where do I go???

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>hey all...I'm joining CC relatively late in the game (HS senior on her way out!), but the college dillemma is ever as important to me. I've been accepted to 4 of 6 schools and haven't heard from the last yet, and have been wondering...where do I go?</p>

<p>my plans for life are to go into college planning to sing for a few years, experience life as a performer, and see how I do, then when I'm ready to "settle down", go back for my master's in education/pedagogy and teach either privately or become a choral conductor. eventually I might try to get a PhD in choral conducting and work at a university, if I'm lucky.</p>

<p>I was accepted at:</p>

<p>UMass Amherst - full tuition (MCAS scores). concerned the school might be too big, too jockish, and that the music program is sub-par. but it's the least expensive. and a neutral (but more of a con I guess) point is that my boyfriend will be a sophomore there next year (which would probably be bad for us, idk yet).</p>

<p>Syracuse University - $12,000/yr scholarship. concerned that the school will also be too big and jockish, and that the music program isn't too good. also not looking forward to LA classes. but the building (Crouse) is really pretty.</p>

<p>BU - no financial aid, not a surprise. BIG school. I love Boston, but I'm also from a small town, so it might overwhelm me, especially since the campus is stretched out. do CFA students have to take a lot of liberal arts courses? how academically intense is it? I'm academically capable (honors student, good SAT scores, etc.) but I want to focus on my music.</p>

<p>Boston Conservatory - no financial aid, surprised I got in, but I had a fantastic audition. again, I love Boston, and the opportunity to study at an all-music school is daunting but so outstanding...eek! I might feel like I missed my chance if I didn't go here. but it might not be right for me, I dunno.</p>

<p>...and I'm still waiting on Westminster Choir College, where I'd probably go, but I'm also concerned about it being in Princeton, NJ (far away and a small town) and about it being all-music (I think it's what I want to do, but idk).</p>

<p>any suggestions? PLEASE reply or email me at <a href="mailto:geekslovemail@gmail.com">geekslovemail@gmail.com</a></p>

<p>thanks!!!</p>

2

<p>Assuming you would be a voice major....is this correct? Have you had lessons with anyone at any of these schools? If you are not convinced about the music issue, a conservatory is not a good idea....you will be too behind with academic core courses. If the teacher is good at Syracuse, that sounds like the best option, big school but not huge, and not in major city. UMass is a much different kind of school, isolated, politically active (and reactionary) students, and the music department has some excellent faculty....do not be concerned about that. Boston is its own environment, and your college experience would be quite different than at one of the "stand alone" universitites. The LA courses are what you make them to be, and what they make you to be is an informed and educated citizen....the person (and brain) with whom you will be keeping company your whole life.....neglecting it is not such a good idea. Good luck.</p>

3

<p>My D graduated from BU's music school in 2004 and the non-music course requirements consisted of, as I recall, a required freshman English course and another couple of course credits per year in any subject you wanted. She took art history, French, English, religious studies, philosophy, and history and enjoyed them all. She, too, entered with a good high school record and high SATs and found the work there neither a snap nor impossibly difficult.</p>

<p>Unlike a standalone conservatory, whose non-music courses are frequently taught by part-time adjuncts, at BU the nonmusic courses are taught by real professors. For instance, her art history teacher actually wrote the standard textbook they used. But as for the core music curriculum, it's a conservatory program all the way. My D was a string player but my impression is that BU has a very strong voice/opera department.</p>

<p>BU as a whole is a ginormous place but CFA is surprisingly small and intimate-feeling, and if you go there that's your primary focus. And the location can't be beat. Just don't fail to go to at least one Red Sox game!</p>

4

<p>Hi treblemaker, sorry I've not gotten around to replying to the PM.
My first recommendation is not to go to BoCo. It's lower level than BU, musically, and has none of the general resources that CFA has by virtue of being in a university. If you're going to pay full tuition, it should be at BU. I sympathize with the desire for an all-music environment, but BoCo isn't going to be worth it. About academics, I assure you that music will take up nearly all your time. Besides (frankly) you're a singer; you can't practice five hours a day!
The music school at UMass has some strong points. I don't know how it is for voice. But full tuition there is pretty appealing.
Good luck with the decision!</p>

5

<p>well I got a positive heads-up about WCC...but now what it comes down to is the degree. At UMass, Syracuse, and BU, I was accepted for both music ed and performance (yes, voice). At BoCo, I was accepted (and applied) for only performance. If I'm accepted at WCC for both, I might go there just because it has a solid program and would be just awesome. I can't describe how at home I feel there.</p>

<p>if I only get into education, it might be between BoCo and WCC.
hmmm...</p>

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<p>WCC is great! Flummerfelt is my favorite choral conductor! (not that I know many... but Ann Howard Jones at BU is also wonderful.)</p>

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<p>omg! guys, I'm going to WCC! SO EXCITED!</p>

<p>and although Flummerfelt left at the end of last year, this year Timothy Brown (of England, not sure the University) interim-conducted and I actually WORKED WITH Joseph Miller, Flummerfelt's replacement. I won't get to do much with him for 2 years, since he conducts the Westminster Choir and Symphonic Choir, but but he's amazing...he was my All-State conductor this year.</p>

<p>I've decided on WCC because a music Ed degree will give me a stable background and career options, but the school will definitely give me enough performance opportunities. Squee! Guys, I'm going to college!!!!</p>

<p>AAAAAAAAAAH so excited. thanks for all your help!!</p>

8

<p>great treblemaker! I hope the offer for prospective student advisor still stands.</p>

9

<p>Congratulations treblemaker. I know some excellent singers who have graduated from WCC.</p>