 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jeff
Date: 2002-10-21 21:43
I'm a junior in high school going on my first set of college tours this November. I will be checking out Tufts University, Boston College, Colby College, and Bowdoin College. As of right now, I am undecided as to if I truly want to major in music, but I definitely hope to at least minor in it. I was wondering if anyone on the board has any comments or information on the teachers and programs these schools have to offer.
-Jeff
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-10-22 02:43
I don't know anything about these specific schools' teachers (though I considered Bowdoin) but I've been on a total of 20 college visits so I'll try to give you some other advice.
-Take notes! After a few campuses, they start to blur.
-Ask your guide why people transfer. It might tell you some of the school's weaknesses.
-Go to an orchestra rehearsal if you can.
-Go chat with the music department secretary (excuse me, administrative assistant). She/he probably knows a lot more about the school's music program than the admissions people and will be happy to talk to you.
-Try to get a list of the clubs on campus. They can tell you a lot about what kind of people go there.
-Make sure you get a course catalog
-Don't be overawed by pretty campuses if you don't like the school (this has happened to me). Don't dump the school just because the whole campus was built in the '70s and is entirely cubic.
Micaela's College Matching Service suggests Bates, Williams, Amherst and Brown as additions to your list. But that's just a guess. Have fun!
Micaela
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2002-10-22 03:41
Micaela wrote:
-Don't be overawed by pretty campuses if you don't like the school (this has happened to me).
Amen to that. This happened to me too. I spent two years at a place I hated cause I loved the "look" of it. Here's some more tips on college hunting . . .
I doubt you know exactly what you want to major in, but you should know whether it's more of a techincal field (involving math or sciences) or non-techincal (literature, history, that sorta stuff). Gear your colleges towards that, see which of those colleges have a decent music program.
And don't be put down by size. I'm at a small college right now that I like a lot. The college I went to before was small too. But I'm transferring into a much larger college next year. I don't care really about size, more about the quality of education.
Alexi
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2002-10-22 06:18
Apply for all of them anyway, whether you're thinking about it seriously or not. Last year, I only applied for one, the only one I wanted to go to. I didn't get in, so I had to apply for another at the last minute, which was very difficult. In the end, only an excellent audition gained me addmittance.
What I'm saying is you never know what could happen, and if you get into several, then you can still choose, right up until the day you have to accept your position at your selected colleges.
Good luck!
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Author: Sarah
Date: 2002-10-22 17:27
I am a college music major (near some of the schools were you are touring) I also work in the admissions office, giving tours. Just remember that the tour guide won't know every little thing about the school. Call ahead of time to make an appointment with the music faculty, they will (or should) be able to anser questions. Definatly take notes. I have also seen people taking pictures on tour to help them remember what every campus looks like. Those pictures might trigger more memories come application time. Take any material that they have available (brochures, viewbooks, catologues) See if there are campus newspapers, and look at bullitin boards to see what goes on other than academics. Don't be afraid to ask your tour guide questions, that is what they are there for. And one last thing, make sure to consider everything about the school when evaluating it. Don't JUST look at the music school (or department), look at the whole picture. Good luck!
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Author: Joseph Brenner, Jr.
Date: 2002-10-24 17:38
Dear Jeff: While I'm not competent to talk about the schools' music programs, I will point out the following: (1) I hope that these excellent schools are not the only ones you plan to check out or apply to...even if you're a genius you should check out some schools that aren't on Mount Olympus; (2) both Bowdoin and Colby are in Maine and Maine is dam! cold in winter! It's also not very urban, as is Boston where BC and Tufts are. Best wishes, jbjr
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Author: Sarah
Date: 2002-10-24 18:52
Yes, it's cold, but we do have heat. Even MY school can afford that.
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Author: jeff
Date: 2002-10-25 01:37
thanks....im well aware of maine's climate......its incredibly beautiful out there at least in the summer when ive been there, and, as to the winter, i love it, i live in chicago, how much worse can it be?
i'm only a junior so i've got plenty of time to check out other schools. i definitely do plan on going out east, though. thanks for all your input. - jeff
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-10-25 01:52
sfalexi- It was Princeton for me. Only after I left did I realize that they offered very few of the qualities I was looking for in a college; I was in a bit of an ivy daze during my visit.
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Author: soccerfan
Date: 2002-11-01 03:47
No offense, but Princeton University is one of the best in the country and the pretty campus is not meant to "daze" anyone. The campus is of the old collegiate gothic style and that's the style copied from the Oxbridge Universities from England at the turn of the 19th century. The campus is really awesome (check out Blair hall and many others) and displays the wealth and power the university has. I live about 10 minutes away from Princeton and I go there often so see musical performances at the McCarter theater and at the Alexander hall. Also, Princeton is not known for its music department as almost everyone knows so if you're going primary to major in music, it is not very recommended. Plus, gaining admission is extremely tough and only the best get in, so if you don't like it, nobody is going to cry.
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