My dd was admitted to both. Finances are roughly the same with a modest scholarship from IC. She wants to study music (big advantage: IC) and neuroscience or physical science (advantage: U). She plays ice hockey (advantage U) and ultimate frisbee (advantage IC). Prefers a traditional campus with classic architecture (big advantage U) in a great college town (advantage IC). Would like to connect with other creative types, but not be solely in an artsy scene. See, it’s a very hard decision!
Read the recent news articles about cuts to faculty and programs at IC.
Ithaca is gorges 
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True, but I think nearly every LACs goes fiscal issues and I think IC is acting prudently. In fact their bond rating recently went up. Plus, School of Music was unaffected.
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Union is less artsy overall but may present more opportunities to do something with her science and art together. At some level, it depends a bit on how she weights those interests as well as her style of socializing.
Will she be able to play on the women’s hockey team at Union? I agree with the others that Union is more sporty/athlete dominant and Ithaca has more creatives. But the other groups are represented at each.
In addition to a D1 women’s team, Union has women’s club level ice hockey which is rare for a school this small. I just wondering how dominant Union’s bro/frat culture is.
Ithaca has a conservatory. I would check to see what access a BA student has to music teachers and performance opportunities when the BM students in the conservatory may have priority. That is not always true, but is something to investigate. Often musicians who are doing a BA are better off at a school that does not have a conservatory. Or was she admitted to the conservatory?
She was accepted as at BM-Composition student to the SOM, one of the factors making this decision very hard…
I grew up near Union, and went to college in Ithaca. Hands down Ithaca is a better college environment. There are so many resources in the local area at large geared to students. There is much more going on culturally and economically. Ithaca is redeveloping its downtown. From having toured IC recently with DS '20, It is clear that music and arts education is a priority. Also, there is the opportunity to take classes. “across town”. Ithaca FTW.
Thanks for this. Agreed, Ithaca is an amazing place. However, since she grew up in NYC, I think she feels like the town/city matters less.
Agreed. Just make sure you have visited both before you decide! Schenectady may be culture shock! I am sure that either school will provide a fine educational experience. Good luck with your search.
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Yup! Per Schenectady shock, if you only saw where we lived in Brooklyn…
I happen to be a fan of Union – it was one of my D’s top choices although she ended up elsewhere. The science departments at Union were quite impressive. But fit is important.
Some things I suggest your D might do include:
–Think about if she wants a LAC v a mid-size college expereince.
–See if there are any accepted students events going on – there may even be some online with covid.
–Look up school newspapers online and read them to get a better sense of campus life.
–If you haven’t yet read some good student guide books such as Fiske, Princeton Review, Insiders Guide.
–Look at the course catalogues online.
I would head over to the music major forum and read the “Double Degree Dilemma” essay under the Read Me thread posted at the top. It is an essay about different ways to study music using hypothetical individuals.
There is a BIG difference between a BM program 9 2/33-3/4 classes in music) and a BA program (1./4-1/3 classes in music). Does your daughter want to spend most of her time in music classes, or does she have other academic interests?
Union does provide performances for composers, but what musicians play the pieces? Other students, or outside ensembles? At Ithaca peers would be excellent players.
The Double Degree Dilemma essay leaves out the option of majoring in music for a BA or even majoring in something else entirely and continuing lessons and extracurricular performances.
Summer programs are important ways to network and get performances and can make up for whatever is missing in a BA program.
The goal is probably grad school and that requires 3-4 recordings of works.
If she wants to focus on music in an immersive way, the Ithaca. If she wants to do more academics, Union. In either case she will be integrated into the general college community and the academic classes at Ithaca, though fewer, would be good.
Christopher Chandler is the only composition prof. at Union, it looks like. Ithaca has three, plus a lot of theory professors who may teach composition. At Union there is no composition track in the major.
It is absolutely not necessary for undergrad composers to do a BM and there are arguments for both. Would studying art, literature, science and other subjects eventually contribute to her work? Most of all how does she feel about immersive versus a broader education? Both are excellent choices. I will PM you.
I would love to hear what kind of feedback you get from coaches and directors on doing music seriously plus a sport. I have a S22 who is a musician and athlete and from what I understand, it’s just not compatible.