<p>So I'm 18 and due to finish higher education early next year. I've always wanted to travel to America when Im older but recently have been considering going to college/university. I'm really up for it and am so excited, but I really know hardly anything about America, and especially the education system. Can anyone adivse me about how I'd go about making this a reality?</p>
<p>I'm also looking for a place with good music courses, I've heard Columbia College, Chicago is good?</p>
<p>I really am new to this idea so any information will be gratefully recieved.</p>
<p>Hi! I’d be happy to help you out. I actually just traveled to England last year and loved it!</p>
<p>Anyhow.</p>
<p>I know the education in England is a tad different. I’m a bit confused on what you were implying, but I’m just going to go with the basic notion that you want to go to a college/university a major in music?</p>
<p>Chicago is nice.
However, it is cold, and one of our more crowded cities.
You would have to LOVE the city to be comfortable going to school there…</p>
<p>I encourage you to visit cities like Boston. It’s a bit more laid back than Chicago and New York, but still a great time and tons of opportunities. Plus, its FULL of college students.</p>
<p>There are hundreds of schools with excellent music programs in the US. What is your instrument? Are you interested in studying something in addition to music?</p>
<p>Also, take a look at the music major forum here on CC. The posters there can really help.</p>
<p>The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, Texas is one of the best music schools in the U.S. I suggest you take a look into it: [The</a> Shepherd School of Music - Rice University](<a href=“http://music.rice.edu/]The”>http://music.rice.edu/)</p>
<p>I agree with pageturner. There are hundreds of of colleges/universities in the U.S. with music programs of some kind. With no information about ArcticMatt’s educational and musical background, instrument played and musical genres of interest, level of musical training, desired area of focus on music in college, etc. it seems that any specific recommendation of a school would be kind of random. </p>
<p>The only school ArcticMatt mentioned was Columbia College in Chicago, and the Sheperd School of Music seems extremely different from Columbia in terms of type of school, academic requirements of Rice, etc. </p>
<p>ArcticMatt, your plan to come to the U.S. sounds exciting, but if you are interested in getting useful information on this site about music programs, it would be helpful if you could give some information about your academic and musical background, music training, interests and goals.</p>
<p>A little more of the type of info that would help the resources on this site help you. It sounds like in addition to music you are coming to experince America. You should also consider what type of American experience you want. Large city with certain type of music exposure? Smaller school where it might be easier to develop relationships? High end academics with some music? Music conservatory? Party school?</p>
<p>Every large city in the US has some claim to some form of music. Chicago and New Orleans are very large in Blues and Jazz circles. New York is tough to beat for classical, musical theatre and just about everything. LA is great in terms of music industry and popular music and entertainment industry related music. Nashville and Austin TX are hubs of country, folk type music. Great musicians of all types have come from all areas of the country. There can be advantages if you are serious about a certain type of music in putting yourself in one of the areas that would provide you the greatest exposure to professionals in those areas. </p>
<p>Also, many schools have December application deadlines for audition based programs and auditions in the winter and early spring, so be aware of those time considerations.</p>
<p>You should also educate yourself about how US colleges work, as opposed to UK schools (greater breadth, 4 years instead of 3), and the way US colleges expect you to prepare your applications - there is, for example, a lot of emphasis on your extracurricular activities, and you will need to write a personal essay that is not simply a straight-forward list of your interests. Financial aid is also something you must consider because US schools are far more costly - many over $50,000 per year. Unless you can afford those prices, and think they are worth paying over UK tuition, you should find out about schools that offer financial aid to International Students. There are many that do, but I don’t know about Columbia College, for example.<br>
I assume you refer to Columbia College in Chicago knowing that it is not the same as Columbia College (as part of Columbia University) in NY! Frankly, Columbia College in Chicago is not particularly well known or highly ranked by many standards, though it may be a fine school. Columbia College in NY, on the other hand, is one of the top schools in the US, with very competitive admissions.</p>