We hope you enjoyed Part One of our College Building anthology. Let’s take a look at Part Two!
About the Author: After touring 60 of the best colleges in Ohio, Dr. Jay, a prior faculty member and dean, founded College Bound Advantage (CBA); a Columbus Ohio college consulting firm. CBA specializes in helping families optimize college selection around 15 “fit factors.” College Bound Advantage serves all of Ohio including Cleveland, Akron, and Cincinnati metro areas.
At College Bound Advantage, it’s time to celebrate the start of spring, and along with it, hiking season! After completing nearly 60 visits to Ohio’s college campuses, we selected some of the most beautiful photographs to share in a photo anthology and partnered it to the song, Silver Lakes by Wes Hutchinson. Enjoy the richness that is higher education in our state of Ohio! Hats off to Carlos Velez for his work! Click Here:
About the Author: After touring 60 of the best colleges in Ohio, Dr. Jay, a prior faculty member and dean, founded College Bound Advantage (CBA); a Columbus Ohio college consulting firm. CBA specializes in helping families optimize college selection around 15 “fit factors.” College Bound Advantage serves all of Ohio including Cleveland, Akron, and Cincinnati metro areas.
Baldwin Wallace University is one of our favorites among Ohio’s private Universities and it doesn’t hurt that they are the home to one of Ohio’s five Conservatories of Music. The Conservatory is composed of three buildings connected by the Boesel Musical Arts Center. They are known for their Music Theatre program, “All Steinway” status, and their role as host of the oldest collegiate Bach festival in the U.S., among other things. BWU’s Conservatory offers a wide range of performance majors as well as Music Composition, Music Education, Music History, Music Theatre, Music Theory, and Music Therapy. If you are visiting conservatories in Ohio, don’t miss this one!
Campus Video: Check out our video compilation of photos from our last visit to Baldwin Wallace University:
About the Author: After touring 60 of the best colleges in Ohio, Dr. Jay, a prior faculty member and dean, founded College Bound Advantage (CBA); a Columbus Ohio college consulting firm. CBA specializes in helping families optimize college selection around 15 “fit factors.” College Bound Advantage serves all of Ohio including Cleveland, Akron, and Cincinnati metro areas.
Ranked nationally for both undergraduate and graduate music programs, the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is housed in Memorial Hall, a stateley gothic structure divided into studio, classroom, and performing space. Formed in 1867, CCM is the only public university Conservatory in the state and, as a result, offers a much broader set of offerings including programs in Electronic Media; Ensembles and Conducting; Keyboard Studies; Theatre Arts; Production and Arts Administration; Performance; Composition; Musicology; and Music Theory. CCM boasts an impressive roster of over 150 internationally known faculty who work with students hailing from all over the world. They are also an “All Steinway” school with 165 new Steinway pianos. Rumor has it that CCM’S order of 165 Steinways was the largest single order in Steinway’s history. Now that’s something to sing about!
Campus Video: Check out our video compilation of photos from our most recent visit to the University of Cincinnati:
About the Author: After touring 60 of the best colleges in Ohio, Dr. Jay, a prior faculty member and dean, founded College Bound Advantage (CBA); a Columbus Ohio college consulting firm. CBA specializes in helping families optimize college selection around 15 “fit factors.” College Bound Advantage serves all of Ohio including Cleveland, Akron, and Cincinnati metro areas.
The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), another of Ohio’s “All Steinway” conservatories is located in University Circle, the heart of culture and education near downtown Cleveland. The home of the Cleveland Orchestra, Severance Hall is located only blocks from campus. CIM is small and selective, admitting only 30% of applicants, but boasts an excellent reputation across the board. They are particularly well known for music performance in strings and woodwinds and over half of CIM’s faculty are past or current members of the world-class Cleveland Orchestra. Specializing in undergraduate education and recognized nationally as a top 20 (top 10 in some ratings) conservatory of music, CIM has a lot to offer.
