OT: Ithaca College

[SU91]

Sorry, posted this on the OT board but no one seems to visit the OT board? Thoughts are appreciated.

My son is looking at schools. Is very interested in Ithaca College, specifically the music school (wants to go for violin performance).

Does anyone know anything about the school? Experience there? Reputation? Good school or bad school? Compared to other schools?

Kid is a good student. 3.9 GPA. 1510 SAT. Already admitted to Ithaca. Wants to go mainly because of music school. I remember Ithaca being an okay, but not great school. Does it still have that reputation?

Thanks.

 

[JoeCollege]

Higher ed consultant and faculty member here, in upstate NY. Feel free to contact via PM.

 

[BomberOrange]

Sorry, posted this on the OT board but no one seems to visit the OT board? Thoughts are appreciated.

My son is looking at schools. Is very interested in Ithaca College, specifically the music school (wants to go for violin performance).

Does anyone know anything about the school? Experience there? Reputation? Good school or bad school? Compared to other schools?

Kid is a good student. 3.9 GPA. 1510 SAT. Already admitted to Ithaca. Wants to go mainly because of music school. I remember Ithaca being an okay, but not great school. Does it still have that reputation?

Thanks.

I went there...graduated 30 years ago this May (which blows my mind!). I had a great time but things have changed a lot I am sure. I have heard that it's harder to get into these days?? But honestly, like SU, it's a lot of money for a degree you could get at any state school for the most part. I do know the music school always had a great reputation.

So to answer your question it is an okay, not great school depending on major. Communications, music, and I believe PT are pretty good there. Anything else you can get a lot cheaper at a SUNY school.

In my day we were a great sports school. IC won natty's in Football, wrestling, women's soccer, baseball in my four years there. Socially it was a lot of fun. No regrets from me.

 

[tptcuse]

Sorry, posted this on the OT board but no one seems to visit the OT board? Thoughts are appreciated.

My son is looking at schools. Is very interested in Ithaca College, specifically the music school (wants to go for violin performance).

Does anyone know anything about the school? Experience there? Reputation? Good school or bad school? Compared to other schools?

Kid is a good student. 3.9 GPA. 1510 SAT. Already admitted to Ithaca. Wants to go mainly because of music school. I remember Ithaca being an okay, but not great school. Does it still have that reputation?

Thanks.

It is an excellent music school and is on a roll lately with the people they are putting out into the field. If he is open to a double major in music education, I highly recommend that path, particularly as a violinist.

 

[Ottoman]

Hi SU91 - I just sent you a message with some information. I hope it helps.

 

[Hopkins16]

My daughter just recently graduated from the communications school which is always in the top 20 of all legit ranking outlets. The music program and physical therapy are highly regarded and respected nationwide. It's expensive but worth it for the 3 things I just mentioned. It is a really great college town (Cornell not too far away) with so much to do - great bars and restaurants, outdoor activities, music, arts etc.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

I’m an Ithaca Grad from the class of 1990, so my views may be a bit outdated. My wife and I both graduated from the Park School (TV-R), but I spent a lot of time in Ford Hall aka the music building. It was always a top notch music school while I was there. Physical Therapy, TV-R and Musical Theater are also great programs there. As I’m sure you know, it started out as a music conservatory. I know of 3 violin players off the top of my head who are educators in the Syracuse area. I believe two of them were 4 1/2 years as they did music performance and education. tptcuse knows what he’s talking about since he is in the music field. He also has an IC string alum working in his employ.

I loved my time in Ithaca. I am still close with many of the friends I met on South Hill. I lived in the quads and the terraces before moving off campus. It was a great experience. Now that I’m starting up college visits with my 16 year old, I wouldn’t mind if he wanted to check out my alma mater.

 

[Scooch]

Ithaca has a tremendous reputation for music (and drama, and the arts in general). I have a very close family friend who’s daughter is currently there, and she lovvvves it.

Getting into their music school is not easy. Good luck to your son. It’s a great accomplishment if he lands there.

 

[Millhouse]

I don't know how it is for violin but my high school bandmate went there, learned a lot, and met a bunch of excellent musicians that I got to know later. This was decades ago so who knows now but I respected the musicians I knew who went there. Tough major no matter where you go though unless teaching is part of the plan

 

[SUFaninNJ]

Sorry, posted this on the OT board but no one seems to visit the OT board? Thoughts are appreciated.

My son is looking at schools. Is very interested in Ithaca College, specifically the music school (wants to go for violin performance).

Does anyone know anything about the school? Experience there? Reputation? Good school or bad school? Compared to other schools?

Kid is a good student. 3.9 GPA. 1510 SAT. Already admitted to Ithaca. Wants to go mainly because of music school. I remember Ithaca being an okay, but not great school. Does it still have that reputation?

Thanks.

If your son doesn’t want to major in music but still wants to play violin, that shouldn’t be a problem. I took voices lessons and performed in an ensemble. My roommate was a PT major and was the top trombone player in their orchestra. A good friend of mine works in the Music library. If you have any questions, feel free to DM me.

 

[IC_Orange]

For you former Bombers
Ithaca vs Central 88 NCAA Championship

 

[SUFaninNJ]

For you former Bombers
Ithaca vs Central 88 NCAA Championship

That was my era. Two 1,000 yard rushers. Mike Scott returning KOs for TDs. Burt winding up the air raid siren in the stands. I was supposed to go to the championship game in Phenix City, Alabama, but had already committed to the Gamma Delta Pi formal. Looking back, I should’ve gone to the game! #ItsAGreatDayToBeABomber

 

[BomberOrange]

For you former Bombers
Ithaca vs Central 88 NCAA Championship

That was the year before I got there. We won in '91 vs Dayton my junior year.

