<p>We visited Westminster CC with my son (VP) last week and although we liked the program I was very put off by the facilities. Freshman end up in triples (really a double room with 3), noisy rehearsal rooms in the dorm basement , "relocatable classrooms" with permanent sidewalks? I think 4 years of this will get old. The tour guide also mentioned a large drop in her class size from freshman to sophomore year. Why the attrition? She said she loved the school and did not seem put off by any of this but I am concerned. Can anyone weigh in on this?</p>
<p>Try PM KeyofH or her daughter theantidiva who is going to be a sophomore there this year.</p>
<p>Not ALL freshman wind up in triples - My D heads there tomorrow, and she’s in a double. Also, they’ve been actively de-tripling people this week. Regarding the drop in class size - you have to remember that the largest major at the school is Music Ed, and the curriculum is very difficult. A girl from our HS decided that after a year, she just wasn’t cut out for teaching - she’s staying at WCC, but has changed to VP. Then she has her classmate from school - he’s taking bio and math classes in the summer to hedge his bets in case music school just becomes too much music. During orientation, he liked the Rider campus more than the Princeton one. I give him a 50/50 shot.<br>
These are our thoughts going in - it could change drastically after a year, who knows? But I think WCC is a love it or hate it type of place. I’ll let you know after the first semester is done!</p>
<p>If they are weeding out those who really should not be teaching, then that is a good thing. It is a special person who can put in all the work of studying music and education and enjoy it.</p>
<p>It’s true the campus is small and, well, quaint, but do remember that the students are footsteps from downtown Princeton with wonderful cafes, restaurants, the university art museum, etc.</p>
<p>My son’s friend is a sophomore vocal perf. major at Westminster and she described to me how the choral directors actually test and challenge vocational commitment, on a weekly basis. She indicated that several vocalists dropped out by the end of the year; not just because of the difficulty of the course of study, but because some discover how they actually ranked in terms of pipes and skills. It would be interesting to look generally at attrition rates at conservatories and music departments also.</p>
<p>I actually think this is very ethical and similar to what students encounter in other preprofessional programs (graduate school, law school–attrition rate 1/3, etc.)</p>
<p>I am very latein chiming in her but since my D is a Junior I have not spent much time on the board. I just got an email from another parent asking my how my D was doing as they were considering WCC. I have to say now halfway through her third year she is still in love with Westminster. She did moveoff campus thisfall with three friends and that is very typical for Juniors and up. It really is a lovely little town to live in and it has a nice college vibe. I believe there should be more room on campus going forward. From what I understand the school started a Music Theatre program a coupleof years ago and many of those students stayed at Westminsterin Princeton. This program has now been moved to the Rider campus and new students have to stay in Lawrenceville. The practice rooms are comparable to many I saw at other colleges. I guess they could be poshier or more private but I dont really think any of the student care much. They all sing non stop wherever they are!</p>
<p>good luck!</p>