<h2>Hello! I originally posted this in the Parents Forum this morning and got a few responses suggesting I post here. So here we go...my original posts are below:</h2>
<p>My D is a HS soph. She's extremely right-brained and it shows in her interests. Outstanding in anything related to the creative arts, writing, drawing, music, etc. She's also an IB diploma candidate in an outstanding public high school. Probably a 3.5-3.8 GPA when it's all said and done. She'll probably take the ACT because her PSAT scores skewed ridiculously high on the verbal.</p>
<p>She's trying to focus on college options, but she's all over the place and so am I.</p>
<p>I'm no stage mom, but I have to say that she's a very talented singer. She's been studying voice since she was 10, and started classical training last year. Her voice teacher assumes that my D will go on to study at a conservatory, but D is resisting because it is too limiting, and I agree with her. She especially does not want to go through a rigorous audition process.</p>
<p>D is interested in History, Poli Sci, Journalism, etc. Her English teachers tell her she needs to write for a living, and I can see her doing that. Still, she loves to sing and would like to pursue that in some level in college.</p>
<p>I'm sure somebody here will know the answer. Is there a school in the NE ( roughly from Virginia north to the Canadian border and west as far as the Missisippi River) where she can continue to study voice and perform in campus productions without majoring in music? Perhaps as a minor? And, again, no audition for admission, though she'd happily audition for productions as a student. She'll consider anything from a low-key LAC to Big State U. </p>
<h2>I guess the bottom line is that at this point in her life she wants a well-rounded education without making a committment to life in a conservatory.</h2>
<p>My latest post:</p>
<p>As for her musical interests, she's done musical theater and classical and she doesn't have a preference for one over the other. She really likes contemporary music, too, and would have liked to attend Berklee's music summer program but for the cost. </p>
<p>Someone suggested Drew, and it does seem to fit her criteria. We did an informal tour there a couple of years ago (with older son) and I tucked it away in the back of my mind for D. She likes it and I know it's on her list. Vassar sounds great, but it's quite an unrealistic reach, I think. Muhlenberg is another good option, but D sees herself as quite the boho hippie chick so I'm not sure it's for her. We will cerainly check it out, though, because she knows that area well after going to summer camp in the Poconos for several years.</p>
<p>For now, her ideal scenario would be a school that would allow her to study within the music department w/o majoring. She loves accapella groups, so she's up for that! I suppose she'd like to leave herself the option of pursuing music down the road.</p>
<p>What's so difficult is that she knows so many "music kids" who are on that track, and it scares me a bit that we expect kids of 17 and 18 to know what they want to do when they're still so young. </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>