LACs with great English and Music programs?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, I'm a rising senior and I was wondering if anyone could suggest some schools with great English (and/or Creative Writing) and Music programs. I was thinking of majoring in English with a minor in Music or possibly double majoring if it isn't too much of a burden.</p>

<p>In addition, I want a Liberal Arts College that is/has:
-Diverse (in all possible aspects)
-Intellectual
-a beautiful campus
-Quirky
-Mostly non-partying
-Less than 5,000 students
-Not in California
-Great financial aid</p>

<p>I would like to get out of California and go to another state because I don't like being stuck in one place and I'd like to broaden my horizons, as cliched as it sounds.</p>

<p>I could post my stats and other information, if that'll further help with suggestions.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>Oberlin comes to mind immediately—fabulous creative writing/English, as well as, of course, having the conservatory and a fabulous music environment in general. I'm not sure how well it will do on your diversity category (perhaps not that diverse in political thought), and non-partying category (though certainly it's not a "party school"). Not sure how it does on financial aid. Definitely quirky though! </p>

<p>You might also want to check out my school, Wesleyan. We have a good English program and a good music program, and fulfill the rest of your criteria pretty well (except, perhaps, for the mostly non-partying, and also an under-representation of conservatives, and some people don't like the way our art center looks, though I think the campus is beautiful). </p>

<p>Beyond that, I don't know much about music programs. At most LACs you'll get a good English program, so that shouldn't be a problem. In terms of the rest of your criteria, you sound like you'd really like Swarthmore and Carleton (and possibly also Grinnell, Vassar, and Haverford), though I don't know about their music programs, as I said. You might want to check them out, and see what you think.</p>

3

<p>University of Chicago fits all your criteria, except for the LAC part (the school feels like and operates like an LAC with grad schools in Siberia). Second the Oberlin suggestion-- two of my best friends go there, and they're as intellectual as can be without being library rats.</p>

<p>Chicago does have a strong English department (I'm an English major, I can tell you all about it) and a good music program.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Chicago is as diverse as a school can be while still being highly intellectual (in other words, the "intellectual" label doesn't attract as many URM/low-income/first-generation college students as it should, and those that are interested in Chicago and get in often also get into HYP etc.-- I imagine the other schools listed have similar problems in this regard).</p></li>
<li><p>Intellectual... do a search for "intellectual" and when you ask these forums what schools come up, Chicago is among the first schools that comes to mind. It attracts a certain type of student, and that type of student is one who is okay with reading Karl Marx, Freud, etc., through Chicago's Core Curriculum.</p></li>
<li><p>Beautiful campus... built up around quads, neo-gothic style, with a few modern buildings, a pond in the middle of the quads, lots of trees, plantings, etc. The buildings have casement windows, the interiors have wood panelings... we're basically Hogwarts.</p></li>
<li><p>Quirky... the essay questions on the Uncommon Application and annual traditions like Scav Hunt, where you get a list with items and challenges from permanently altering the surface of the moon, building a working nuclear reactor (one was built!), and holding a tea party on the quads.</p></li>
<li><p>Mostly non-partying... the Greek scene is there only if you want it, and if you're like me and you're not a big party person, it's easy to not feel left out. There are always other options, always people who don't want to party, always people who don't want to drink. The party scene that is there is largely decentralized, which is actually kind of nice, so instead of parties centered around alcohol and loud music, they're a lot about the people you get to talk to and etc.</p></li>
<li><p>4400 ugrad.</p></li>
<li><p>Chicago is not in California, last I checked.</p></li>
<li><p>FA should be decent, especially after an anonymously donated $100 million dollar gift towards ugrad financial aid.</p></li>
</ol>

4

<p>smith college, i second oberlin</p>

5

<p>Do you mean performance? Oberlin stands out for that combination. A recent creative writing graduate of Oberlin is Gary Steyngart, whose short stories appear frequently in the New Yorker. If you mean music history/theory and some good performance, other small college options are Williams and Amherst.</p>

6

<p>To the above, I would add Lawrence and possibly St. Olaf,</p>

7

<p>Oberlin in Ohio</p>

8

<p>Thank you for all the suggestions so far, everyone. You all have been very helpful in narrowing down and adding on what I should put on my college list. Oh, and my criteria are more like guidelines.</p>

