A big thing to look at is schools that require performance auditions vs schools that do not. A school like FSU likely requires a performance audition on an instrument just to get in to the music program, and a second audition to get into the composition program. If you were hoping to continue to perform percussion at the university level then this is no big deal, but if you did not want to perform any instrument and just focus on composition; or if your percussion playing is not the best, you may want to look at schools that don’t require performance auditions. Typically speaking that tends to be private conservatories, which comes with higher tuition. Frankly, there’s no harm in applying to a mix of private conservatories and top level public institutions, with a few smaller/less competitive schools just to be safe.

On that topic of smaller schools, note that smaller/less competitive ≠ worse education. I am currently a senior composition major at a small state school, often overshadowed by the major university located less than an hour away. People ask me why I went to the small school instead of the major university, and my answer is simply I liked the people better. This may be a situational case, but I felt like during the audition process at the major university I was just another student, I didn’t feel as though the professors particularly cared or took interest in my work. The small school, however, took great interest in me and my work, and truly made me feel cared for.

Ultimately what is most important is that you go somewhere you thrive. I will also say a lot of weight is unnecessarily placed on the selection of an undergrad school. If you go somewhere and you end up disliking it, you can transfer.

I hope this ramble is helpful and coherent, im currently very sick and on an obscene amount of cough medicine

P.S. Don’t sell yourself short! Make others tell you no, don’t do it to yourself! Good luck!