I am an undergrad student currently dreading the process of looking for colleges, but not because I don’t want to go to college, but rather because there are so many possible options for me that I am nervous to pick something I don’t like. I’m trying to find a school that satisfies my major and minor requirements and then determining whether or not the school is a good fit for me. Originally I wanted to do something involving film, but I’ve never done anything with film before but I’m interested to see what it would be like. I am also considering music, as I’ve been playing electric guitar and singing for almost all of my life and I definitely want to keep that a vital part of my life moving forward. To be completely honest, there is such a wide spectrum of things I could do in college and be happy, and settling for one of them has been extremely difficult in the college searching process. So far the schools I’ve enjoyed the most have been Syracuse, BU, and Berklee. Syracuse sounds like a great fit but I don’t think their music program would protain to the type of music that I enjoy and I experienced the same thing at Boston University. Berklee College of Music had exactly what I wanted for music, but I’m fairly positive I don’t want to go to a school that only offers music because I want to be surrounded by a diverse population of students learning other things other than just music. I would really like to find a school similar to Syracuse that offers film but also appeals to my dedicated and unique interest to music.
Before you do anything else, go sit down with your parents and find out how they expect your education to be paid for. Will they pay for nothing? Some things? Everything? What is the top figure they are truly ready, willing, and able to pay? Help your parents run the Net Price Calculator at the website of each of the places on your current list. That will give you a notion of whether any of them are likely to be affordable.
Do you want to be a professional musician, or is music something you want to keep in your life but don’t need to make a living with it? What is is about film that appealed to you?
You are currently an undergrad so you would be a transfer student?
Sorry I meant to say future undergrad… My apologies.
Maybe Bard?
Do you have any clue how you might make a living (and possibly pay off debt if there is any) after graduation from university?
I’ve taken a look at Bard and it sounds good, but it just feels a little small. I’d prefer a school that has a little more people.
I’m currently not really concerned about the financial aspect yet as I am more interested in finding something that fits and then working out the money afterwards.
Money is a critical part of “fit”. Probably the most critical part.
At this current point in time, the financial aspect is not a problem.
Ok. For a bigger school, you’re probably looking for a directional U with a music school. Something like Ramapo in NJ or U of North Texas. What is your home state and geographic preference?
Actually, the financial aspect is the most important part. Do you really want to fall in love with the “perfect” school, then be told you can’t go because of money? Save yourself lots of time and heartache by talking to your parents about money before anything else.
I live in Connecticut so I’m looking for a school somewhere on the East Coast that’s no farther than a 6 hour drive from my state.
OK so anything up to $70K per year is going to be paid for without crazy loans? I’ll take you at your word.
Film and music and an incredibly artsy setting screams NYU to me. Also, Emerson in Boston.