Performances + Events
Application FAQs
Have questions about the application process at NEC?
We have compiled these frequently asked questions about everything from introductory and audition videos to transcripts and letters of recommendation.
You must submit a score by January 15 but may resubmit a passing score any time before March 1.
If you are an undergraduate student, you may qualify for a fee waiver by sending a NACAC or other official fee waiver signed by your school counselor to your NEC enrollment counselor. Your enrollment counselor will confirm if your fee waiver will be accepted. If you are a graduate student, we do not typically offer fee waivers.
They can, but we strongly advise the submission online through the application. Please enter their information as a recommender on your application and ask them to submit via the link sent to their email. Recommendation letters are due January 15.
We give extensions on a case-by-case basis. If you need an extension, please contact your NEC enrollment counselor as soon as possible via email.
NEC faculty wants to get to know you as a person! You can talk about non-music things, what you’re passionate about, or anything you’d like. This video does not factor into your admission decision.
If you are having trouble recording the introductory video, we recommend you try on another computer. We also strongly recommend using the Google Chrome browser — other browsers like Safari may not work. If you are still having trouble, please record the video on your phone, upload it to the portfolio section, and email your NEC enrollment counselor. We will follow up from there.
If your transcript is not in English, you need to submit a transcript with an English translation for your application. An official translation by WES or ECE must be submitted in the spring once you are admitted, but it is not necessary at this time.
You may apply for an English waiver if you graduated from a school in the United States or a non-U.S. college or university where English is the language of instruction. Please write a short statement on why you are requesting a waiver or submit your English proficiency test score if you do not fit the categories above. Waivers are processed in January. If your waiver is not accepted, you will be required to submit an English proficiency score.
If you are a violinist, violist, cellist, or singer, the faculty prefers to see videos with a pianist (if applicable). However, you are not required to use a pianist. If you are a jazz applicant, we prefer that the two submissions have one or more musicians playing with you. If this is not possible, play-along accompaniment is allowed. All other instruments do not need piano accompaniment.
Yes, you may change your mind after receiving your prescreening decision. It is easier to change from a live audition to a recorded audition, so please list live audition if you may want to audition in person.
If you entered the wrong email address, you can send a new one. You cannot delete a recommender, but you can ask your counselor to delete it if there is a mistake. If you listed the recommender as the wrong type (academic or artistic), your NEC enrollment counselor can change it for you as well.
Yes, you can change your preference at any time. Please email your NEC enrollment counselor, and we will change it for you. Please make sure you email us with all three of your preferences in order. You must list three, as long as there are at least 3 faculty members in your department.
At this time, you do not need to submit anything additional. The FAFSA is required for all U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens, which can be found on studentaid.gov. We do not accept the CSS profile. There will be an NEC Financial Aid Application available at a later time to complete.
While prescreening decisions have been sent out for most areas, some decisions for certain programs will be sent out in January. If you are unsure if you received a result, check your status portal.
You can find your status portal at apply.necmusic.edu/apply. Your prescreening result will be there as well.
For students in areas with only one audition date (Harp, Guitar, Choral Conducting, Orchestral Conducting), you will receive information about the audition time frame after you confirm your audition through the Audition Reply Form on your status portal.
For students waiting to hear about a date, please do not book travel yet. Everyone will receive their official date and time in the 1st or 2nd week of January.
Yes. If you have received an audition invite, please complete the Audition Reply Form on your status portal and indicate that you would like to withdraw. Otherwise, please email your Enrollment Counselor, and we will take care of that for you after the holiday break.
Yes. Please email your Enrollment Counselor, and they can change them for you.
Yes. Please email your Enrollment Counselor, and they can change it for you.
Letters of recommendation are due by January 15. If you need to resend any recommendation links, you can do so via your status portal. Please do not have recommenders send their letters via email.
Applicants who pass the prescreening process will receive notification regarding the NEC Institutional Application for Financial Assistance in January. Those eligible to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) should do so! For more information, please visit our Tuition + Aid page.
