<p>mamadubbs, I did visit occ with my dad, and I completely agree that it’s a wonderful community college. I know they have a great music department and the dorms look nice too, but I just don’t see myself going to a community college. Like I said I feel like I’d miss out on a lot of the college experience by attending two different schools. I also want to go to a new place for college. I’ve practically grown up in the Syracuse area and I know lots of kids from my high school who are going to occ and I just really want to be in a new area with new people and get a fresh start.</p>
<p>But I do agree its a great school, and I am going to apply there. It’s just not my top choice.</p>
<p>Make a little presentation packet for them that outlines why you want to go there. Make it very sincere and professional. List your achievements in life, thank them for all they have done, and explain why you should go there. Prior to them going to bed, slip it under their sheets but dont tell them about it. I have done this with my parents and it is very compelling.</p>
<p>Rv4life, thanks so much for this idea! I’ve actually been making a document on word about all the reasons I love the school and all of these student reviews I’ve found, but I haven’t printed it out and shown them yet. Nice to hear that someone’s done something similar and that it really helps.</p>
<p>Everyone has given great advice re: weighting the pros and cons. I Just wanted to add that there IS a bus service that picks up at several Virginia Colleges and drops them off at a subway stop in Vienna. The kids who need to continue on can ride the subway into DC and switch at Union Station to go elsewhere… [Home</a> Ride of Virginia](<a href=“http://www.homeride.com/]Home”>http://www.homeride.com/)</p>
<p>Well, back to the issue of accessibility…many have chimed in…the JMU REP even confirmed JMU is hard to get to!! I’d doubt the OP’s parents would be thrilled about taking a shuttle to Vienna and then subways, etc. They won’t even let her be in a city! I know someone at UVA (Charlottesville is closest city to JMU)-and it takes her a LONG time to get home on Amtrack-and $-and OP has further to go. The location of JMU is a real issue that won’t change. I know the highway goes through it, haha…but Delaware IS easier to get to and has many of the same things OP is looking for. Also, totally agree to try for SUNY Purchase. The teacher should def. be able to get you set up with orchestral pieces to work on and if you are dedicated, as you say, you can be ready. Another thing I’ll mention (because we looked into this last year at JMU) is that JMU offers a music business minor in their school of music. However, in terms of double MAJOR, you need to educate yourself (and I’m surprised if you don’t already know). A double major at JMU, if you are in the school of music, would be (for example)-performance and music business…leading to BM degree. You CAN’T double major in performance and PHYSICS there because one is a BM and the other is a BA or BS. JMU does not offer duel degree (which is usually 5 years). They have no BA in music-only BM. You could do music and physics if it was BA in both. BUt JMU only has BM, not BA in music.There is tons of info on music forum if you need to know more. But realize that it’s not really an option at JMU to do music and something else-unless it’s music business or music ed- because it’s a BM program there. Delaware offers BM and BA options for music. Also has music business.</p>
<p>lissy - just a thought. How about each of your parents and you pick 2 schools for you to apply to. You apply to all 6 - and do a good job on all of them (no cheating!). Then end of discussion until April rolls around and you know where you got accepted and how much everything costs. Then as a family decide where you are going. If the whole argument is that they want to be spending time with you, the last thing they need is you blaming them that you didn’t get to apply to your dream school, doesn’t sound like pleasant family time to me.</p>
<p>Just apply. See if you get in and what they offer in financial aid. Then you can use that to discuss with your parents further. But there is always more than one path to success, JMU, OCC, no college - it can all work out as long as you devote your energy to your goals.</p>
<p>A little off topic… but just to clarify it is possible to pursue a dual degree at JMU. It is not a formalized dual degree program for music students like some conservatory programs have), rather university policy for all students pursuing two degrees at the same time… ie. BM and BA, or BS and BA, or BM and BBA, etc… because students would have to meet the core requirements for each degree, and earn at least 150 credits it would likely take 5+ years to complete with the BM and another credit intensive major. I do not think many students try to dual degree with music unless they enter JMU with many general education courses completed through AP, IB, or dual enrollment.</p>
<p>I think you have the right to apply to your dream school, but I also think that there is more than one fit for you, and you should really start to look at some other schools if your parents are so set on not letting you apply.</p>
<p>I just graduated high school last year and had a situation similar to yours. I live in Indiana and my dream college was in Hawaii (for forensics, a lot of hands-on working out there). Anyways, my parents weren’t as reluctant as yours, but still had their concerns. Their main concern was the distance as well and that with it being such a long ways off, I wouldn’t know anyone along with only coming home for summer break and, if I was lucky, winter as well. I told them that it would be difficult at first, but in order to get a good education in that new and upcoming field, i had to go east/west coast. All of the east coast schools were expensive, so I chose west coast. That school was my absolute dream! Nothing was going to stop me from going there. Nothing. I had applied and been accepted, and due to an inability to get a loan on time, was not able to go this year. With that news, I was devastated, but figured things would work out for the best. Anyways, I talked to the admissions office more and more to try again for this upcoming school year. And, well, the more I talked to them, the less interested I became. Now, it is no longer my dream college and I have other plans. For you, I would talk very closely with admissions, and have your parents do the same. They provide so much insight! Maybe the college is your true dream, maybe it isn’t. But before you get too set in your mind, talk extensively with admissions, maybe try to take a college visit. Find out everything possible. If it is your dream school and you were meant to go there, you will. Let your parents see just how much better your dream college is than others. Let them see all of the benefits and pros/cons. See if the pros out weigh the cons, if there is any one determining factor. Your parents may just be so uptight about the situation because college is a HUGE step in life. It will affect the rest of your life and they want to make sure that you are making the right decision, so inform them. Show them how your college sizes up to the ones they want you to go to. After all, they want what is best. Having a kid go to college is difficult. It is gonna take a lot of work on your part. If you really wanna go there, let them know it. Don’t just say that they won’t let you go even if the college is better. Hear their side. Right now they might be thinking that you just want to go there to get away from them, and as you know, that isn’t the case. Just keep looking into everything and hopefully it all turns out for the best! :)</p>
<p>Well, I’m just curious, are you of Asian descent?
My family feels the same about me going to a university all the way in Maryland.
Try to approach them professionally, and not showing anger and frustration. In the end, if they are paying, you will be dragged wherever they want you to go. If you’re paying, I don’t see why you can’t apply.</p>
<p>Well my moms Korean, my dads Caucasian, but so far things have gotten a little better. My dad has finally agreed to at least let me apply! Now I’m hoping I can convince them to actually let me go there over the winter.</p>
good luck!</p>
Hope things work out for you!</p>