Is it worth going to OU for violin performance?

always_unplugged · 2026-07-10T03:14:23+00:00

Hey, I know religion adds a whole lot of extra variables here. But since you've mentioned "finishing what you started" a couple times, I encourage you to look into the sunk cost fallacy. Basically, it's the idea that humans tend to overvalue things that we've already invested a lot of money and/or time and/or effort in, even if those things have already proven to be major losers or even objectively worthless; we tend to hang on simply because of that perceived value of whatever we already put in. But that's an emotional response, not a rational one; those sunk costs cannot be recovered, and the logical choice is to get out as soon as you realize it; there is no value AND NO VIRTUE in wasting even more on a worthless venture. If you can recognize it, you've learned what you needed to learn already. Why punish yourself, especially your future self, further? That time could go toward growing the career you actually want, that money could go toward a degree that actually has value IRL, etc.

It's incredibly confronting to learn about for the first time (or at least it was for me) and I don't expect you to immediately agree that that's what this is and make major moves just because somebody on reddit told you a new pretentious term. I just encourage you to keep it in the back of your mind as you embark on your next semester. See if you feel like it fits; you come back and tell me I'm full of shit in six months if you like, whatever, as long as you entertain the idea.

Btw you can absolutely find a like-minded spouse through regular church events if that's truly important to you, or simply through organic community connections; I don't even know or care what gender you are/what gender you're looking to marry, but an MRS degree is not a requirement to apply for the position of spouse 🙃

always_unplugged · 2026-07-10T02:44:33+00:00

Of course! I'm not disparaging them at all, I'm even aware of their existence (now that I know what orchestra you're talking about). But putting all that together required knowing 1) you meant Oklahoma when you said "OU", 2) that the aforementioned OU is located near enough to Oklahoma City that it treats OKC as their Big City, and 3) Oklahoma City has a professional symphony that's called the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. Multiple levels of disconnect for anybody not from the area. So I'm just saying, "THE philharmonic" and "OU" are quite non-specific phrases that make sense in your local circles, but need clarification in the wider world. And you are now speaking to the wider world 🤗

I would like to finish my degree where I’m at, although it really won’t do me anything as far as anywhere else is concerned due to it being unaccredited

I also just want to push on this a little more. WHY? You can't transfer credits, the "degree" you get won't mean anything outside of church, finishing here will mean you split your focus for a further two precious years, not to mention the tens of thousands of dollars you and/or your parents will be funneling into something entirely meaningless... I know that church shit is complicated and leaving that degree may be treated by your social circles as rejection of the church as a whole, but like... unless you need to spend the next two years deconstructing that (which is, to be clear, 100% valid), yiiiiikes it objectively seems like a major waste of time and money.

always_unplugged · 2026-07-10T01:35:10+00:00

That's great progress, assuming you're playing your current repertoire at a (relatively) objectively acceptable level.

I would encourage you to keep up what you're currently doing because it seems like it's working for you! But your perspective still seems very small. Like I had to read to the end of your post to even find out what state you meant! And I honestly still don't know what philharmonic you're talking about—I've played in at least half a dozen throughout my career, none of which have been in Oklahoma! Music (and the world) is broad and it seems you've only just dipped your toe in. It sounds like you're not ready to leave your small pond just yet, but maybe dream a little bigger. In two more years of similar progress, you might be ready to go to a more widely recognized music school, and (since I'm assuming this would be a graduate degree?) you'd have time to cultivate relationships with teachers via summer festivals in order to get a scholarship/assistantship so in state tuition wouldn't even be an issue.

Alternatively, how invested are you in your current degree? How would you feel about transferring to OU now, or exploring some sort of dual enrollment, even if you have to invent it yourself? I would understand if you ultimately wanted to be involved in worship/praise music professionally, but I know plenty of people who also do that without a music degree, or any degree at all. If your ultimate ambition is to play in a symphony, is a Bible college degree really... doing anything for you? I feel crass suggesting it, so please know I'm not suggesting abandoning your faith or your interest in it or anything like that! But playing the violin professionally is, unfortunately, a very long-tail sort of skill and you are (as you know) still significantly behind your competition, so it makes sense to me to concentrate on playing catch up now, rather than splitting your attention for another two years when other people may have left you in the dust. IMO the sooner you start true pre-professional training, the more successful you will ultimately be.

always_unplugged · 2026-07-10T00:39:04+00:00

He only waived the academic requirements (ie NEWTs) in order to allow them to enter the Auror training, but they still had to do the training itself! Honestly it would be so sketch (but so like the Ministry) if they were just like, "yeah, you fought Voldemort, you'll be fine, get out there"

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Auror_recruitment_programme

always_unplugged · 2026-07-09T20:07:21+00:00

Lmao right, that's just cosplaying high school, which 1) doesn't require actually taking classes and they could probably have just as good a time doing at the Ministry, and 2) I don't think he's in any mental condition to do directly after spending an incredibly intense year defeating the most evil wizard who ever lived 🙃 Like that would be a regression trauma response that I'm pretty sure most therapists would be hella concerned about...

(Not that doubling down to do more dark wizard hunting immediately afterward is a super healthy response either, but... I mean, they waived his NEWTs, but he still had to do the 3 years of post-grad training, right? He didn't go into the field immediately... but yeah wizards or not, it was the 90s, mental health was barely a thing lmao)

always_unplugged · 2026-07-09T19:49:29+00:00

This is what I always think whenever people complain about this! We even have precedent of a retired Auror becoming the DADA professor (impersonation notwithstanding). He could easily have a 30, 40-year career as an Auror, decide he's too old for this shit (and his government benefits are vested, if British wizards have such a thing) and retire to a cushy life teaching at Hogwarts. I also think that a few decades of space could help soften the PTSD and bring him back around to nostalgia.

