<p>I am starting the serious (visiting) part of my college search. I'm planning on majoring in music/choral music preferably with teaching certification. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, I can't find schools to compare with St. Olaf. I am looking for a school with a great music (more specifically, choral music) program that is integrated well with the Liberal Arts and also has challenging academics. I've looked a little at Williams (which has exceptional academics, great music, but not as good choral offerings), a little at Yale, and a little at Northwestern. Any other schools I am missing? Or does anyone have thoughts about these schools?
Thanks!</p>
<p>How about Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin?</p>
<p>I’m going to Illinois Wesleyan University this fall. It’s in Bloomington, IL, and has a great music program as well as being a liberal arts university with top students academically. It compares to St. Olaf and Lawrence, as people that apply to IWU also look at/apply to Lawrence and St. Olaf quite often. I’m going as a music major (piano performance), so I can answer more specific questions about the music program if you want.</p>
<p>Look at: [Illinois</a> Wesleyan University – Bloomington, IL](<a href=“http://iwu.edu/]Illinois”>http://iwu.edu/) and here is the School of Music: [Illinois</a> Wesleyan: School of Music](<a href=“http://www.iwu.edu/music/]Illinois”>School of Music | Illinois Wesleyan)</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies! I researched these schools a little and have put both of them on my list. I can’t believe that these great schools were not on my radar. If anyone else has any thoughts, I’d welcome them.</p>
<p>I’m not sure about choral, but how about Carnegie Mellon?</p>
<p>Furman in Greenville, SC has an amazing music program and is a gorgeous/green campus to boot. A little different flavor than midwestern schools but very rigorous and well respected. It is a southern campus so the flavor is a little different than the midwestern colleges but they are trying to expand their geographical diversity so that is a plus.</p>
<p>Having just finished this research, comparable to St Olaf for music: Lawrence and Oberlin have conservatories. Know of a student who chose Gettysburg over Olaf because of voice training program.</p>
<p>Thanks guys, this is really great. It’s especially good to know that other people have tried to solve this same question.</p>
<p>OP, I know you mentioned about starting to visit these schools. I know Illinois Wesleyan U has a summer group visit day coming up in June here where you get to do a lot of stuff on campus…maybe think about it. Here’s the info: [Illinois</a> Wesleyan: Arrange a Visit](<a href=“http://iwu.edu/admissions/visit/]Illinois”>Arrange a Visit | Illinois Wesleyan) and [Illinois</a> Wesleyan: IWU Summer Preview Days](<a href=“http://iwu.edu/admissions/visit/summerpreview.shtml]Illinois”>http://iwu.edu/admissions/visit/summerpreview.shtml)</p>
<p>Can’t really speak much for the other schools, know IWU well by now since I’m going there.</p>
<p>Luther College in Decorah, Iowa (just 2 hrs. south of St. Olaf) is worth taking a look at. Some would say their choral is just as good as St. Olaf, while academics are not quite as rigorous.</p>