Colleges for Music Recording Engineering?

<p>Hello! I'm currently in high school, and I'm extremely interested in a career as a recording engineer. The top 4 schools I have researched are
1. Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences
2. LA Music Academy
3. UT Austin
4. Full Sail</p>

<p>I've heard mixed reviews about all of these programs, and was wondering if people could offer their own experiences, or help me compare/contrast these schools. Feel free to recommend other colleges.</p>

<p>Here are my "stats" to help you better understand where I'm at:
Gender: Female
HS Graduation Year: 2014
Rank: I attend a magnet high school that does not release ranks to colleges, but I am safely in the top quarter.
GPA: 4.16/4.8
SAT: 2200
ACT: 32</p>

<p>Musical Background: Piano (11 yrs, ABRSM accredited), Guitar, Drum set, Electric Bass, Ukulele, and I have singing background. I've also taken music theory classes.</p>

<p>Recording Background: I create mixes of cover songs but it's VERY VERY amateur. I would call myself a total beginner. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance for any help! I hope there's enough information, and please ask if you need any more (:</p>

<p>Avoid Full Sail. You want a school that gives you an actual degree and doesn’t have a negative reputation among professionals.</p>

<p>You have strong stats for a competitive program.
Do you write or perform music at all as well?</p>

<p>Here are just a few programs to go take a peek at by looking up the programs online:
University of Michigan School of Music PAT D stream - engineering emphasis
University of Miami, Frost school of Music production
University of Indiana Jacobs school of music Recording Arts bsc degree
Belmont university Curb School of Music production
Berklee (all music school in Boston, not the CA one)
Hart school of music, bs engineering</p>

<p>There are other programs at top music schools with which I’m less familiar.
If you also like to create and or perform music, there is a program at NYU Tisch called Clive Davis Recording arts, and there’s USC Thornton’s popular music and music industry
technology.</p>

<p>You have strong stats and many programs would like to have more women in this field, so provided you can pull together a strong portfolio, including samples of stereo recordings, etc., I think you’d be a strong fit for some of these programs. But be warned that they’re highly competitive in top programs. Eg. About four students get into this stream at Umich.</p>

<p>My son is at Umich in the pat program (but his emphasis is multi media music production as opposed to the pure eng degree.) feel free to pm me after you’ve taken a cursory look at these programs and if you’d like further information about Umich.</p>

<p>Best wishes in your search.</p>

<p>ps – I am assuming that if you have the capacity to mix now, and a strong musical background, and you want to pusue this field, that you intend to record/mix samples between now and next fall when you apply. See if you can take a summer class at community college in recording arts to get portfolio guidance, or consider attending Umich’s PAT summer program.</p>

<p>Just want to second the advice from kmcmom13; For a strong student, you will benefit from a strong academic program with a great reputation that will also help you get the skills you want. UMich’s PAT program would be my first choice!</p>

<p>Awesome, thanks for the replies. I’ll definitely look into these colleges.</p>

<p>To answer the question posed: I have performing background in that I lead the youth music worship services every week at my church, but no “actual” gigs/shows. I started taking songwriting classes this year, so I’m a beginner in that sense, but I’m starting (:</p>

<p>Look at Shenandoah Conservatory. Apply early and apply for the presidential scholarship. With those grades and test scores, you could qualify for a scholarship of up to $20,000 out of $27,000 tuition. Its a sweet deal for those who qualify and its an exceptional program.</p>

<p>VT</p>

<p>I will second the comment about Shenandoah. It is a great program. My daughter worked with some of the professors and students at the NJW this past summer and had nothing but good things to say about it!</p>

<p>Sent from my Nexus 7 using CC</p>