<p>Weskid: Fun fact, I first heard of Wesleyan because a person at my school is going to attend there.</p>

<p>unalove: Wow, I didn't know University of Chicago was like that. I'd really love to hear more about the English department and your experience in it, if you don't mind. Also, I'm actually a first generation student and a URM, if Filipino counts as a URM.</p>

<p>mamenyu: I would like either performance or music history/theory.</p>

9

<p>University of Chicago is not a liberal arts college -- it is a University. Chicago has a very strong academic music department; its performance opportunities are less stellar, but if you are interested in playing in an orchestra or in ensembles there would likely be plenty of opportunities. Among other things, they have a resident chamber group, eighth blackbird, which originated at...Oberlin! If you are interested in smallish University programs, Johns Hopkins has strong creative writing and is the home of Peabody Conservatory.</p>

10

<p>The above is WRONG^ The COLLEGE of the University of Chicago [ which is what the 4000 undergraduates attend] is considered one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the country. The following is from their website: </p>

<p>Chicago's Common Core
Since its birth, the College of the University of Chicago has been an innovative leader in liberal education in the United States. Students today follow roughly the same curriculum that the famous educator Robert Maynard Hutchins implemented at Chicago in the 1930s: a core of general education teaching the critical, analytical, and writing skills needed by any well-informed member of civil society. These small, faculty-taught courses emphasize the study of original texts and formulation of original problems, skills that are used throughout the student’s Chicago education.
The common core not only imparts knowledge and skills, but also a sense of community to Chicago’s College. The core, usually completed in the first two years, makes it possible for students to share certain kinds of crucial intellectual experiences and create a community of young scholars who can talk across disciplines. </p>

<p>Chicago does not offer a Music Performance major, however, their Music Theory/ History program is superb. Music majors are required to participate in some form of music performance opportunity at the University, and private music lessons can be arranged from teachers in the Hyde Park/ Chicago area, but are not provided by the college.</p>

11

<p>Mamenyu, unalove mentioned before that University of Chicago was not a liberal arts college. Hmm, I didn't know that about Johns Hopkins University. Thanks for the suggestion.</p>

<p>Edit: I just saw the post above. There seem to be a few discrepancies on whether the University of Chicago is a liberal arts college. I'll look more into it.</p>

12

<p>Silent- the College of the University of Chicago teaches a solid liberal arts core cirriculum . It is surrounded by and supported by the University of Chicago, which is much larger graduate University [12000 students]. I know this is somewhat confusing, as virtualy no one out side of the University refers to the undergradute insituition as the "College" , but it is run for all intents and purposes as a liberal arts college.</p>

13

<p>And by the way ,we are in Calif. and my son is attending U of C this fall, after transfering from a SCalif U.</p>

14

<p>I would recommend Vassar, Brandeis, and Grinnell. All have strong English/creative writing, and though their Music Departments are small, they are really excellent. Vassar in particular seems to fit all your criteria. The Brandeis campus has its charm but is not everyone's cup of tea (at least here on CC). Haven't been to Grinnell.</p>

<p>All the schools mentioned so far are very competitive for admission and getting more so each year. Are we on the right track for your stats?</p>

15

<p>Yes, I believe so. </p>

<p>Here are my stats, to make sure:</p>

<p>Female Asian (Filipino, specifically)
Location: California
College Class Year: 2012
High School: Public
High School Type: sends some grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>

<p>GPA UW: Around/above 3.8, W: at least 4.2
Rank: Top 10% (40 something out of 505)
SAT: Total-1840. CR-660, M-530, W-650 (Essay 12). I'll work on my SAT and take it again in October and I'll take the ACT.
SAT IIs: Projected
Literature: around 650-750
US History: around 650-750
Math I: 600-700
APs: European History-3, projected Chemistry 2 or 3, US History 4 or 5, English Language 4 or 5</p>

<p>Freshman Year
1) Semester 1-Computer Lit., Semester 2-Health
2) Honors English I
3) Music I
4) Algebra II
5) Honors Biology
6) Latin I
7) S1-Marching Band, S2-Symphonic Band</p>