 

[elimunelson]

Forgive me but Ithaca is Gorges correct?

 

[SUFaninNJ]

That was the year before I got there. We won in '91 vs Dayton my junior year.

Todd Wilkowski leading the way. Pete Moore, who was the AD at IC at the time, had a picture of Todd from the Stagg Bowl on his office wall. I wonder if he still does?

 

[BomberOrange]

Todd Wilkowski leading the way. Pete Moore, who was the AD at IC at the time, had a picture of Todd from the Stagg Bowl on his office wall. I wonder if he still does?

I remember Pete at IC. Great guy.

Remember the workhorse Wittman? I seem to remember he had some DI offers but got injured in HS. He was a beast!!

 

[atlanticuse]

Sorry, posted this on the OT board but no one seems to visit the OT board? Thoughts are appreciated.

My son is looking at schools. Is very interested in Ithaca College, specifically the music school (wants to go for violin performance).

Does anyone know anything about the school? Experience there? Reputation? Good school or bad school? Compared to other schools?

Kid is a good student. 3.9 GPA. 1510 SAT. Already admitted to Ithaca. Wants to go mainly because of music school. I remember Ithaca being an okay, but not great school. Does it still have that reputation?

Thanks.

We continue to hear better things about Berklee - including friends and kids who have gone on to become professional rock, jazz, and concert musicians - and the woefully overpriced NYU Tisch - which, for $500k, I could invest some in mutual funds and still sponsor a band and all their gear for the same price.

 

[JonB]

Sorry, posted this on the OT board but no one seems to visit the OT board? Thoughts are appreciated.

My son is looking at schools. Is very interested in Ithaca College, specifically the music school (wants to go for violin performance).

Does anyone know anything about the school? Experience there? Reputation? Good school or bad school? Compared to other schools?

Kid is a good student. 3.9 GPA. 1510 SAT. Already admitted to Ithaca. Wants to go mainly because of music school. I remember Ithaca being an okay, but not great school. Does it still have that reputation?

Thanks.

Heard SUNY Fredonia has a good music program, and cheaper. I can’t ever recommend Ithaca College, since I am a Cortland grad! That being said, Ithaca is great. (The city)

 

[Cheriehoop]

Heard SUNY Fredonia has a good music program, and cheaper. I can’t ever recommend Ithaca College, since I am a Cortland grad! That being said, Ithaca is great. (The city)

I know a couple of very talented musicians who did very well at Fredonia - all ended up teaching music while still performing. Potsdam State (Crane school of Music) also used to have a very good music school back in the day.

Eastman School of Music at U of Rochester is supposed to be one of the top Music schools too. Expensive and very selective school though.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

Heard SUNY Fredonia has a good music program, and cheaper. I can’t ever recommend Ithaca College, since I am a Cortland grad! That being said, Ithaca is great. (The city)

Fredonia has a good music program. I thought about giving you the red stiletto for disparaging my alma mater and being a Cortland grad, but I decided to take the high road!

 

[SU91]

Thank you to everyone who has responded thus far! Keep the info coming. Appreciated!

 

[Cuse181]

I went there...graduated 30 years ago this May (which blows my mind!). I had a great time but things have changed a lot I am sure. I have heard that it's harder to get into these days?? But honestly, like SU, it's a lot of money for a degree you could get at any state school for the most part. I do know the music school always had a great reputation.

So to answer your question it is an okay, not great school depending on major. Communications, music, and I believe PT are pretty good there. Anything else you can get a lot cheaper at a SUNY school.

In my day we were a great sports school. IC won natty's in Football, wrestling, women's soccer, baseball in my four years there. Socially it was a lot of fun. No regrets from me.

If music is their passion, Potsdam has a pretty good school, its of course in potsdam, but its much cheaper

 

[tptcuse]

I know a couple of very talented musicians who did very well at Fredonia - all ended up teaching music while still performing. Potsdam State (Crane school of Music) also used to have a very good music school back in the day.

Eastman School of Music at U of Rochester is supposed to be one of the top Music schools too. Expensive and very selective school though.

Yes to all of this. Ithaca, Potsdam (Crane School of Music), and Fredonia are the schools to go to for Music Ed in New York State (excluding NYC). Eastman is one of the best conservatories in the world. As a violinist taking purely performance track, Eastman would be the best. In New York State, Ithaca is probably second, with Fredonia and Potsdam close behind. All of these schools are good for kids who want to perform and get a music education degree. They are all selective, with Eastman being exponentially more selective than the other three.

 

[dan7800]

When applying to schools in NY, keep in mind that all financial aide packages are now basically negotiable. Don't like what they offer, go back and ask for more. You can and should even ask for more after you accept. Two weeks before classes start in the fall, ask for more money.

The college admissions scandal changed everything for schools in NY. I am not sure about other states.

 

[JoeCollege]

Potsdam and Fredonia are great bargains and great educations. Eastman/U of R is top of the heap in terms of prestige. Ithaca's music program is very highly regarded, but so expensive compared to Crane (Potsdam) and Fredoina. Students tend to perform better academically when they feel most comfortable in the environment they're learning in. Best of luck wherever your child enrolls!