Hello everyone!
I was recently accepted as an undergrad flute performance major at CMU and NEC. My goal is to become a professional orchestral flutist, but I’m really torn between these two schools.
If anyone has any experience with either of these schools, can I have its pros and cons?
The teachers are not an issue for me because I work well with both of them, and I would be VERY happy with the either of them. I also have to pay about the same amount of money to attend either school so I guess that’s not a key factor for differences between the schools either. Also location-wise both places are pretty convenient for me.
I just have a couple of issues I’m concerned about:
- I'm not sure how the ensemble system works at both schools. My flute teacher said when she attended NEC, some flutists couldn't play in ensembles because of such a high number of them enrolled there. This was years ago, but is this still the case now? I also would prefer if the ensembles are divided up like freshmen+sophomores, juniors+seniors so I was wondering if either school works like that.
- I have heard that NEC's liberal arts classes are not challenging enough (please correct me if that is not the case), but on the other hand, are CMU's required classes for music majors TOO rigorous? Would I have enough time to balance those with 3-4 practice hours a day?
- I know that NEC recently established a ton of new practice rooms, but how are the practice rooms at CMU? Are there enough rooms so that I can pop in anytime and there is always one open, or would I have fierce competition over the rooms?
Ultimately, WHICH SCHOOL SHOULD I CHOOSE??? Thank you so much in advance!!! 
If no one replies here on your schools, you may want to reach out to each school and see if there are any student “ambassadors” available to answers questions from prospective students. The students may be “cheerleaders” for their schools but still you should be able to get some good information from them particularly on questions about practice rooms, ensembles and the level of rigor in academic classes. Practice room availability seems to be a common source of anxiety for new students…and seems to always work out from what I’ve seem. But contact music admissions at each school and see if they can put you in touch with a student. Also a prospective teacher may also help you connect with students and/or help with a few of your questions. Good luck.
Both are great schools but Alberto Almarza is amazing. I’ve witnessed first hand his interaction with students at a Consummate Flutist class and was very impressed with how he encouraged the performer and focused on improving their current style/way of playing versus trying to remake the player in his image as is the case with many other instructors.
Daughter knows several of the studio members and a senior is currently a finalist for a principal flute position in a major market orchestra - would think this is pretty rare for an undergraduate. Others have made it to final rounds as well so I think the program does a pretty good job of preparing you as an orchestra performer. Also helps to have Lorna McGhee (PSO) on staff to help with orchestra preparedness and having a pianist accompany you during every lesson is also a plus for CMU. Collaborative piano or access to a pianist is an issue at pretty much every school but CMU has figured it out to make it a non issue.
Good luck with your decision but for me, it would be an easy one.
@bridgenail Thank you for your response! I will see if I can contact the music departments at both schools and have them fill me in on everything.
@flutesupporter Wow, the CMU flute studio’s accomplishments are very impressive! I was nervous about the orchestral preparation part of my college experience so that sounds very encouraging. Also my teacher is in love with the pianist aspect of the private lessons! Thank you so much for your advice!!
fluteflaut, I just PM’d you. My daughter is in CMU as flute major. She only has praises for Prof. Almarza, whom we have met and allowed us to see him give lessons to our daughter at his studio. Congrats!
I hope you can visit each school. Once you are accepted it is easier to get information. I love NEC, live in Boston, and spend a lot of time there for concerts 
May be biased. NEC does belong to a consortium that allows classes at Northeastern, for one- not sure how often students to that.
Often, people on this forum say “go with the teacher” but make sure there are other aspects to your decision…At this point it is also okay to go with your gut, but that really does require a visit.
http://necmusic.edu/faculty?department_name=College+%7C+Flute
http://www.music.cmu.edu/profiles?utf8=%E2%9C%93&department=29
@compmom Yes, I did get the opportunity to visit both schools through auditions! I loved both schools and teachers whom I took private lessons with, but at this point, as you said, I will go with my gut feeling. Thank you so much for your comment!