Welcoming new Buffs with tips about being on campus
CU Boulder College of Music Director of Admissions and Recruitment Veronica Greuel welcomes future music Buffs with an FAQ by College of Music Music Ambassador John McColley that's all about being in Boulder:
Congratulations on your admission to CU Boulder! During these uncertain times, we want to do our best to help you figure out where you鈥檒l be this August. To help, we are sharing this list of frequently asked questions, answered by College of Music Ambassador John McColley. Covering the amazing opportunities available in Boulder, we hope it helps you to picture your life at CU next year!
What things are there to do for fun outside of the College of Music?
Boulder is all-around a fun town to explore! There are tons of hiking trails around the area that are only minutes away. It's a great way to get outside with friends! The trails have so many great views, and running is also a great option. When it鈥檚 colder鈥攖his is a mountain town, after all鈥攚orking out at the Recreation Center is a great way to keep stress levels low. Plus, membership is included in your student fees. And there's more than hiking trails: Pearl Street has great restaurants and boutiques, skiing is close by, as is Rocky Mountain National Park.
On campus, CU has a variety of great student organizations you can be involved in:
Student government
Swing dance club
Kappa Kappa Psi, a band service co-ed fraternity
Mu Phi Epsilon a performance/scholarship co-ed fraternity
Where do music students typically live during their freshman year? Where do they live the other three years? Will my roommate be a music major, too?
Music students typically live with other music students in a residence hall. This fall, music majors have the option to live together in Willard Hall. This is a great place to meet friends, too. After freshman year, many students choose to live off campus, but some will continue to live in the residence halls. Most first year music majors choose to live together sophomore year, too. Music is an incredibly social major, and you will make lifelong friends!
What is campus food like?
Campus food is good, and there is a lot of variety. That being said, it鈥檚 very easy to get stuck in a rut, eating the same things in the same places day after day. My first semester I didn鈥檛 do a great job of that, but this second semester I did much better! The university has lots of healthy options, so make sure to take advantage of them!
How does getting involved in multiple studios work?
Getting involved in other studios can be as easy as emailing the professor and asking for information. Professors have a lot of say in how their studios are run, and often they will include any student who is interested. I took tuba lessons from Professor Dunn, and he personally went out of his way to make sure that we found a lesson time for me, in addition to giving me access to one of the studio's horns, and I ended up learning a lot and gaining a close friend, too.
I was lucky to have been accepted by both the composition and bassoon studio when I auditioned. Being involved in both has been challenging but extremely rewarding. You can also email professors to ask about taking lessons without being in their studios鈥攖here are often options to take lessons with TAs if you鈥檙e interested.
What has your favorite/least favorite class been?
I have enjoyed a lot of my classes so far; I think my favorite classes have been conducting and my musicology seminar. Both of these classes have really pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow as an individual. My least favorite classes have been outside the College of Music. My advice would be to take a range of classes and learn what your other interests outside the college are. You might not like some of the classes, but others will be great!
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the College of Music Admissions team. We are planning a variety of virtual options to be in touch; check your inbox for invitations!
Veronica Greuel
Director of Admissions and Recruitment, College of Music
ugradmus@colorado.edu
