<p>Hi,
I am a high school senior and I am in the midst of the college application process. I have interests in engineering (at least I think I do) and I have interests in music. I would like to go to a school where there is a strong engineering program as well as a pretty good music program. Some of the schools that I have visited have left me somewhat unimpressed with their music program. I feel like a school like this would not allow me to improve my abilities (I don't want to sound cocky or anything, I know I'm not the best, but I still have a love for music). I have a list of colleges that I am considering applying to but cannot decide for sure if I want to apply to them because of the possible lack of a quality music program. Could somebody help me in identifying which schools may not have a music program that has enough support from the school please? The list is: Cornell University, Brandeis University, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Worcester Polytech, RPI, U Maryland, Pitt, Drexel, and Stevens Institute of Technology.<br>
Thanks in advance for the help!</p>
<p>What are you specifically looking for in a music program? Theory/history? Solo performance and private lessons? Performing groups - which? Some schools will be much stronger in certain areas than others.</p>
<p>For example, the school where I’m a music major, Brown, is very strong in theory/history as well as ethnomusicology and in our performing groups, but does not offer a performance major or a BM.</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon University *
Johns Hopkins University
Northwestern University *
Ohio State University
Rice University
University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign *
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor *
University of Rochester
University of Southern California
University of Texas-Austin
University of Wisconsin-Madison</p>
<p>The schools with *s next to them are extremely strong in both Engineering and Music performance.</p>
<p>One thing to keep in mind is that at most of those universities, Engineering is a pretty demanding and intense major, as is Music (assuming you are interested in Performance/Composition). Double majoring in those two fields will likely take more than 5 years.</p>
<p>On that list, the schools I know of with highly regarded music programs are Cornell, Brandeis, RPI, and Maryland. MIT, not on your list, also has a great music department.</p>
<p>Brandeis does not have engineering.</p>
<p>Conspicuously absent from Alexandre’s list is University of Cincinnati.</p>
<p>RYELDER…are you interested in a double major? Music performance and engineering? Performance classes are usually closed to non majors in schools with good, competitive audition based music programs. Frequently (if you are not going to double major) it’s better to find a school that doesnt necessarily have a top music program, but has a population of students with interests in music and opportunities to take private lessons and participate in ensembles. Cal Tech comes to mind. [Caltech</a> Music, Theater, Art I instrumental music](<a href=“http://www.music-theater-art.caltech.edu/instrumental_music.html]Caltech”>http://www.music-theater-art.caltech.edu/instrumental_music.html)</p>
<p>I would also encourage you to do a search on the music majors forum.</p>
<p>Univ of Rochester should be up there - Eastman School of Music offers free lessons (and yes, the reemphasize free repeatedly) for any college student interested. My ds is at Pitt and they have some ensemble performance options, like their concert band and marching band, also a symphonic orchestra, but their music dept is small, and focussed on jazz.</p>
<p>I’m not sure an Eng’g major would have room in the schedule to have music as a double major since there is little overlap. Eng’g degrees often require more credits than other majors, so fitting in about 50 or so Music credits would seem impossible.</p>
<p>Another issue would be that the practice/performance req’ts would likely conflict with the time eng’g major spend in labs doing projects, etc.</p>
<p>If you need FA, there may be a problem getting FA for a fifth year of college if that’s what’s needed to complete both degrees.</p>
<p>Maybe a school that is very generous with AP credits (not just for electives) would be possible. </p>
<p>you may need to ask each school if this is possible and if there are any FA ramifications if graduating takes more than 4 years.</p>
<p>“I’m not sure an Eng’g major would have room in the schedule to have music as a double major since there is little overlap. Eng’g degrees often require more credits than other majors, so fitting in about 50 or so Music credits would seem impossible.”</p>
<p>It happens but it usually takes 5 years. D’s boyfriend did Physics and Music performance. A rough row to hoe, but it is possible.</p>
<p>This is frequently discussed in the Music Majors forum.</p>
<p>It happens but it usually takes 5 years</p>
<p>If that is so, then the student needs to find out if their college and/or parents will support 5 years. Some parents have a “4 year rule” and some colleges don’t have aid for the 5th year.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the great responses. I will address each response in order.</p>
<p>Bruno - What I am looking for in a music program is opportunities for performance as well as a somewhat decent theory program. The performance groups I would be most interested in joining would be jazz band/big band, concert band, maybe a pit orchestra or something, really anything that gives me an opportunity to play; marching band would also be good but it is not a priority for me. I play trumpet by the way. </p>
<p>Alexandre - Thanks for the great suggestions! I’ll take a look at those. I am also not planning on double majoring in music and engineering because of the rigorous engineering curriculum, but who knows, anything could happen. Right now I am looking at a possible minor in music and definitely performance opportunities.</p>
<p>BeanTownGirl - I realize Brandeis doesn’t have engineering. I do know that they have a very good physics program there though. Also, I realize that engineering and physics are very different but at this point I really don’t know what I want because I have never experienced engineering (as far as I know) and I haven’t delved very deeply into the field of physics either yet.</p>
<p>musicamerica - That is precisely what I have been thinking about and what I was trying to say in my first post. I am thinking about a school that has the engineering (exception for Brandeis) and also has a “decent” music program. This is why I ruled out U Rochester because of the Eastman School of Music. I would like to think I am good at my instrument but I know that I can’t compete with a music performance major at Eastman. This would just take away from my opportunities. If the school I go to, though, doesn’t have a well developed program this would take away from what I could become which is why I would prefer something in the middle. A.K.A. not too good but still good.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids & musicamerica - you bring up good points about that 5 year thing. We’ll see what happens but as of now I don’t plan on doing 5 years for a double major.</p>
<p>Once again, thanks for all of the replies, sorry if I didn’t address your response.</p>