soccer92boy

I know Lawrence is in the list of "Colleges that change lives". Can any one liberate more about why and how you feel Lawrence?

soccer92boy

Sorry my spelling word "liberate". should be "elaborate ".

There are 20 views and no reply.

Lawrence is a good school but not on the radar of top list of LAC. My DS has been contacted by the coach. He is interested in neuroscience major and play/minor in music but not double majors in five years degree program. Like Lawrence current/prospect students to help to see if is a good fit for him?

soccer92boy

Any one? 32 views but no reply.

If you are here you must have a reason to be here or feel about this school.

At the mean time I am getting a book from the library. "Colleges that change lives"

OperaDad

Musicians can get a BM from the Conservatory, or a BA from the College. The BM in Music with a BA in neuroscience (?) is the 5 year double degree program.

BA's can also double major in Music and neuroscience. That is a 4 year program (assuming there is enough overlap).

Whether Lawrence is a "good fit" depends on what your Son is looking for. If your son wants a big university near a large city, then it won't be good fit.

In general, Lawrence has strong academics and strong music training. It is run more like an integrated school than two different colleges.

Why Lawrence?
Lawrence cited in The Princeton Review
Lawrence University Cited One of the Nation's Best Colleges by The Princeton Review (Lawrence University News)

soccer92boy

OpearDad, Thanks for your info.

He doesn't care a big name school but does care about students life and academics. Is anyone can elaborate more on academics side? He is applying some schools range from state school, safe, to Ivies, reach.

What is different BA double major and MA if both majors are neruoscience and music beside 4 or 5 years different?

idic5

Re academics, From what I have seen with my soph daughter so far at LU: The academics at LU are rigorous and there is no grade inflation. You cannot 'mail it it in', or loaf then cram. There is much writing - even in the sciences. I have also witnessed more presentations (several ) than I ever had to do in my big state school career (none). You definitely cannot 'mail it in' when doing a presentation.

I don't think I heard of her taking a scantron type multiple choice test either so far. I can check with her on that.

Further, I was astounded that in her entry level 100 level bio course, she was doing real research and not just a canned dry lab as an exercise. I noticed that there was a strong emphasis on thoroughness in the science courses. In short, going through this regimen will stretch you and significantly enrich you intellectually.

After seeing my daughter's experience so far, I can better understand a metric that I saw during the college search - LU was in the top 30 colleges in the nation in delivering PHd recipients (rate per some number to normalize with bigger colleges). THe ethos I have seen here so far is consistant with a track like that. They seem to prepare the student for that kind of advanced study.

So as far as academic fit goes, one must like to study.

OperaDad

Lawrence is Undergrad only, so there is no MA (Masters). The Conservatory offers a Bachelors of Music (BM), and the College offers a Bachelors of Arts (BA).

There are some core classes that all LU students take, such as freshman studies.

There are some core classes that all Music students take, such as Music Theory.

The BA degree has additional breadth Liberal Arts classes that BM students don't have to take.

The BM is more directed towards performance. It has more music requirements to prepare the student for further study, performance, etc.

The BA adds music classes on top of the general liberal arts curriculum. If your son just wants to be able to play well, the BA is fine.

Even if your son wants to go to grad school in music, the BA will be "good enough". For grad school, it is all about the audition. But, he may have to work harder. For instance, in Vocal Performance, there is more language requirements for a BM than a BA. If he goes on to grad school with a BA, he will have to learn the languages as a Masters Student.

soccer92boy

OperaDad, Thanks for reply.

It was typo "MA" for BM. He likes to get into Med school after college.

For me this is a good school. Reasons:

1. Can play music or major in very good music program
2. Coach contacted him and have a good chance to play varsity sport while in college
3. Good neuroscience for Med school
4. Name on the list "Colleges that change lives"
5. Good chance having a scholarship, big part reason as a parent

For him.

1. Ranking is not so competitive same as St. Olaf college but both have a very good record of PHD producer.

Any comment?

overseas

Lawrence prepares students for graduate work. As written above, the students work hard for their degree. They have a very close association with their faculty. I highly recommend this school. It's small (that's what makes it so good actually) and then you can always move on to a hugh graduate school. As a student you can then get the best of both worlds.

OperaDad

After 2 kids in college, I'm pretty jaded on this topic. Don't look at the $ amount of the scholarships, but the $ Cost to Attend after scholarships. Some schools cost $50,000/yr and give out $25,000 scholarships like candy. Other schools cost $40,000/yr, and give out $15,000 scholarships. All else being equal, which school would you go to? Answer: It doesn't matter, they cost the same.

If your son is decent academically, he should qualify for $9,000 to $12,000 of scholarships per year. Think of that as the standard discount for a generally qualified student.

soccer92boy

OperaDad, Agree.

How about item my son has a question? Ranking?

idic5

soccer, what ranking(s) are you referring to? There are several out there , each with their own criteria.

OperaDad

One problem with LU's rankings is that they are Undergrad Only. A lot of top ranked schools have the name recognition because of their graduate programs.

Musically, they are as good as the top conservatories for undergrad, but they don't have the size, name recognition, and graduate program.

Academically, what they do, they do well. Being at a small school helps in having good contact with the teachers to learn the subject well. However, they don't have the breadth of offerings you will find at a 40,000 student university. If you want to learn general chemistry or biology, you will learn it well. If you want to learn about turn of the century kitchen utensils, you might want to go somewhere else.

As a small school, you don't have the issue of 900 seat lectures with 30 discussion sections taught by TA's.

Athletics - Well ..., they are not a Big 10 school.