<p>As all too often the case with this forum, I would like to see posters stop ‘giving plugs’ to programs which they have some sort of affinity (or even connection) towards, while denouncing programs that may be possible rivals. I suspect some of the posters here have affiliations with specific programs and only post here to boost that programs’ reputation, instead of actually legitimately helping answer queries.</p>
<p>Mannes, USC, and UCLA are all good composition departments. Mannes is a conservatory; the Californian schools are large universities; anybody with half a brain will be able to figure out the differences between the experiences at these schools. Berklee is a ‘contemporary’ music institution.</p>
<p>Composition at Mannes is quite an academic feel. The department there is very concerned with composing ‘concert’ music, and is very in-touch with the current American academia scene. The faculty there is, depending on your perspective, either very ‘intellectual’ or very ‘snobby’. This may not be what the poster was looking for. Whatever the case, they certainly ARE composers worthy of writing home about. I enjoy gms5207’s “honesty”, but unfortunately honesty is not a substitute for actual knowledge on what one is talking about.UCLA is much more liberal, happy-go-lucky department, with significant connections amongst the Hollywood film scoring scene. Berklee also offers film scoring.</p>
<p>PS - personally, I myself am a composer, and would choose to study on the east coast at Mannes over the Californian institutions any day. That is just my own preference. I am not a film composer.</p>