Decide which type of music degree you are looking to obtain. Schools offer different degrees, such as music education degrees, music performance degrees, and music history degrees. Some schools offer music business degrees. Decide what you want to do with your life after school, so you know which degree is going to be the most helpful for you. Many careers revolve around music. Music teachers, performers, and recording professionals all have degrees in various types of music. Performance managers, venue owners, instrumental music performers and music historians also typically earn music degrees.
Identify colleges that offer the degree you are looking for. View college websites, talk to your school counselor, and talk to college recruiters who come to your high school. You will also receive pamphlets in the mail as you get closer to graduation. Look at the brochures to get information about the colleges. Find three or four that you feel meet your needs. Be sure to take into account their location and the degrees that they offer.
Finish high school, making sure to participate in as many music-oriented activities as possible. Make sure that your grades in any music courses are as high as possible. Along with music courses, activities in which you can participate include band, choir, glee club, show choirs, jazz choirs and musical performance groups like jazz bands or ensembles.
Fill out the applications for the schools you'd like to apply to on the schools' websites. Apply to a couple of schools that you hope to get into, and then apply to some more schools that you are pretty sure you will get into -- your safety schools. Send in your applications and any other required information before the due dates.
Send additional materials as required. For most music schools, you'll need to submit an example of what you can do musically. This might be a CD of your performance, or a video of you singing or playing your instrument. If you seem like a good fit, there will often be an interview during which you will perform before some teachers or administrators of the school.
Send your acceptance letter to your favorite of the schools that have accepted you.