Having a lot of trouble finding the right college.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I've seen plenty of threads asking about what colleges have the best voice department. Yes, I know that NYU is good, Oberlin is good, etc. </p>

<p>I live in the south (NC.) I'd prefer to go to college in the south-I hate cold climates, and being close to home would be nice. Also, I would not fit in too well with many of the northern colleges because of my political beliefs. I'd love to go to a school with a great voice department like Oberlin- but a high percentage of the students are left winged activists, smoke pot, and could be categorized as hippies. I would not fit in there very well.</p>

<p>Trouble is, most of the schools with good voice/music departments are in the North- am I right?</p>

<p>My dream college: a school that has good academics and a great music department, and in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, or Florida. </p>

<p>I really, really want to become a voice major at a school with a prestigious music department.</p>

<p>And the final problem is my grades. I have Attention Deficit Disorder, and I've had a lot of problems with my medications over the years. So my grades aren't so good, and a lot of that problem is because of my disorder. Last I knew, my GPA was 3 point something (I don't remember now.)</p>

<p>I've searched and searched, and I can't seem to find a college that fits me.</p>

2

<p>These are just some possibilities. I don't really know the answer.
Furman (SC) - reach
Vanderbilt (TN) - reach
U of Miami
Rhodes (TN)
Southwestern (TX)
Birmingham-Southern
Florida State
U of Houston
James Madison
Mercer (GA)
Millsaps (MS)
North Florida
North Texas
Stetson (FL)
Shenandoah (VA)</p>

3

<p>University of Miami has a great music program. I don't know anything about their vocal program, but you might want to check it out.</p>

4

<p>Doesn't Rice have a great music dept?</p>

5

<p>While it is good to know what your preferences are, you may need to stretch your tolerance levels to accept different lifestyles and beliefs if you go to a great or even good school. Not all northern schools are filled with dope smoking hippies, and contrary to local lore, yankees do not eat their young. Larger schools might have clicks of students with your belief system. </p>

<p>Disabilities are considered in admission processes so make sure you describe yours to any college you apply to. My experience with music programs is that auditions often out weigh academic grades. Julliard didn't seem to care about SATs or GPAs at all...Find your local audition schedule..you may have to travel.</p>

6

<p>Rice has a great voice department, but it is extremely hard to get into. Some years fewer than five vocalists are admitted. It meets all your criteria, though.</p>

7

<p>Rice, Vanderbilt are excellent. Cincinnati is farther north but the surrounding area has a conservative cast to it.</p>

8

<p>You might also consider the Peabody Institute. Although Maryland is not on your list, Peabody may still be a good choice. The climate is moderate and the campus culture is also moderate to conservative when it comes to sex and alcohol/drug abuse.</p>

<p>Peabody offers choices of a 3 yr performance certificate or 4 year degrees which permit unlimited courses at the main Johns Hopkins campus. If you can take the time for visits, I think you will find that many of the conservatories have cultures which are pretty conservative. The noteable exceptions are Oberlin and especially Bard.</p>

9

<p>Look at Belmont University in Nashville.</p>

10

<p>It's not perfectly within your criteria, but the University of Indiana has phenomenal voice programs and is someplace a traditional Southerner could probably feel at home. It's a red state, there's an old-school Greek scene, plenty of conservatives, etc...nothing like Oberlin. (Although you should be aware that even at a hyperconservative Bible Belt school, the small population of left-wing hippies will be overrepresented in the music department, and especially in voice.)</p>

11

<p>I believe the university of Tennessee has a good voice program as well.</p>

12

<p>Indiana University in Bloomington IN ......the name is frequently not remembered correctly.</p>

<p>my recommendation: Butler University in Indianapolis, IN small, conservative.</p>