer my piano and violin skills. NEC’s Community Performances and
Partnerships Program will enable me to join a community effort to
share the joys of music.

19. Helping Release Individual Voices

20. Create a Master Chart:
Organize!
1) Major Deadlines
2) Core Essays (color code all similar or
overlapping essays)
3) Supplemental Essays - color code similar types
i.e. “Why are you a good match for us?” or “How
will you add to the diversity of our campus?”
“Artistic Statements”
1)Be careful to not use the same core essay topic
2)Avoid canned answers – do your research!
LP

21. Write Two Resumes
Traditional—Overall Academic,
Activities, Service, Work, Etc.
Art—Specific to your art. Artistic
Academic. Performances. Programs.
Awards. Specific Teachers.
LP

22. The Power of Brainstorming

23. Brainstorm Possible Topics
•Think of unique stories
•Think of metaphors for your
power
•Look at your resume
•Look at your Instagram Pictures
•Think of your favorite place
•Read samples

24. Organizational Structures
Into
• Lead the reader into the story
• Start with a hook
• Consider cutting first paragraph(s) from first draft
Through
• Use 1/3, 2/3 method: if starting with a life or family challenge, move quickly into who
student is now; if writing about someone who influenced, make sure 2/3 of essay is about
the student not the person of influence
• Use first person
• Show don’t tell
Beyond
• Connect to who student is now and who student wants to be
• Evoke core qualities, convey morals
RJJ

26. Revise and Revise
• The best essays take several drafts
• Keep focusing on the specific moments for
application essays
• Keep focusing on the key experiences and
training for artistic statements
• Have internal and external people review
• Understand that admissions officers can
sniff out adult written essays

27. Final thoughts
Remember you
Can create amazing essays and control this process
Understand that for BFA programs essays are
important but auditions are even more so.
Have just a few minutes to grab the attention of an
essay reader.
Need weeks, not days, to write effective college
essays.
Cannot manufacture essays; essays convey truth,
unique stories, and writing skills.
JB

28. Read Acting Essays
•What are core differences between
the two essays?
•What do you learn from each about
Jane?

29. Contact Dr. Joseph
rjoseph@calstatela.edu
FB: getmetocollege freeadvice
FB page: All College Essays
iPad/iPhone App: All College
Application Essays
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