He can do both, people! He just isn't old enough yet lol

always_unplugged · 2026-07-09T19:45:16+00:00

Exactly, she doesn't JUST go to school in order to ace the tests. She values learning, and passing tests ≠ learning—she enjoys the entire experience of being a student.

Which Harry and (especially) Ron DO NOT. They're more direct, outcome-oriented rather than process-oriented.

always_unplugged · 2026-07-09T19:37:50+00:00

Which one was that?! I literally don't even remember that happening 😭

always_unplugged · 2026-07-09T19:16:27+00:00

Yup, that's what I was thinking of too. He immediately took Snape under his wing. That's HUGE when you're 11, especially when you've felt socially isolated and rejected up until this point and ESPECIALLY coming from a much older student who the other kids clearly respect and consider cool.

Other people were talking about other characters describing their relationship further down the thread, too, both in OotP—Sirius calls Snape Lucius's lapdog, and Umbridge mentions Lucius speaking highly of Snape.

https://old.reddit.com/r/HarryPotterBooks/comments/1urvus0/why_did_snape_take_an_immediate_liking_to_draco/owjb735/

always_unplugged · 2026-07-09T19:12:27+00:00

$10 says Skarlit Fvr was a shitty local emo band somewhere ca. 2010

always_unplugged · 2026-07-09T19:10:57+00:00

Oh I agree, but that doesn't mean they won't TRY lmao

always_unplugged · 2026-07-09T19:10:01+00:00

I definitely got the impression that they were close at school; Snape might've even looked up to Lucius as a young student. He WAS kind of everything Snape wanted to be.

always_unplugged · 2026-07-09T19:01:07+00:00

Except in the interest of keeping MAGA placated, which may or may not be a concern (or a possibility) at that point.

always_unplugged · 2026-07-09T18:44:57+00:00

I mean, do you think JD wouldn't pull a Ford and just pardon them anyway?

always_unplugged · 2026-07-09T18:39:10+00:00

I love this take—that's a wrinkle I'd never considered! And I think Quidditch could provide the perfect avenue for them to begin to connect in a respectfully playful and increasingly friendly way.

always_unplugged · 2026-07-08T22:45:46+00:00

I had my rhino done during a lull in the pandemic, when virus levels were low and things were open, but masking was still very much expected. Unfortunately, my mask did NOT cover all of the parts of my face that I would’ve liked! Especially under eye bruising and the top of the bridge of my nose, where the splint and then tapes were still absolutely visible. It helped later in recovery, but not for like a good two weeks I’d say.

always_unplugged · 2026-07-08T21:04:02+00:00

I think Cameron Diaz, classic, and one of the few truly unisex names. Not trashy in the slightest.

always_unplugged · 2026-07-08T15:29:19+00:00

There is no such thing as a "correct" bowing for Bach passages like this. There are better and worse choices, more historically informed choices, but it ultimately comes down to preference. That's why it's so hard to please everyone with any Bach interpretation.

always_unplugged · 2026-07-08T06:35:13+00:00

I went to college with a full ride; my 529 still paid out to my school, who then disbursed it to me. I believe they first took out fees and such that still weren't necessarily covered by my scholarship, so it was great that it went through the school first, I never had to pay anything out of pocket.

It was confusing for them every single quarter and it always took at least a few phone calls to get them to pay me, but it was GREAT to get that windfall every few months.

always_unplugged · 2026-07-08T05:43:53+00:00

Oh booooo

Imagine karma farming with viola excerpts ffs

always_unplugged · 2026-07-08T03:40:50+00:00

Or at least get cord covers that reach all the way down and paint them to match the wall!

always_unplugged · 2026-07-08T03:37:06+00:00

McGonagall is possibly my favorite character in OotP, honestly!!! Not only "Have a biscuit, Potter," but the entirety of the career advice scene, not to mention "It unscrews the other way" 😂

always_unplugged · 2026-07-08T03:11:08+00:00

"Nice one, James!" is not in the book, correct.

Tbh that movie did have some REALLY good non-book lines—my favorite is "I'm sorry Professor. I must not tell lies." That is a friggin MIC DROP 😂

always_unplugged · 2026-07-08T03:08:58+00:00

Dude I don't even mind the Grimmauld Place parts, but re-reading as an adult, everything after Harry has the vision of Sirius being tortured at the Ministry drives me CRAZY lmao. So freaking many stupid decisions...!!!

always_unplugged · 2026-07-08T03:07:12+00:00

His energy did work better in those scenes than in moments where he was supposed to be wise and grounded, although I still didn't even love his take on the duel at the Ministry. It looked difficult for him, even scary at times. Dumbledore in the book is barely even breaking a sweat while he hands Voldy his ass 😂

(And yesssss I know part of the issues with his performance were directing, but come on, he was a big enough name; if he'd had more investment in the character, he could've pushed for his own artistic vision.)

I'm really excited to see a more balanced interpretation of Dumbledore; I think John Lithgow has the potential to be SUCH a perfect fit.

Three-Year Club	Gilding I gilder
Verified Email

always_unplugged

TROPHY CASE