<p>My son is an accepted transfer student at both Columbia College, Chicago, and American University in D.C. (attended GW in D.C.), going into sophomore year. We are down to the wire here for Fall 2010! He wants to major in recording arts, audio/acoustics (the reason for the transfer). We've visited both Columbia and AU and are seriously torn. Both very different schools.</p>
<p>AU is finishing up a brand new recording studio, which is state-of-the art. The professors are great, but few in number in this major. Columbia has older facilities, but the professors seem more networked within the business amd more diversified. The city of Chicago doesn't hurt, either!</p>
<p>If anyone knows anything about Columbia, please do share! We are in the Northeast, so it's a big deal to send our son out there, having little knowledge of the school. D.C. was a great commute for him, but Chicago is a good location for his major. Please help!! Thank you!</p>
<p>I know a few kids that go to Columbia … and they are very serious about their music, although perhaps not so serious about their academics. I am also close friends with one of the instructors in the audio/acoustics area. He is extremely connected in the industry, has been in the field for over 30 years, and has been teaching at Columbia for 4-5 years and loves working with his students.</p>
<p>Two totally different types of institution touching at this one point. American University is basically a liberal-arts model college, Columbia a working, career-oriented art school. American is oodles more academic. Columbia is full of anti-academic artsy students learning how to support themselves in the real world, and some of them succeed at that. If an art school is what you want, Columbia is a perfectly good one. If you want a liberal arts education with a technically-oriented major, that’s not Columbia.</p>
<p>I hate to put it this way because 2 of D’s best friends will be attending Columbia in the fall (she is attending American), but: Do you want an education or job training? American is a full liberal arts college - top professors, wide range of gen eds, etc. Columbia’s academics are (and I quote current students) “a joke.” But Columbia provides great professional training and it is in a cool location.</p>
<p>While I agree with JHS, cnp55 and megpmom in their descriptions, one of the main caveats in selecting a school for this type of major are the industry contacts and internship opportunities. I’m not familiar with American’s program, I do believe Columbia may have the edge here. But coming from the academic background of GWU, your son may be completely underwhelmed by the academics.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your responses. They are all helpful “reality checks” at this pivotal point. It is clear that a redefining of the goal is in order and the information offered helps to do that.</p>
<p>My son recently graduated from CCC with a degree in Audio Arts & Acoustics. Depending on the program, it can be a fantastic experience with a mix of good liberal arts classes (without the prestige factor of AU) and amazing preprofessional opportunities…or it can be less than that.</p>
<p>Perhaps even more so than most places, the CCC experience is what you make of it. Many, many of the students initially admitted do not make it through the first semester or year because they are expecting it to be “a joke” or “easy.” But those who make the effort are well positioned for work in their field. (This is based solely on my kid’s experience in the audio department. He supported himself through school with money he earned gigging and got a great job after graduation, largely due to the network of professionals he formed while there.)</p>