Hey guys,
 I'm in high school (junior) and am planning on applying for University of North Texas. I'm an NC student, and on top of that I know how competitive the program is. However, I know that there isn't any harm in trying, both my instructor and my band director are encouraging me that I have a decent shot. My plan is to major with the Jazz Studies(on drumset of course) and participate in a number of the percussion ensembles offered. Is there anyone here currently at UNT or that has been there in the past that can give me some insight on the program/requirements?

Respond here or PM Me.

Thanks,
michael

The obvious place to start is here: http://www.music.unt.edu/percussion/resources.html

Check out the Barrier requirements so you can at least be familiar with the material and know what will be expected of you.

Get in touch with the teachers there and try to visit as early as you can.
See about getting a lesson with Ed Soph to see how he does things, and if you feel like you'll enjoy studying with him for 4 years.   

When I picked my school I didn't really know what I was getting myself into and realized too late that I should been more careful in my decision. Don't get me wrong I went to a pretty good school and had some great teachers... they just weren't into the same things I was and I would've benefited more at a school that was more geared to what I liked.

UNT is a great school and obviously if you go there you'll get a world class education... but just make sure it's the right fit for you.
My original plan for graduate work was to go to UNT but now that I know little more about the academic music world and what my goals are, UNT just isn't the school for me.

The link that AaronB gave you is a good place to start. Meeting with Ed will tell you a lot.

The program is very good and VERY competitive. When I was at North Texas (so long ago that it was still called North Texas State University), I was hoping to play in the famed jazz band program. The first week I was there, I met another freshman who blew me away with his playing. His band from his home in Alabama had cut an album (this was back when you had to sign a label to cut an album). I just knew this guy was going to be the set player for the top band, the One O'Clock. Auditions came around, and he didn't even make a band (there were a total of 11 lab bands, the last several used multiple drummers, so there were about 25 spots, with 80 people auditioning). That's when I changed my focus to orchestral percussion.

The school of music has changed a lot since then, I currently have a student in the orchestral program, and he is loving it. Mark Ford (Chair of the percussion dept.) is a friend and a good guy. I really like the direction he is taking things. Chris Deane, second in commmand, is also very approachable and an excellent player and teacher. Even though you will be in jazz studies, you will still be expected to take lessons and pass proficiencies in mallets and orchestral snare playing. The ability to sight read drum charts will get you a long way in Lab Band Auditions.

The biggest thing is, if you really want it, and are willing to put in the woodshed time, and not get discouraged easily, you can get a great experience out of UNT. Lots of people go there with chips on their shoulders and get shot down quickly. The talent base runs very deep.

If you're seriously interested in going to UNT I'd suggest you attend one of the jazz camps they offer every year.  You'll get exposure to members of the jazz faculty, and will get a brief taste of life on campus.

There is a jazz combo workshop in July, and the drumset workshop is usually a week or two earlier.  I attended the combo workshop several years ago, and found it pretty useful.  Soph conducted the drummers' master class every day, and gave us some pretty good information.  I also was in a combo directed by the stellar arranger/composer/pianist Frank Mantooth.

Before you get too excited over the possibility of working with Ed Soph you should also know that he's had some health issues the last few years, and may be less available to students.  He also has a reputation among some of playing favorites, which was borne out by my own brief exposure.  At combo camp the drummers who had committed to UNT or who were being recruited got a lot more individual attention.  As a 50+ musician with no intent to apply I never saw him outside master class, a fact that still rankles.  I paid full tuition, and went to camp to learn, and did not get the full benefit that younger attendees got.

About 16 years ago there was a decent high school basketball player from Vancouver. He was about 6-3 with a decent shot, but he wasn't very fast, no hops, and none of the premier college basketball programs had ever heard of him -- and none of them were going to travel to Vancouver to see him.

He went where he could, a tiny school called Santa Clara with a regionally respected basketball staff, and he was given immediate opportunity to play point guard. He worked his butt off and took advantage of every minute of playing time to learn to play the American game and the break neck speed.

Today, Steve Nash is a two-time NBA MVP and one of the greatest point guards to ever play basketball.

Opportunities are everywhere. Sometimes the lesser opportunity becomes more when it's less about the label and more about the quality of the experience.