In 1950, Simone began studying at New York's famed Juilliard music school and a year later auditioned for a scholarship to attend Philadelphia's prestigious Curtis Institute of Music. She was rejected, which she believed was due to racial prejudice, but the fact is that only 3 students were accepted that year, and she was one of 72 applicants. Later she could not attend Curtis because of an age restriction.This happened when she was young and she was going to get into Juillard