Laura received her bachelor’s degree in musical theatre from Belmont University. Some of the tutoring subjects she specializes in are elementary math tutoring and SSAT tutoring. She participated in our College Experience Q&A series by sharing her experience at Belmont University below. Want to know her thoughts?
Describe the campus setting and transportation options.
Laura: Belmont’s campus is quite small, compared to many universities. You can pretty much get anywhere you need to go within ten minutes on foot—and faster if you have a scooter or a skateboard. That being said, most people do have a car because, while Belmont’s campus is easy to get around, Nashville isn’t the sort of city where you can walk everywhere. I always felt safe at Belmont. The small size of the school means that by senior year, I knew a fairly large percentage of the people in my year by face if not by name.
How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants?
Laura: I never felt like I couldn’t talk to a professor after class. Classes are small, maybe 20-30 students, and everyone would be on first-name basis by the end of the third week. They do a really good job of making themselves available and approachable. I still keep in contact with several of my professors from my time there.
How would you describe the dorm life—rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students?
Laura: When I was a freshman, we slept three to a dorm that was 12’ x 12’. It was cramped, but livable. Three years later, they have since added some brand-new dorm buildings that are extremely nice, as well as a new, larger cafeteria that offers even more dining options than its previous counterpart.
Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?
Laura: Belmont is best known for being a music school—this being greatly aided by its location in downtown Nashville. I went there to study Musical Theatre, which was one of the most-beloved departments in the university. We had a growing reputation even then, and with each passing year I am told the school of music gets more famous. Belmont not only has its own PBS special (Christmas at Belmont) but in recent years several students have gone on to make big waves in the music industry, including some Country Music Award winners and a handful of American Idol finalists.
How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life?
Laura: I didn’t have trouble meeting people personally, because my focus of study was very specific and we had a very small department. In fact it was rather limiting as to who I could meet outside of that group. Several people I know did Greek life—however, there are only four or five sororities on campus to choose from. Most people consider the school of music to be its own society.
How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services?
Laura: I never found them to be very useful, but that might be because I didn’t require their services. I think they did do a Career Fair in the springtime, though.
How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious?
Laura: The library was small, but there was generally enough space. There’s a nice café on the first floor, too. Additionally, the music collection is extensive and thorough.
When I was there, we actually didn’t have a student union. It definitely was sometimes challenging to find places to hang out. In the springtime lots of people like to hang out in the gazebos in the quad.
Describe the surrounding town.
Laura: Nashville is an incredible city. Being there was hands down one of the best part of going to Belmont. The live music scene, in addition to the super hip culture of the Hillsboro area, is unbeatable. Most people see a lot of live shows—plus there are a ton of professional-quality performances given by the school of music each semester.
How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes?
Laura: The student body is fairly small, with class sizes varying from 15-30 students. I liked the smaller sizes, it made things more personal and I appreciated that.
Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most.
Laura: My best experience at Belmont was with my voice teacher and academic advisor, Marjorie Halbert. She was not only a one-on-one professor but also an incredible leader and role model. Mrs. Halbert was the head of the musical theatre department, and took a personal interest in the development of each of her fifty-odd students. We were her pride and joy, and she treated us as her own children: hosting home-cooked dinners for us, rejoicing at individual progress made in class, and giving us no-nonsense “life lessons” when we needed them. She was, without doubt, the best teacher I ever had.
Check out Laura's tutoring profile.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.
