@pikachu’s mom So far we have visited and had lessons at three regional LACs with good music programs; two regional state universities (one with a good program, the other a stand-out program) and had lessons there; two conservatories connected to schools (one a college, one a university) – and by this summer D will have attended programs at both; and four stand-alone conservatories (sample lesson at one). D has also taken lessons with a professor at our state’s flagship university for more than 2 years, and will be at a summer program this year connected to yet another Uni. She still has at least two more schools we’d like to visit, maybe 3 – but those visits, if they happen, will have to wait till fall. We are in the last month of the school year here, with school exams, AP exams, final performances, and lots of other stuff happening – no time to take a long weekend unfortunately!
Word of advice: Professors usually aren’t around for sample lessons in the summer, so at many schools, there are only 2-3 more weeks of possible time to travel there before profs start leaving for summer festivals. Also, if meeting other students is important, summer is a bad time for that. We went to one conversatory last summer that was like a ghost town and it didn’t make a very warm and fuzzy impression on us, partly as a result. Google “academic calendar” to be sure!
Last fall, we planned to go to our regional, drive-able schools, and I made a master calendar with all of their open houses and tours on it plus all of D’s teacher workdays and other days off. Many colleges are open for business on days like Columbus Day and Veteran’s Day when secondary schools might be closed, so those make great weekends to travel. We have found tours to be useful and informative but open houses or “events,” not so much. Whenever we meet with a professor, we also ask in advance when scheduling the lesson if that prof might be able to connect us with a student to shadow in a class or go to lunch with. (I usually fade into the background for that one on one time, but sometimes if it’s coffee or something short, I’ll tag along). By far the student meet-ups have been the best way to hear about the school, in addition to the sample lessons.