Why I Chose.....

<p>It occured to me that it would be helpful to the "Class of 2008" and other future students/parents if those who had made a final decision on a school shared their reasons. It would seem to me that the best way to do this is for a new thread to be started under each school's subforum listed at the top of this page. That way readers in the future could readily find the posts under a particular school and there would be less of a chance that the thread would be buried over time. So what do you think fellow CC'ers? If you think this is a good idea, start a thread under the school you selected named "Why I Chose (insert name of school)".</p>

<p>This is a good idea. Too bad only certain schools are listed in the subforums.</p>

<p>Sarahsmom42, why note ask the moderators to add Drake to the MT forum? As an alternative, couldn't people post this info in either the "final decisions" thread?</p>

<p>The only problem with posting it in the Final Decisions thread is that the postings for each school will be widely dispersed and buried over time. Having a separate thread under each school's subforum puts it all in an easily accessible spot. As to schools not listed, if enough people show an interest in a particular school, perhaps the moderators would add a subforum for that school.</p>

<p>I guess I'll just have to keep "cheerleading!" She is sooo excited!</p>

<p>That's what we as parents yearn to hear after such an incredibly long and exhausting process. If at the end, our kids are excited and happy, that's success by any measure regardless of the school chosen!</p>

<p>YAY Sarahsmom! I am glad Sarah is so excited for Drake. Thats awsome. Also, MikenKat, why dont people post here, since it is all together in one thread?</p>

<p>People certainly can post it here. I just wonder about the functional utility over time. For example, if this thread were to grow to 15 pages, then someone interested in Tisch would have to search 15 pages for postings spread throughout and interspersed with many other postings about other schools. Same deal if interested in UMich, CMU UArts etc. Thinking down the road a year, if the interest is to provide a resource that will have enduring utility, then I think a separate thread under each school is more functional. Forevermore, anyone could go to the school's subforum and find a thread containing postings on that school in an easy efficient manner. Schools could be compared by going to each such thread. But, hey, anyone can do it anyway they want, I ain't the "boss" :) .</p>

<p>Why I Chose...Syracuse U!</p>

<p>Well, long story short, I went to Summer COllege there in 2005 and had a GREAT experience. I fell in love with "the hidden jewel." Thats what i call it. I always said that I wanted to go Fordham or NYU but I fell for Syracuse. It was charming, cosey, and offered me the lack of distraction I would need in undergrad. I love the campus and sometimes it reminds me of home (which is FAR FAR away). I am very excited to go there next year. Hit me up if anyone has questions.</p>

<p>There was a similar thread last year about why people made final decisions for a school. If I find it, I'll bump it.</p>

<p>Why I Chose...Pace University's NYC Campus (BFA MT)</p>

<p>I'll be completely honest and say that I really wasn't expecting much since I hadn't heard much about the program but when I went to audition I was so impressed with the head of the program and what my friend who is a freshman MT right now had to say about the program (she had chosen pace over tisch- while pace is about the same price as tisch). But the program is new (the first class of MT's are graduating this year) so I don't think it's actually had the chance to make it's way into the business yet. A huge advantage to Pace is not just that it's in NYC but their connections and involvement in the industry. The program is a very "roll your sleeves up and do it" type of thing rather than your train in a cocoon type of program like a lot of other programs- although it's conservatory based within the liberal arts, it's more hands-on. I personally just think that's best for me and would prefer to be in an environment where I could start making connections and opening doors for myself for when I graduate. Personal attention was also a really important factor for me. At my audition they told us that they only accept 20 MT's to yield 16 because the head of the program, Amy Rogers, wants to give all of the MT's individualized attention.</p>

<p>I had also really loved Syracuse but was wait listed. Now looking back on it, I think it happened for a reason because I think it would've been a really difficult decision to make. But now I've come to realize that Pace is the best place for me and I decided that if I get off the wait list at Syracuse I'm still going to Pace.</p>

<p>I'll paste my response about Westminster Choir College from another thread.</p>

<p>Here are my reasons for choosing WCC:</p>

<p>I was completely not expecting to like WCC at ALL, but my mom was making me audition there for whatever reason. But somehow, when I started my audition, the only thing running through my head was "I have to get into this school. I'm going to go here." So that was odd, but I guess it's what people say when they get "that feeling" at a college.</p>

<p>I liked the people I met in the audition, they were all VERY nice, and I seemed to click with them. I was under the impression that it was just a choir school with a new MT program, and it was all choir people teaching MTs. However, my accompanist played with Wicked, and the man in the audition told me that they brought in people from the business to give us contacts. The woman also said that the teachers there were all either currently working faculty or have had a career in the arts and now decided to teach. It was important to me to go to a school that would prepare me for a career in performing, not only to provide a fun college experience.</p>

<p>My mom also found out from a junior girl MT (all of the students were very nice, and seemed dedicated to singing) that a bunch of students went to a summer program with other big name schools, and they were picked out from the bunch because of their above average music theory skills. The professionals said that they would be successful (she said "more than CCM students" but I don't know how reliable that is) because they could read music easily at an audition, and catch on quickly. Because of this recognition, their senior showcase will be at the same place as CCM's and Otterbein's. </p>

<p>About their senior showcase, this year, their very first class of MT's is graduating, so no one really knows how the students will fare, but after hearing of the positive response some students have been getting from the professional world, it makes me feel positive about it. Along with the fact that the MT program is so new, I liked the fact that I would receive a lot of attention, because every student that goes out into the business after graduating is representing their school and since it doesn't have a reputation, they will want to make me the best I can be so I can represent them well. There are only 40 students in the WHOLE major, so I am positive that I would be getting a lot of personal attention.</p>

<p>Other things I liked about the program were:
-The amazing voice training. I feel that after the program I will have a really solid voice, and still be able to develop my classical soprano voice at the same time.
-The students seemed very dedicated to their majors, and it seemed like a real music school.
-A girl that I talked to said that not only was the voice and theory work difficult, but the acting training was "intense."
-It's a 45 minute distance from NYC. And a 3.5 hour distance from my house.
-WCC is a conservatory within Princeton, a nice college town.</p>

<p>The one drawback for me is their dance program. They really focus most on singing, then acting, and barely anything on dance. I've been dancing for 14 years, so I'll have to either take more classes at Princeton Ballet, or someone said that I could choose a dance minor if I could fit it into my schedule. But at least there are facilities around so I don't have to worry about a lack of opportunities.</p>

<p>I was also accepted to Point Park's MT program, which had a lot of positive traits, but I think that WCC has MUCH better voice training, and a lot more specialized attention. But it all depends on what you want and need out of a program.</p>