Choosing the right fit for undergraduate ethnomusicology

April 26, 2015 3:05 AM

I'm an older student transferring from community college to a four-year to study ethno/musicology. I've been admitted, and now it's time to make the final decision. Do I go for a pretty attractive program at a good school (UCSB), or for a potentially less attractive program at one of the top schools in the country (Berkeley)?

UCSB appears to have a larger department than Berkeley. They offer more classes tailored specifically to my area of interest (primarily ethnomusicology). They have a large number of world music and classical ensembles to participate in. People seem to have a great time there (although I haven't heard from people studying music). It's supposed to have strong academics, but also an overall laid-back, supportive atmosphere. Still holding on to that (now outdated) party school reputation, though.

Berkeley, on the other hand, is the #1 public university, and one of the top schools in the world. The music program seems pretty customizable, especially by your senior year (which can include courses from other, world-class departments). The only problem is that they may not have the same breadth of classes and ensembles that UCSB does. Especially with regards to ethnomusicology, there appears to be a limited number of courses. That said, I'm sure the classes they do have are of a very high quality.

So the big question is: do you choose the more attractive program at the less attractive school, or do you choose the smaller program at the top-level school? Having once been a high school dropout, it does feel very tempting to take advantage of the offer of admission to one of the top schools. But I also don't want to get carried away and choose a program that doesn't have as much of what I'd be interested in. Alternately, it could be that courses with the word "ethnomusicology" in the titles will be interesting, but ultimately less interesting than a self-organized series of courses on culture, history, etc. at a top school.

posted by teponaztli to Education (9 answers total)

Are you planning on going on to graduate school?
posted by jrobin276 at 4:14 AM on April 26, 2015 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: I keep going back and forth. The job market in the humanities is famously horrible. I guess right now my focus is on getting my BA (finally), by way of the most stimulating and engaging program I can take - I want the intellectual rigor, but not necessarily beyond the next two years. I definitely don't want to close the door on grad school, though.
posted by teponaztli at 4:44 AM on April 26, 2015

So the big question is: do you choose the more attractive program at the less attractive school, or do you choose the smaller program at the top-level school?

For graduate school, you would choose the better program. For undergrad, I would say to choose Berkeley for the richest undergrad experience overall.
Yes, UCSB has some amazing ethnomusicologists, and so does Berkeley. But even if UCSB has more courses listed as "ethnomusicology," I would say don't just go by the departmental course catalog of your (still potential) major to think about the breadth and depth of your undergraduate education. Ethno is such an interdisciplinary field that at Berkeley you can also be thinking of classes from world-class departments of anthropology, folklore, and linguistics.
Unless, that is, you are going to have to take primarily *only* classes in your major at this point to graduate. I would find out. UCSB is a very good school of course.
Still, I would encourage you, after your long path, to really lean towards having the undergrad experience of Berkeley. (In addition, as an older, non-traditional student, you just might be happier with the greater diversity of people you'd meet there.)
Congratulations!
posted by third rail at 4:58 AM on April 26, 2015 [6 favorites]

Can you arrange to talk to current students in the programs you are interested in - either through official admissions-office channels, or by contacting professors/students directly if you can find a public online presence?

I'd be thinking about what you want to be doing after you graduate. If UCSB has a better program, and you definitely want to stay in your field, having the right connections will definitely help you. On the other hand, if you are less sure of your path, or if you will be employed in ethnomusicology long-term, Berkeley might help you with impressive name-recognition by future employers, and more cross-disciplinary opportunities.

Good luck, and it looks like you have two great options!
posted by fermezporte at 5:03 AM on April 26, 2015

How big is each department? How much mentoring do you get? What kind of volunteering and mentorship opportunities are there? What kind of undergraduate research opportunities are there?

Students in the program I teach for get a better undergrad experience than I did - the school is smaller than the big (and big name) school that I went to, but we provide a lot more mentoring, personalized advising, etc. I walked into advising my first semester back (I wasn't a transfer, but I took 11 years to finish my degree) and asked about how to go to grad school, and got "Oh, I don't know. Where's your list of classes for next semester?" That is not how we do where I work now, ahem. :) We have a thriving internship program, because we're medium sized we know our students and we're merrily getting as many of our top students into research opportunities as we can, etc. I know these are both big schools you're looking at, but the point stands - in which program are they going to know you and mentor you, especially as a transfer who is getting into the game late? (Several of our most successful students have been transfers, but you have to be aware of getting traction and getting your professor's attention early).