About the Author: After touring 60 of the best colleges in Ohio, Dr. Jay, a prior faculty member and dean, founded College Bound Advantage (CBA); a Columbus Ohio college consulting firm. CBA specializes in helping families optimize college selection around 15 “fit factors.” College Bound Advantage serves all of Ohio including Cleveland, Akron, and Cincinnati metro areas.
The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is the oldest Conservatory of Music in the United States. It was founded in 1833 and is affiliated with Oberlin College. Oberlin’s Conservatory is typically ranked as one of the top Conservatories in the country and is particularly well known for its programs in contemporary and baroque music as well as its unique Technology in Music and Related Arts Program (TIMARA). Oberlin’s conservatory has an enrollment of around 600 and admission is very competitive. Considered an “All Steinway” conservatory, Oberlin is the proud owner of 233 Steinway pianos. Some Conservatory students double major in music with another major offered at Oberlin College – time to completion is five years for most students. Architecturally unique, Bibbins Hall, the home of the Conservatory, was designed by Minoru Yamasaki who also designed the prior World Trade Center buildings. Bibbins houses 40 studios and 10 classrooms.
Campus Video: Check out our video compilation of photos from our most recent visit to Oberlin College and Conservatory:
About the Author: After touring 60 of the best colleges in Ohio, Dr. Jay, a prior faculty member and dean, founded College Bound Advantage (CBA); a Columbus Ohio college consulting firm. CBA specializes in helping families optimize college selection around 15 “fit factors.” College Bound Advantage serves all of Ohio including Cleveland, Akron, and Cincinnati metro areas.
We hope you enjoyed strolling through just a few of Ohio’s unique college majors. In a similar vein, let’s set up camp and take a look at Ohio’s Conservatories of Music. Consider that there are only 53 public and private conservatories in the United States and Ohio has five of them, including a few that are among the best in the land.
A college “Conservatory of Music” is dedicated to training students who have a passion for music and plan for music to be central to their professional life. In choosing a conservatory, students look for a college with a strong reputation in training musicians in their chosen instrument or area of interest for a professional career. Conservatory students have opportunities to perform, conduct, or have their music played by others. This may be solo or as part of an ensemble, band, or orchestra. Some conservatories exclusively focus on music while others may expand to include musical drama and/or dance. Most conservatories focus on Western classical music and a broad range of related instruments, but some include jazz, world music, or pop music.
Alternatively, “university music departments” have historically placed more emphasis on the academic study of music instead of performance and their graduates are less likely to pursue professional careers in music. However, this varies from institution to institution with performance being emphasized more than in the past.
So enough talk, let’ take a look at these Ohio jewels.
About the Author: After touring 60 of the best colleges in Ohio, Dr. Jay, a prior faculty member and dean, founded College Bound Advantage (CBA); a Columbus Ohio college consulting firm. CBA specializes in helping families optimize college selection around 15 “fit factors.” College Bound Advantage serves all of Ohio including Cleveland, Akron, and Cincinnati metro areas.
2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 Freshman Class Size: 336/343/285/293/297/341
% Students Full-Time: 75%
% Students from Ohio: 74%
1st to 2nd Year Retention: 60%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 37%
Middle 50% ACT Score : 16-21
Among other things they are known for: Strong Nursing and Education majors
Unusual Major: Intelligence Studies
Point of Pride: NDC boasts the Academic Support Center, one of only five programs in Ohio designed to support learning challenges such as light autism, ADD, and ADHD. They have solid metrics and we love the ASC!
2019 University Endowment: $13.1M
Campus Video: Check out our video compilation of photos taken on our last visit to Notre Dame College:
View our video on how College Bound Advantage can partner with you and your family in your college search. We can help you save money, avoid land mines, and optimize your college choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98 .
2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 Freshman Class Size: 243/309/335/309/244
% Students Full-Time: 80%
% Students from Ohio: 80%
1st to 2nd Year Retention: 61%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 54%
Middle 50% ACT Score: 19-26
Among other things they are known for: Broad program options in Music and Ministry as well as Business and Nursing.
Unusual Major: Zoo and Wildlife Biology
Point of Pride: Only Ohio “passionately” Christian college located in a large city (Canton). Students hail from 40 denominations; predominantly Protestant and Catholic.
