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Junior music therapy major Hadassah Cowen transferred to ��������Ƶ in fall 2021. Before coming to ��������Ƶ, Hadassah went to school in Israel for Judaic Studies and took classes online through a community college. When COVID-19 hit and she had to come back home to Pittsburgh, Hadassah decided it was time for a change.��

“��������Ƶ was extremely welcoming when I was looking at schools,” Hadassah said.�� “The heads of the Music Therapy Department and other staff members reached out to me before I had even decided to come to ��������Ƶ. The staff made me feel like they would accommodate my needs as an Orthodox Jew and as someone coming in without a huge amount of music background.” 

Hadassah was majoring in psychology before she started at ��������Ƶ. When she began her search for a new school, she realized she wanted to pursue a degree in music to help people. Many universities with music programs don’t offer music therapy as a major. Hadassah says that was a major draw to transferring to ��������Ƶ.��

"When I needed to catch up from missed days of school because of the High Holidays in the fall semester, Dr. Boyle had one-on-one make-up sessions with me for every day that I missed. That would never happen in a big school." 

“The transfer admissions counselors are really great,” Hadassah said. “They were fast with communicating, they helped me get a scholarship, and they took all the credits that I had coming in. There is always someone willing to help, and they make you feel like you belong here.” 

Hadassah was also looking for a college where she could interact with her professors and build personal relationships with them.��

“In my previous school everything was completely online,” Hadassah said. “Pretty much the only interaction I had with my professors was through submitting assignments. Here, the teachers are very attentive - I imagine even more so than another brick and mortar college.” 

In the Music Therapy Program, Hadassah takes some classes with everyone in the music department and others that are specific to music therapy.��

“I love how close-knit the Music Department is at ��������Ƶ,” she said. “The teachers give a lot of attention to the students here and are very accommodating. When I needed to catch up from missed days of school because of the High Holidays in the fall semester, Dr. Boyle had one-on-one make-up sessions with me for every day that I missed. That would never happen in a big school. I also love how everyone is really rooting for your success. There are amazing tutors in the performing arts program and they are free to use. It is a huge benefit and I definitely recommend using them.”