Reviews

I go to the Conservatory of Shenandoah University and just from my first semester of Basic Acting, I have learned so much. There are two (at least at this time) different first year acting teachers, both have completely different teaching styles but they are both wonderful. My acting coach helps us and is ready to help us with anything we come across in the Acting world. They also bring in casting agents for the actors at the end of every year. This is extremely helpful to get us all out of the door with jobs in our field.

This school is wonderful. There are so many social events for every major, it is hard to not make friends. I will admit that all of my friends are in the conservatory, but this has more to do with similar interests than it being hard to make friends from the University. All the teachers are so understanding when it comes to getting your work done, especially if you have school related events. I had to tech a show which made me miss some classes and all the teachers were really supporting through that stressful time.

Yes, the school is expensive. I will admit that. But I got about half of my tuition covered through THEIR scholarships and financial aid. Other than the school being expensive, you can go to all sorts of wonderful shows for free! All the tickets for the stage performances, the music performances, the dance performances, and the sports games are free to students. With the conservatory alone they host about 300 shows, concerts, recitals a year; you are definitely getting what you paid for when you come here. Also, the schooling is 100% worth it!! I can't see myself fitting in anywhere else, and I just lucked out to get one of the best performing arts schools in the country.

Get a good pair of walking shoes. The school is nothing huge or spread out, but it is a good walk from the freshman dorms to the business building or the conservatory building, point being you wouldn't want to walk around the whole campus in high heels.

Students interested in the performing arts: musicians (majors range from music performance to music education to music theatre accompaniment to music therapy!), dancers, and actors. These students will get the most bang for their buck I can't really see why any general education student would come to a school that is so expensive.

Where do I begin? Every morning, I wake up and do what I love all day. Sure, it's difficult, but I am learning new information by the bucket-load every single day. The faculty cares about each and every one of us, and instructors take the time to get to know each student personally. Faculty are always willing to help me with upcoming auditions or to provide feedback. Faculty members even take the time to sit down with me just to talk about life! I want to learn, and the faculty makes it easy for me to do so.

Unless you have discovered a way to make days longer than 24 hours, I honestly don't think I could enjoy being here any more than I already do. I am so grateful to be attending Shenandoah. Getting involved with campus activities and productions (since I am a musical theatre student) has increased my enjoyment.

To get your money's worth at Shenandoah (or for any college or business), you can't wait for the value to come to you. You must involve yourself, challenge your abilities, and make connections with everyone you can. I realized early that I am surrounded by extremely talented people. If you want to stand out and better yourself, then you have to audition for EVERYTHING you possibly can, and you have to make sure you are enjoyable to work with. Your reputation starts the moment you move onto campus.

If you have a dream, stick to it. If you are willing to put hard work into making your dream come true, come to Shenandoah. The faculty dedicates itself to making sure you achieve what you desire. Again, this is another case where you control your destiny and need to make sure that you take responsibility for reaching your dreams. Also, make sure faculty knows what you want to achieve! At Shenandoah, they'll do their best to get you there.

Shenandoah is an environment that makes you feel like you're at home. It is a small school with a small campus, so if you are looking to party every night, this is not the school for you. If you are looking for a school that will make you achieve your potential, make you employable after graduation, and give you some great friends, then Shenandoah is your best bet. My schedule is nonstop, and my classes are rigorous, but if you are tenacious you can keep up with your studies and practicing what you learn. I have no doubt you will love it here as much as I do.

All staff is amazing! the students are so nice. All the programs are top notch

I LOVE IT

it's expensive, but scholarships are out there

WORK HARD! if you're doing musical theatre, really work on your audition

Shenandoah is a place where anyone can come and be free to be their true self; there is no pressure to fall into a clique. The people there genuinely want to see you succeed and grow as a person. Shenandoah is a small campus, but the impact and involvement the university has on the city of Winchester is amazing.

Do not wait and procrastinate to do your work and handle your responsibilities! Study, study, study! College is totally different from high school. Also, do not be afraid to venture out and try new things. College is the time where you truly find yourself, so value your time in college and make the best of it.

Because I am a freshmen, I would say I cannot not give a compete and accurate rating of the academic rigor since most freshmen classes are general education and typically only discuss the basics of a subject/course. However, from my personal experience, I will say the sciences and exercise science courses are very rigorous. The professors are very knowledgeable about their area of expertise and are always eager to help you out in areas you might be struggling in.

Shenandoah University offers each dorm style: communal, suite, and squad style. Each dorm house includes a laundry room where students can wash and dry for 25 cents each. The dorms are renovated on a 4 year basis.

There are two dining options students can choose from: Allen dining hall (buffet style) and The Grill and Sandella's in the student center. There is a wide variety of options students an choose from with one meal plan swipe. In my opinion, the food tastes pretty good from both the dining hall and student center.

Every year the campus has a bra drive (yes, we collect actual bras) for women in Mozambique who are sex trade survivors and provide them an opportunity to to sell the bras to make 3-5x more than the minimum wage.

Anything you're interested in, Shenandoah has it and if not, it is free to create the club or activity you desire to have/participate in. I recently participated in a dodgeball tournament and had a blast! There are many clubs that involve the wilderness and environment, LGBT community, Black Student Union, and a lot more!

The campus is very safe. There are always campus police officers on duty 24/7 and make themselves very easy to access in the event their services were needed. A shuttle is run at night for students who do not want to walk across campus at night or alone.

SU has a freshman global seminar that requires each freshman to choose one out of a very interesting set of courses that will teach the students things they would otherwise never learn. The idea behind many of the majors at SU is learning how to think for oneself. For example, in my major I will learn how to work with sound equipment, but I will also become adept at understanding and maximizing the value of new technology.

Campus life looks great. There are some group events, plenty of intramural sports, a fitness center, and LOTS of outings. There will be an opportunity to go hiking, canoeing, or something like that practically every weekend. The college is in Winchester, so there's a mall nearby (and a Walmart for those of us who have no money left.) For those who are interested, spiritual life can be a huge part of campus life. Many ministry and mission activities are available.

Tuition is high compared to other private schools, but that is because of how personalized the experience is. SU does not meet 100% of financial aid needs, but if your EFC is a bit too high this school will probably give you more free aid than most.

SU may not seek you out as much as other schools will, but it's worth the effort to make yourself known to the admission people. ASK about things you want to know, and do your own research to see what there is. Go to at least one of the campus days, and make absolutely sure you understand what is required for your application. (Conservatory people ALL have to audition, even the prospective techies.)

The SU Conservatory is amazing. Come if you play an instrument, sing, and/or act. Also, there is a Music Production & Recording Tech program here. I've only seen two or three sound majors like this.
SU has a strong nursing program too, but I honestly don't know too much about it beyond the info on the school website.
SU is perfect for anyone who is interested in keeping God in college. There is a program called JustFaith which is the first of its kind, and the participants love it!

Shenandoah University is everything anyone could want in a school. Though it is expensive, every penny is worth it. I have never felt so accepted and happy in my life. I love my school, and anyone looking to go here, would too.