Musicprnt, laurenstardust wants to avoid " dated 70’s avant-garde" (which you seem to be describing) and in fact, I don’t think that is what is now represented at most music schools or conservatories. “New music” has advanced and diversified over the years. And some U.S. conservatory composition departments are more conservative than you might expect. Also, I think the teacher was comparing the US to, say, Germany, and the comments are on target in many ways.
It is very difficult to access undergrad student works unless you can attend concerts. Grad departments sometimes list students and those students can then be googled, but that search does not always inform an undergrad applicant.
Faculty aesthetic, as determined by listening, is not always an indicator of teaching style. The best teacher will encourage a student’s own “voice,” But yes, certainly it helps to listen to faculty works, read bios etc.