In 1976, I visited WMU with my friends Pam and Ken. Pam was auditioning for Western's Summer Seminar music camp. While there, her parents encouraged me to audition using her French horn and I was accepted. My dad was able to come up with the fee for camp, though money was tight at home, and I attended that year and the following two years. It was during this time I decided to become a band director and attend university at WMU! I was the first in my family to go to college.
The school faculty was always supportive and helpful.
Unfortunately, teaching music as a career in the mid-80s was not a very good choice, as many public schools were cutting arts programs due to funding issues. I took my education and love of learning into other areas, eventually becoming a quality engineer in manufacturing.
My advice to first year students is to not ONLY focus on the curriculum of your target occupation, but also remember to learn how to learn. If your chosen degreed occupation doesn't work out for some reason, you will have that ability to adapt to new options.
I could have possibly still gotten where I am without a degree, but I know for certain that having the degree on my resume opened opportunities that would not have developed had I not gone to university.