The Juilliard School Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as I high school senior, I would tell myself to enjoy your senior year more because it will fly by so quickly. During my senior year, I auditioned for alot of schools and I traveled alot. I feel like I was so focused on my auditions that I forgot about enjoying being a senior. Even though all of my auditioning paid off, I didnt really participate in senior activites such as Prep Rally, Grad NIght, and other things. I would tell my senior self to balance work and play during senior year.

Dear HIgh School Me, Keep working hard. I know your schedule is rigorous. It may feel like all work and no play, but I promise it will pay off. In college there will be more classes, more rehearsal and more responsibilities. The hard work you are doing now is helping you prepare for college, more than you know. Once you get to college, keep in touch with your family. They are most important. They can and will help you through so much. Things are going to change, a lot, but keep your head on straight. Do not get too caught up in what's "cool", or who's "cool". Try to figure out who are your true friends, and try not to waste too much effort on those who are not. When it comes to your work and responsibilites, be proactive. Procrastination is only temporarily satisfying! Overall, be fearless. You don't know everything. You are going to learn so much. So have an open mind. Remember where home is. Work hard, but have fun. Most importantly, stay true to yourself. -College You (P.s.- get that new phone, you'll love it!)

The reputation of attending this school in itself will give me an advantage when I enter the working enviroment. But my training, in the mean time, is second to no other school. I can already see a vast improvement in my dancing, technique, skills and flexibility. I am meeting people in my field who are well known and already established working professionals. The connections I have already made in my first semester of school are just amazing. The longer I am here, the more I will reap the rewards of this fabulous school. I am living a dream come true. It can be very stressful and overwhelming at times but I would not have it any other way.

Hi Heather, I'm here to tell you that I have just finished my first semester at Juilliard and boy do I have a lot to tell you about it! The teachers are amazing and people are so much nicer than all the myths and rumors have you believe. Take note of the ones that are not so "nice". Be prepared for college freshman maturity levels to be all over the place. This is a big issue at a school like Juilliard because of ego's and peoples perception of "talent". Some kids are talented and in the right place. Some are not. Just be yourself, stay true to who you are and stay away from the "haters". Jealousy and petty thoughts and comments are an evil part of a performance institute. Do not let them get you down. Just move forward with conviction and truth and all will be great! Your contribution to the world though your gift to sing is what is most important. The dorm room is small...but hey, it's in Lincoln Center. What other dorm lets you walk out and cross the street to the Metropolitan Opera House. You can manage small! Good luck!

I would tell myself to get involved more in campus activites and to apply for as many schoarships as possible. Coming into college not knowing anyone was an extremely intimating experience, if I had the chance to start over again I would have gotten involved with student activities from day one, they allow you to meet many incredible people who will help you get through your college experience. Also, I would tell myself to get to know my professors, they hold the keys to so much knowledge and talking to them as individuals outside the classroom has been the smartest decision I have made in college thus far.

The college application and audition process is one of the most stressful and time-consuming experiences that you face as a student. The transition to college is terrifying for most students; new friends, choosing a major, a new enviornment...it's scary! If I could have been a voice in my head as a high school senior, I would have shouted, 'RELAX!' One of the most frustrating questions you're asked as a senior is, " What do you want to do with your life?" and I wish someone could've whispered to me, "Relax, it's okay not to know!" College is a great place to figure out what you want to do with your life, what your interests are, and what career you want to pursue. Applying to a conservatory like Juilliard is a bit different, it's a definite commitment to a certain discipline. It's a hard decision to make, and if a month or even a year down the road you discover that that the choice you've made after high school isn't the right one, that's perfectly fine too. Take the time you need to figure out what you really want to do.