Westminster Choir College of Rider University

over 1 year ago Mimi Lanseur

In regards to financial aid, it should be known that Westminster Choir College has a very limited amount of need-based scholarship and almost no merit-based aid. Saying that financial aid is "readily accessible" at this institution is misleading. While there are opportunities for additional aid during the Spring Semester, they are in the form of performance competitions that result in less than $1500 being awarded to individual students and there are usually 3-4 of these scholarships available per year. I attended Westminster Choir College for my graduate studies and was mislead into believing that the facilities, administration, campus, parking availability, and cost would be much different. While this was a wonderful school and I am glad for many experiences I had there, I would definitely recommend an unofficial visit/tour if you are considering the institution. The campus is completely inaccessible if you are in a wheelchair and there are only 2 elevators total, one of which is a freight elevator for the cafeteria. Also, the cost per credit hour is much higher if you are a graduate or part-time student. Additionally, you must be registered for at least 15 credits or you will pay more per credit. There are also approximately 150 student parking spots that are meant for undergraduate, graduate, part-time, and conservatory parents. There are at least 250 students on campus with cars who commute and are from out of state. The ticket fine for parking in a different lot is $45-$75 and there is no street parking unless you want a $40 Borough of Princeton ticket. It's a great program. Don't come here if you don't want to sing in choir. It has one of the best graduate voice performance programs in the country and that's largely due to the fact that everyone must sing in choir. So if you don't like choir don't go to Westminster CHOIR College because you will complain about it all the time because it takes up your whole life. If you do like choir then it's practically perfect. As a graduate student with Symphonic Choir you get to sing at Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, Kimmel Center, etc numerous times and you meet some amazing musicians. As an undergraduate you'll be in a different choir every year, ending with Symphonic, going on tour, making recordings. It's a lot of fun. One last thing...Westminster is where you have to work the hardest you've ever worked in your life. Academically, socially, mentally, emotionally, musically...it is 110% all the time. So just...prepare yourself for that if you go. Try to find a house within walking distance...parking is a real problem. We were supposed to have a new parking lot built and opened in the Fall of 2009 but as of November 2010 the ground has not been broken.

about 2 years ago June Thompson `45
pbpines ((at)) sbcglobal dot net

I am writing to reply to the letter I rec`d from Jonathan Meer, I want to thank him for writing me about my parent`s scholarship, I am delighted it is doing well and students are bendfitting from it. Wish i could come to the luncheon but too far for me, can`t believe I will be 86 nest month. West, has meant so much to me, my four years there were wonderful. thank you so much for writing me and a very Merry christmas. Sincerely, June Thompson