NIKEstrad, I think that you should go to Yale which is the best school on your list. You should be able to get loans and with a Yale education, you should not have a problem paying it back. My wife is a graduate of Yale and she was also accepted to dual major program (music/science) at Emory. She was able to join the symphonic band at Yale and was happy with her decision. Coincidentally, I am an alumnus of Northwestern. I majored in electrical engineering and I was also in the marching and symphonic bands. Northwestern is also a great school and they do also have a good music department. I think that NU should be your second choice. I currently live in Boston and have a couple of friends that went to NEC. One graduated and the other eventually quit. Both are working in software now. Good luck!
Similar to what Isabel said. To add a little, I have found that faculty cares much more about their grad students/classes than undergrad (because that is most for wha they are known). Again, it is my personal opinion and my suggestion very well could be wrong for some people. Of course, I wouldn't go there for grad work, either. They are pretty solid in my area but they have a horrible student-faculty culture...so that is departmentally specific and not much use to anyone.
As a business professional with a strong business undergrad degree, I disagree. Especially in a tighter job market. Can you pick up the skills as a liberal arts major in your first year out anyway...for the most part, yes, though there are certainly a numberof accounting, finance, etc. nuances that you will still be behind on. But, if you are interested in going into business long-term, these courses are enormously important, especially in getting a leg-up in that job interview over the liberal arts major who had no idea what half the questions were about.
Ditto for me. Not only does NIKEstrad come off as extremely smart, but wise and balance too (and staying away from catty frays). The latter is equally as impressive given the former. I hate to be the fuddy duddy, but I lean toward the pragmatic UT option (with a caveat I'll get to latter). 1st, through a lot of the honors programs you will be exposure to world reknowned (and connected/clout) faculty pretty much comparable to any place except Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Wharton/UPenn, Stanford, or Kellogg/Northwestern. In short, the pull from a UT business degree with honors is going to be in the ballpark of anywhere else not mentioned off the top of my head. Yeah others like Wash St L or Claremont or U Mich some would say might have more pull--but it isn’t the degree of difference in clout where one would ignore a flaw in one applicant relative to a strength in another (applicants would be treated the same). Yeah maybe Harvard/Stanford/Wharton/Kellogg/Yale (true elite, top 5) might give you an extra bonus start to the real world (though this fades and what you do not where you did your college quickly makes most all the difference), but comparing what might be consider say a top 8 school/program (oustanding but not elite) from a top 15 or maybe even top 25 (excellent to very good) is less significant, even rather immediate to graduation. Also, the individuals falling in the cracks as undergrads at the big state schools in which the more attentive private schools might have made a major difference typically are not the one's with your brains, focus and balance (assuming you are at least moderately outgoing or social--if you are extremely shy I think that is another good reason for a smaller school). I have a feeling you would excel anywhere, so it is more about what each place offers than how each places might be weaker for persons with different talents, ambitions, needs or social skills. The diversity and opportunities at a place like UT just can't be matched by the other two-- but you have to be confident, motivated and like to take the initiative (much like what is needed for most real world post school successes). For music, as another said, Austin is a great place to be if you want it as a business, hobby or just to keep getting better, especially if this is done outside the formal confines of schooling. But now my caveat. Do you see concert music playing as your career, is it a passion far beyond what paths you might take as supported by a more typical business school background? If you have a strong feeling not only you will keep excelling at the trumpet, but develop a concert career from it, that changes the whole ball game--I'd say base your decision mostly on the best music department and your fit there. But most 1st chair musicians I knew in high school are lawyers, doctors, faculty (other fields) or pastors (yes, a pastor), etc. They might keep the skill for their own enjoyment and for parties, but it basically it becomes a hobby. my 2 cents
New Orleans is an urban city not a "ghetto." Some parts of New Orleans can be dangerous just like some parts of Houston can be dangerous.
Desert Scar- I appreciate the reply greatly. It really hits right on the conclusions I'm beginning to draw. Shyness has never been a problem for me; most people consider me a "leader" and I've always found a niche. After some pretty deep thought, my future isn't as an orchestral trumpet player, more or less depreciating the value of a conservatory music degree to me, and in the process also eliminating Tufts. I'm awaiting final word from Wash U money wise, and if the money there falls through, it'll make it an easy choice. I'm going up to UT for a BHP thing this weekend- potentially further pushing my decision in one direction or the other. It also wasn't lost on me last night: Clemens (UT) defeating St. Louis (WUStl).
NIKE, are you going to the conference in Houston or Austin? They are pretty much the same, althoug hthe Austin one is the biggest and provides the whole atmosphere thing. I'm asking because I'm volunteering to be at one of those and answer questions. I'm not sure yet if I will be at Houston or austin, but if we are at the same place I will be sure to seek you out.
