10 Days and Counting - Still Undecided

SimpleLife
Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:21:34 +0000

Very long post coming at you …
I hope some of you can chime in with opinions about my son’s remaining 4 schools. He has already declined the 3 schools that I can not afford, even though two of them are in the “dream school” category for him. Cost of Attendance (COA) has been the stated priority since day one.

Here are his 4 remaining schools, in alphabetical order. All 4 have basically the same COA after scholarships and grants. Three have offered full-tuition. The 4th offered a little less than full-tuition, but their cheaper room and board offset the difference, almost equalizing COA. Three of the 4 have said that money is not an issue – if it becomes an issue for us, they said, they will grant more money. He likes all of his prospective voice teachers a lot.

Lawrence University:
-loves the academic environment and presence of a conservatory
-would probably study with Ken Bozeman, but he can choose someone else
-offers a classics degree, his favorite subject outside of music (will be double degree)
-the best double degree program (a 5-year plan)
-small classes with individualized instruction
-feels a good fit with other students and campus
-school’s/conservatory’s reputation an unknown to him (but he’s not sure he cares)
-weather is a plus and a minus (he loves the cold, but may/will tire of it)
-food is currently a BIG minus, but we’re told there’s a good new vendor next year
-dorms are a minus (they’re the only ones of the bunch that don’t offer a private sleeping space that can be closed off for freshmen, and maybe other years)
-distance is a HUGE minus – travel between here and there is a difficult, all-day affair; neither he nor I like this
-he and I don’t think the cultural opportunities and interaction with Appleton will compare to city-wide opportunities at the other 3 schools

Southern Methodist University:
-probably loves this voice teacher the most of the 4, but doesn’t know the others as well
-would definitely study with Virginia Dupuy; can’t say enough good about her
-no classics degree, but would probably enjoy the medieval history program
-feels the reputation, good name, smart people, great track record are a huge plus
-lots of small classes, but only school with larger, seminar-style that he doesn’t like
-loves the gorgeous campus and feels a great fit with the School of the Arts students
-great relationship/connections with city of Dallas and the arts
-selected as 1 of 10 elite arts scholars with special opportunities
-$5000 creative grant included for study abroad, production of opera scene, anything else
-$400/month church job as part of package
-food a huge plus
-close enough to home (he can come home and we can attend his programs)
-biggest con, and we’re not even sure it’s true: he hears there are too many rich, entitled, frat boy type people – BUT neither of us have seen this for ourselves, though the area is very rich. The Meadows School of the Arts kids, at a minimum, are a great fit for my son
-only other con: close to home! (yes, it’s a small con for him, as well as a pro)

Texas Christian University:
-the friendliest, happiest campus of all, without a doubt
-would likely study with Sheila Allen or David Brock, but he can choose another
-no classics degree, but a classics minor within an exciting new degree called Modern Languages that features all of his favorite subjects (history, languages, cultures, etc)
-gorgeous campus with the nicest, newest facilities throughout – except at the music school (music school facilities are fine – great in some cases, average in others)
-small, individualized classes with lots of personal attention from professors
-great relationship with city of Fort Worth and the arts
-good food, great dorms
-selected as 1 of 5 elite university scholars with special opportunities
-close enough to home (he can come home and we can attend his programs)
-biggest con: we’ve visited studio classes - he fears he won’t be surrounded by enough “amazing” talent – he wants a lot of competition – a big con for him
-other con: close to home!

University of North Texas:
-maybe the best known music school of the 4?
-would likely study with Lynn Eustis or David Sundquist, but again, has his pick
-expansive facilities, tons of music opportunities
-the music school kids seem very happy (the non-music kids: not so much)
-good relationships with Dallas, Fort Worth, and Denton, though not as inter-connected, it doesn’t appear, as SMU to Dallas and TCU to Fort Worth
-beautiful dorm through Honors program (other dorms: not so much)
-selectivity, size, content of honors courses an unknown, but supposedly good (the non-honors classes and facilities – not a plus)
-voice faculty/admissions tell us they have THE best music program, opportunities, connections, facilities, talent, etc of any other music program in the area – they know my son’s other choices in the area (TCU and SMU) – we don’t know anything!
-average to above average food, in general, but lots of choices
-close enough to home (he can come home and we can attend his programs)
-biggest con: my son is just NOT excited about UNT, because it does not provide the level of academic stimulation he is looking for outside of the music program – it was his safety school for this reason, otherwise, he likes the music program a whole lot, and the faculty he’s met – but he can’t get past his lack of excitement for the college in general. For this reason, he has not yet declined UNT, but it also does not feel like one of his choices! He speaks of 3 choices most of the time. At this point, the only reason he’d pick this school of the 4 is if it absolutely is THE best voice program of the bunch – something we don’t know enough about. This is a big area where we need help.

We know the drill … it’s going to boil down to a personal choice, and all that. But can any of you offer any insight into his decision that he or I may not yet have considered?

Ten days and counting! Thank you for any pearls of wisdom you can give!