My D, a junior, is pulling together her list of potential colleges, and could use some help adding to/refining her list. She’s decided she’d like to major in music, with a vocal performance emphasis, but focusing on a BA degree in a LAC environment, rather than a conservatory. Her interests besides music include communication disorders and foreign languages (has studied Italian, is interested in Spanish and possibly Arabic).
Stats: 3.9 GPA, 3 APs so far, 2 more next year. 28 ACT, taking it again in 2 weeks (and possibly again in the fall). Numerous music and theater ECs - supporting roles in h.s. musicals and dramas, several select choirs in school and community, cantor (paid) at church since 9th grade.
She would like a LAC or small university (under 10k) with a liberal arts feel, preferably with little to no Greek life, politically moderate/ not very activist student body.
She LOVED St. Olaf, and really liked College of Wooster. We are on the East Coast though, and would like some options closer to home. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!
I would look at Smith and Williams. Smith may be more liberal/activist than she desires, but it has excellent music program (especially vocal) and the consortium could provide access to her other interests. It’s mid-level in selectivity.
Williams is highly selective, but offers a wide range of music performance and theater opportunities even for non-majors. More middle road politically. Vassar and Hamilton would be other ideas to explore.
Second Skidmore. Also consider Mt. Holyoke, less liberal/activist than Smith while also offering the benefits of the consortium for access to other interests.
Also, check out the colleges in Boston. There are three (at least) major music programs. Boston Conservatory, Berkelee, and New England. They may have cooperative agreements with other schools in the area.
While not quite in the same tier as some of the schools mentioned above, the College of St. Rose in Albany has an outstanding Music department and also has an excellent Communications Disorders program. I think it fits her other stated preferences, as well.
For the language side, maybe try Dickinson in Carlisle, PA - it offers 13, I believe, including Arabic. Dickinson also offers a music degree with various concentrations but I don’t know anything about its reputation in the music performance world. From what I have read, it seems less politically/socially radical than some other LACs. Does have Greek life but it doesn’t sound as though it’s crazy/over the top.
I agree that Muhlenberg and Rochester also would be worth a look. In PA, maybe Ursinus?
If political moderation is a strong point and you’re willing to consider other options in the midwest, maybe Denison or Case Western.
Thank you all so much for the good suggestions! While some of the schools mentioned will definitely be reaches for her, it looks like some of the others are test optional, which will be helpful if her ACT scores don’t improve, We will look closely at Skidmore and Muhlenberg, which were mentioned multiple times. We hadn’t heard about several of the others (St. Rose, Drew, Ursinus, plus others), so I will pass along the full list of suggested schools for her to research further.
Muhlenberg sounds like a good fit but probably not Gettysburg that someone suggested earlier. Gettysburg has a very large Greek scene that OP said they were not interested in. Instead perhaps try Ursinus. Best of luck to you!