<p>Sophomore Year
1) Honors Chemistry
2) Honors English II
3) Latin II
4) Honors Pre-Calc
5) AP European History
6) Music II
7) S1-Marching Band, S2-Symphonic Band</p>

<p>Junior Year
1) Calculus
2) AP Chemistry
3) AP English Language
4) Latin III
5) AP US History
6) Music III
7) S1-Marching Band, S2-Symphonic Band</p>

<p>Senior Year
S1-AP Government, S2-Economics (this is how my school requires it)
AP Psychology (if it doesn't fit in my schedule, I'll take AP Biology)
AP English Literature
AP Environmental Science
AP Calculus AB or Calculus (I have to take the class again)
AP Latin Literature
Music IV
S1-Marching Band, S2-Symphonic Band</p>

<p>ECs:
(What the years will be at the end of senior year)</p>

<p>Music
Flute - 7 years, Will hopefully be co-flute section leader
Piccolo – 2/3 years
Marching Band – 4 years
Pep Band – 4 years
Symphonic Band- 4 years
Mini-Marching Band (where we go play shows, luncheons, etc. and raise money for the band) - 3 years</p>

<p>Writing
Poetry/Prose - 5 years
Band Newsletter - 2 years, Editor</p>

<p>Clubs
Junior Classical League – 4 years, Historian (11)
Key Club – 2 years
CSF – 3 years</p>

<p>Awards/Honors:
-(At least) AP Scholar
-National Latin Exam Silver Medal, Maxima Cum Laude
-Published in A Celebration of Young Poets Anthology/Finalist in Creative Communication Student Poet Competition (Will find out if in Top 10 soon)
-Played at the Beijing Olympic Music Festival (17 days to go until our band leaves for China)
-Played for international delegates in China (will be incredibly nerve-wrecking)
*We're doing more performances there like playing on the Great Wall but, if you don't mind, I don't want to list my entire itinerary.
-Various school-sponsored awards</p>

<p>Community Service:
As a band member, we do a BUNCH of community showcases. I have easily over 100 hours. Band is very time-consuming so I can't participate in more community service.</p>

<p>Hook (by CC definition):
I’m a first-generation student, as I mentioned before.</p>

16

<p>A few things to keep in mind:</p>

<p>Not many music schools offer a minor in performance.</p>

<p>Flute is generally among the hardest admits in most music programs because of the large number of students who study the instrument and the small number of flutes needed in an orchestra. Oberlin Conservatory is a particularly difficult admit on flute because they have one of the best flute departments in the country. You probably need to be among the best few in your state if you want to have a chance of being admitted as a flute performance major there.</p>

<p>Oberlin College does offer a BA in music with an emphasis in history and theory for which no entrance audition is required. You would likely be taking flute lessons from third-year and above Conservatory students there. They also have a very good English department.</p>

17

<p>How very informative, BassDad. Thanks. </p>

<p>Yeah, I figured it would be very difficult to compete with all of those flutes (my band alone has 18 flutes) so I was thinking maybe minoring or majoring in Music (general) with a bit of a focus on Composition because I'm also interested in composing music. Is this possible?</p>

18

<p>I heard that Bryn Mawr has a great English program...I'm not sure about music though.</p>

19

<p>SS, As mentioned, most LACs have excellent English departments. You'd have to actually try to find one that doesn't. For combination of English/creative writing + music I'd take a look at Williams.</p>

<p>Williams has one of the best music departments among the academically rigorous LACs. Performance opportunities abound and double majors are common. They also have a profoundly good English department with several well known, working writers/poets on the faculty and many opportunities to interact with visiting writers.</p>

<p>As a first generation Asian American with a diverse musical background, you would be of interest to Williams even though it is highly selective. Would it fill your other requirements? All except, non-partying. Williams kids are very social. The reputation for drinking is greatly exaggerated, however. Williams kids are very smart, multi-faceted and the focus on the arts is extensive and well funded. Financial aid is excellent.</p>

<p>Good luck and let us know how you do.</p>

20

<p>Well, like I said it was more of a guideline. I'm open to all experiences. I'm social, I love to meet new people. I was just worried that the partying might be so distracting that I couldn't concentrate on learning.</p>

<p>Thank you very much. And I will.</p>