If you're thinking grad school, you'll need recommendations, which means that people need to know who you are. If you're thinking work then maybe grad school, you need the internship / volunteering / etc combo, which makes you a lot more employable in your field (one of my favorite students is a dancer along with a major in my $socialscience field, and she's been doing an internship in arts administration this semester, and they're keeping her through at least the summer if not longer. We are so, so pleased.)

So I agreed with fermezporte that if you can talk to current students, that will really help this decision, but I would advising specifically to ask about the level of mentoring in the department.

Good luck! Congrats! :)
posted by joycehealy at 7:51 AM on April 26, 2015

Always choose the better program, not the better school. Whether you're applying for a job immediately post grad, or applying to graduate school, it's the prestige of the program that matters. And you are very likely going to find yourself happier.

Case in point: I had a studious, straight-A friend with incredible artistic talent who chose to go to a very elite, in-state public university with an "okayish" art program, when he had the opportunity to go to the top public art program in the country. Since both universities were in-state and public, it wasn't a choice about tuition costs and what he could afford. It was the fact that he didn't want to go to a school that wasn't "overall prestigious." He justified this by saying he wanted to go to a university where he knew all of the programs would be challenging and above par, and where he knew his fellow students would be intellectually curious. But I think the truth was that he felt like because he worked so hard at school, he deserved to go to a school with an indisputable academic pedigree. He felt really insecure about the idea of this other university being the one on his diploma, never mind the fact that their art program was highly renowned, highly competitive to enter (he was not just accepted at the school, but into the art program, which you have to apply for separately!), and in the middle of a city with a vibrant art scene.

Needless to say, he hated the art program at the prestigious university. He was always complaining about how they had no resources and how one time, he went up to Tufts University (which also has a high ranked art program, and where he was also accepted!) to visit a friend and was blown away by how much more stimulating, weird, inventive and well-financed their fine arts program was.

He still managed to put his time at the prestigious public university to work, and made lots of connections and networked well. So there's that. But if you're looking for the best education and the best time in school, go with the superior program.

PS, sending you a side-related memail.
posted by nightrecordings at 8:35 AM on April 26, 2015 [2 favorites]

Best answer: One thing to remember is that UCB has arguably the best anthropology dept in the country, one of the best in the world, so although I agree that its music program isn't as lauded in the scope of music programs, the cross-pollination with anthro would, I think, tip things in Berkeley's favor, particularly for undergrad. Additionally, its location offers you a lot more access to a greater variety of music ensembles and organizations generally.
posted by vunder at 6:27 PM on April 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

It depends on what you hope to get out of this. If you want to get the best education, and advance in your career based on your mastery of your subject, choose the better program. If you are more focused on just getting a good job afterwards, choose the more prestigious school.
posted by MexicanYenta at 11:04 AM on April 27, 2015

Best answer: After your last posted question, I'm glad you're considering ethnomusicology programs. I wouldn't worry about the stature of the programs, because I think they are both strong. I'd think about what exactly is most important to you. First of all, take a look at the published work of the faculty that you would take classes with. Both Jocelyn Guilbault at Berkeley and David Novak at UCSB are brilliant scholars, but very different in approach. Take a look at their books, as well as Bonnie Wade at Berkeley's Thinking Musically, Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture paperback to see whether their approaches are up your alley.

Also, you mention that you've been learning instruments from all over the world, but your username suggests that you have a particular Mexican, or at least Latin American interest. Santa Barbara has a Mexicanist, but the closest at Berkeley is Guilbault's Caribbean expertise. Does that matter to you? Finally, which kinds of ensembles would you like to participate in? Both schools have a gamelan ensemble, but UCSB has Middle Eastern, Indian, and Afro-Brazilian, while Berkeley has the African Music Ensemble. If learning a bunch of hands-on techniques performing music from around the world is part of what you want to do, UCSB looks more comprehensive.
posted by umbú at 7:54 PM on April 27, 2015