<p>I've repeatedly told my D (a mezzo-soprano planning to major in vocal performance) that, if she didn't get sufficient financial aid for a private or out-of-state school, I'd help her through a state school. </p>
<p>We live in PA and, from what I've seen, the top choices of these are Indiana U. of PA (IUP), West Chester, and Mansfield.</p>
<p>Here's the dirt I've dug up so far on those three:</p>
<p>A former choir director of mine who's an IUP grad told me that it's a completely acceptable music program, but a better school for conducting and instrumental music than vocal work.</p>
<p>West Chester has a very good rep, at least as a school for Music Ed majors, and seems to be investing in facilities lately. It has the disadvantage of being too close to home for my daughter's taste and is seen by her crowd as being a place that gets deserted on weekends.</p>
<p>Mansfield's rep, at least among her crowd, is that of a place where the better music kids go who, for whatever reason, don't go to a private school. I know that it began as a music school so it has a strong tradition, but not a lot else about it.</p>
<p>Can anyone add to any of those sketchy pictures?</p>
<p>I'm surprised to hear Mansfield is considered a better program than West Chester , for vocal performance anyway. The department is quite small - only 3 teachers, I think. I have heard that West Chester's program is up and coming. The facilities are gorgeous and state of the art. The other nice thing is that they have rolling admissions and give the decision before you leave for the day. My D appplied early and had her acceptance in November. She didn't choose to go there, but it was nice to have that early acceptance. They are a bit unusual in that you have to pass the theory and ear training tests for admission. No matter how good the audition, you are not in without a certain score on all three parts.</p>
<p>Well, remember, I'm reporting on the reputation in one high school in the Philly suburbs.</p>
<p>Don9992-
Can provide some info on IUP, as D has chosen it over our well-known (at least in NY and environs) SUNY "music" schools (Fredonia and Potsdam) and the couple privates she was accepted at. At the summer vocal program she attended last year (held at SUNY Fredonia), she struck up a relationship with one of the artistic faculty members, who teaches (voice) at IUP. Never having heard of it and, admittedly, with a little bit of an attitude of "if you are thinking about a state school, why should we pay out of state tuition when we have perfectly good choices right here?", it was with some trepidation that (I) we went to visit last Oct. We (and I was very much included) had about the nicest college visit day you could imagine. All very well thought out and planned by said prof. THey are pouring money into the campus, there is quite a bit of construction (250 million in dorm renovation/reconstruction alone), gorgeous,newly renovated music building, new all-Steinway pianos (even in some of the dorms), enlarged and renovated (to reopen this fall) large (1400 seat) theater, nice theater dept. (with which there is much collaboration) facilities. I had the impression that there is a lot of support for the arts. Everyone we met was warm and welcoming. D was also accepted to the Honors College, which was attractive to her (and me, providing she can keep up with everything). She did not want a stand alone conservatory, a larger university setting was more appealing to her, coming from a small, rural-ish high school. Indiana is kind of isolated, so I am not sure if that would appeal to a kid form the Philly suburbs or not, but I figure they are going to be so busy, it really doesn't matter. In the end, she was given a very nice discount (for good grades) on the out-of-state tuition and a nice 4 yr. music scholarship. Total turns out to be the same as SUNY Fredonia (choice #2) would have cost. I know they do an opera in the fall and musical in the spring, plenty of ensembles and class/studio performance opps. For D., it came down to being able to study with a professor with whom she already had established a great rapport, the facilities, and the feeling of being wanted (as opposed to just another dime-a -dozen soprano. Husband (who had not been yet) and she spent 2 days there last week at freshman orientation. He came away very impressed with everything too, and feels that D. will be in a very good place for her. I am aware that if you look at the Newsweek, US world Reports etc. mags that come out every fall, the avg. freshman stats are not as impressive as many other schools. However, I feel this can be overcome by being involved in 2 smaller "schools"- music and honors, where the kids are going to be looked after a bit and not lost in the crowd. I don't have the data to back it up, but am told that music students overall have some of the strongest academics both coming in and while there. I think there may be a bit of a "party school" rep. too, but I think there is a strong element of that just about anywhere. As long as you are in PA, I think it is certainly worth a look! Please feel free to p.m. me if you need anything more specific. Sorry that I can't compare IUP to either of the other PA schools.</p>
<p>Cartera: On a couple of our audition outings, we were told that theory and piano tests didn't "count", were just for placement- unless you were a soprano!</p>
<p>musmom2 - LOL - so true. I think if my D heard one more time about sopranos coming out of ears and dime a dozen, she would have lost it. </p>
<p>West Chester was the only school that was so upfront about the theory and ear training. By the time they told us the third or fourth time about having to score a certain number on both, D was convinced she wouldn't pass either of them. She was more nervous about theory than the audition. There were a couple parents there whose kids had not taken theory at all and they were really freaking out. They did say that you could enroll as a non-committed major, take theory as a freshman and re-audition. There were several kids there in November doing that. The results exit interview was also nerve wracking. We went in and sat across from a professor who opened the test scores in front of us and then started adding things up. After several minutes of suspense, we heard "congratulations." When they add up the scores, a certain score is needed for vocal performance. If you don't score quite high enough, you are offered music ed. If you score a little lower, you are offered a BA in music; if lower, then you can go undeclared and re-audition.</p>
<p>Thanks, musmom2, that was a whole different take from what I'd heard before. My D is actually looking for a small-town atmosphere so IUP may turn out to be a good fit. My dad was actually born and raised in Indiana County near Punxsutawney so we have some roots there.</p>
<p>Glad to help- just "paying it forward"! Good luck with your search!</p>