Old Dominion University

Date: Nov 17 2010
Major: Music Education (This Major's Salary over time)
Hopefully this will be useful for HS students going through the process of choosing a school. I'm a high school senior who plans to major in music education and have visited 7 schools in VA. I have found ODU to be the best fit for me. I've actually visited ODU three times now and have attended classes, hung out with the marching band, attended games (vs. VMI football/Georgetown basketball), visited with a friend from back home in his dorm and met with 4 professors in the music/music ed department. There seems to be a lot of school spirit and a very positive vibe here with the addition of D1 football and the Marching Monarchs. I have walked the campus at night and didn't feel like I was risking my life as some would imply. It is true, though, that you shouldn't be walking around south of 42nd street by yourself late at night. I found VCU to be much creepier in that regard. I found the professors in the music department to be very friendly, helpful and extremely accomplished. The facilities are quite modern, from dorms to library to The Ted. The school is well laid out and everything is easy to get to, unlike JMU. The student population is more representative of the real world, as far as diversity goes, unlike all of the NOVA Barbie and Kens at CNU and some others. Students here seem more earnest about their education and less interested in partying constantly, although there are plenty of house parties adjacent to campus if that's your scene. And lastly, unlike some of the one horse hick towns that schools on 81 (or in Farmville) are found, this one is right in Norfolk and only about 15 minutes from Virginia Beach. So as far as my major goes, this seems like a great fit. They also have outstanding engineering and nursing schools. From my conversation with friends who have gone to different schools (inc. ODU)over the past two years, ODU is getting to be much more selective because of the better students (i.e. GPA and SAT)who are applying. I think the economy may have something to do with that as it's one of the more affordable schools in VA and has generous merit scholarship programs (3.4/1200 = min $4000, 3.4/1100 = min $3K). My advice - go see for yourself, and if possible, go see a game while your there.