| Thanks for all the feedback. How fantastic to benefit from the experience of other parents and students.
It has been my plan all along to have S visit, apply to and audition at a variety of schools, both state and private, within the mid-Altantic states, that have comparable music programs, namely vocal. But that's the hitch, how do I compare? For instance, we visited Mansfield University which is a small univ. in PA, just south of NY border, that is know for its "excellent music program." But what exactly does that mean? How does a school get a reputation for having an excellent program? Based on what? Should I compare the size of the program? For instance SUNY Fredonia offers, I believe, 7 music degrees compared to Mansfied which offers 4. I happen to like the idea of a double major. For instance WCC admissions said you get can a double major in vocal performance and music ed. My practical side deems that to be an attractive feature. Should I compare vocal professors bio's? How important is that? Maybe fit is most important here.
Based on what has been said about WCC, my choice for S, before even visiting and despite the campus drawbacks, would be WCC. It seems like the perfect place for a vocalist. Do they have a good music ed program?
I agree with AllMusic, that a double-digit scholarship makes only a dent in a school that costs 40K and upwards. So, naturally, cost will factor into the decision. Some have implied that being a tenor gives him a leg up where scholarships are concerned. Any thoughts on this? Does it depend on the needs of the school that given year? |