<p>Linde, I think this is a great consideration! After all, the student plans to spend 4 years of their life living in the conservatory situation - quite reasonable to want to know what that might “feel” like!</p>
<p>Based on conversations with a number of students at stand-alones (Juilliard, NEC, CIM, Peabody, etc) over a number of years, I think StephMin has a good read on the situations most students find. Most kids do find their niche and enjoy a social life appropriate to their own desires. Remember also that conservatory kids will have practice considerations that a liberal arts student doesn’t have. Adding practice hours (and hours) to study time needed for academic course work leaves less time available for partying.</p>
<p>If your son is specifically interested in a stand-alone conservatory, but also in Greek life, he might be interested to know that because of the relationship between the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) and Case Western Reserve, CIM students are eligible to join Case fraternities, clubs and sports teams. I don’t know the extent of Greek involvement by CIM students (I suspect it’s limited - CIM sponsors its own social events for CIM students), but it is an option.</p>
<p>Regarding your question about what to ask students when visiting - I’d suggest that the parents leave the area and your S should bluntly ask what about the social/party scene - student to student!</p>