Ask us about: Malone’s annual “Davenport Derby”
2018 Institutional Endowment: $18M
Campus Video: Check out our video compilation of photos taken on our last visit to Malone University:
View our video on how College Bound Advantage can partner with you and your family in your college search. We can help you save money, avoid land mines, and optimize your college choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98 .
2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 Freshman Class Size: 604/587/620/613/602/613
% Full-Time Students: 74%
% Students from Ohio: 88%
1st to 2nd year Retention Rate: 75%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 65%
Middle 50% ACT Score: 19-24
Signature Programs: Ashland has always been known for its strong Education Program which is one of the largest among independent and state institutions in Ohio. They also have a strong Nursing Program with a new, State-of-the-Art Nursing campus in Mansfield.
Stand Out Programs: Ashland also has strong programs in Business (ACBSP accredited), Fashion Merchandising, Toxicology, Forensic Chemistry, Geology, Environmental Science, as well as Commercial Art.
Outside the Classroom: Ashland offers over 100 student clubs and organizations, beautiful workout facility, vibrant NCAA Division II varsity athletics, an active Greek system, and an ongoing stream of campus activities.
Point of Pride: The “Convo’s” great food!
Ask us about: The Ashbrook Scholar Program
2019 Institutional Endowment: $45.3M
Campus Video: Check out our video compilation of photos from our last visit to Ashland University:
View our video on how College Bound Advantage can partner with you and your family in your college search. We can help you save money, avoid land mines, and optimize your college choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98 .
2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 Freshman Class Size: 217/208/211/174/231
% Full-Time Students: 88%
% Students from Ohio: 80%
1st to 2nd year Retention Rate: 60%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 54%
Middle 50% ACT Score: 18-25
Known For: Strong programs in Nursing, Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, and Convergent Media
2019 Institutional Endowment: $23.1M
View our video on how College Bound Advantage can partner with you and your family in your college search. We can help you save money, avoid land mines, and optimize your college choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98 .
2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 Freshman Class Size: 233/182/136/151/157/181
% Full-Time Students: 90%
% Students from Ohio: 56%
1st to 2nd Year Retention: 46%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 35%
Middle 50% ACT Score: 17-21
Known For: Strong programs in Criminal Justice, Athletic Training, and Forensic Science
Unusual Majors: Restoration Ecology, Digital Forensic Science, and Autism Studies (minor)
Point of Pride: Project 701: a unique student-run non-profit organization
Ask us about: The McMaster School for Advancing Humanity as well as the ASD Affinity Program that provides comprehensive services supporting students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
2019 Institutional Endowment: $19.1M
View our video on how College Bound Advantage can partner with you and your family in your college search. We can help you save money, avoid land mines, and optimize your college choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98 .
2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 Freshman Class Size: 186/214/219/219/195/207
% Full-time Students: 81%
% Students from Ohio: 63%
1st to 2nd Year Retention: 60%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 47%
Middle 50% ACT Score: 17-23
Known For: A variety of Equine Studies and Information Technology Management major options
Unusual Majors: Forensic Psychology and Psychobiology concentrations
Point of Pride: 74% of students complete an internship before graduation
Ask us about: The five Residential Learning Community offerings
2019 Institutional Endowment: $33.3M
View our video on how College Bound Advantage can partner with you and your family in your college search. We can help you save money, avoid land mines, and optimize your college choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98 .
2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 Freshman Class Size: 92/114/106/78/96/92
% Full-Time Students: 75%
% Students from Ohio: 83%
1st to 2nd Year Retention: 75%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 53%
Middle 50% ACT Score: 17-23
Known For: Strong program in Nursing and Fashion Design
Unusual Major: Historic Preservation and Art Therapy
2019 Institutional Endowment: $24M
Campus Video: Check out our video photo compilation from our last visit to Ursuline College:
View our video on how College Bound Advantage can partner with you and your family in your college search. We can help you save money, avoid land mines, and optimize your college choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98 .
