Where Did Mariah Carey Go To College: Discovering Mariah Carey's Educational Roots in College!

Mariah Carey is one of the most successful and best-selling musical artists of all time. She has sold over 200 million records worldwide and is known for her incredible 5-octave vocal range as well as her countless #1 hits like “Vision of Love,” “Hero,” “Fantasy,” and “We Belong Together.”

But before Mariah became the pop superstar we know today, she was focused on developing her talents as a student. Though she didn’t attend college for very long, the time Mariah spent in school helped shape her into the iconic singer she is now.

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What College Did Mariah Carey Go To?

Mariah Carey briefly attended the State University of New York at Purchase before leaving to pursue her musical career.

Details About Mariah’s Time at SUNY Purchase:

Mariah began studying at SUNY Purchase in 1987 at age 17.
She was interested in a career in music but studied cosmetology in college.
Mariah spent only one semester at SUNY Purchase before leaving to focus fully on her demo tape and singing career.
During her time at SUNY Purchase, Mariah was already writing and producing songs and focusing on networking in the music industry.
She left the school in late 1987 to continue developing her talents and try to get signed with a record label in New York City.
Though her time at the school was short, SUNY Purchase gave Mariah a place to grow as an artist and teenager before launching her legendary career.

Why Did Mariah Carey Choose to Attend SUNY Purchase?

There are several reasons why Mariah Carey chose to attend the State University of New York at Purchase for college:

Reputation for the Arts

SUNY Purchase has a stellar reputation as a performing arts school, making it appealing for an aspiring singer.
It has exceptional programs in music, dance, theatre, and the arts that Mariah was interested in.
The school was seen as a place where Mariah could hone her vocal, writing, and performing skills.

Location Near NYC

SUNY Purchase is located just outside of New York City in Westchester County, New York.
This close proximity to NYC gave Mariah access to the music industry contacts and opportunities she would need.
The campus is only about 30 miles away from Manhattan.

Affordable Public School

As a public university in the SUNY system, SUNY Purchase was an affordable option for Mariah’s higher education.
This made the school accessible for Mariah as an aspiring musician coming from a working-class background.
The lower tuition costs allowed her to attend college as she tried to also launch her music career.

What Was Mariah Carey’s Major at SUNY Purchase?

Though Mariah Carey is best known as a pop star today, she actually majored in cosmetology when in college at SUNY Purchase.

Details About Mariah’s Cosmetology Major:

Mariah said she chose to study cosmetology because it seemed easy and fun at the time.
She was able to express her creativity through hair, makeup, and beauty.
Mariah has remained passionate about hair and makeup artistry throughout her career.
Her cosmetology major shows that even as a teenager, Mariah was thinking strategically about skillsets that could help her break into the entertainment industry.
Though she didn’t end up pursuing a career as a cosmetologist, the major allowed Mariah to develop useful stage presence and personal styling skills.

What Activities Was Mariah Carey Involved in at SUNY Purchase?

Although Mariah Carey’s time at SUNY Purchase College was short, she was involved in a few key activities:

Music Groups

Mariah joined music groups on campus related to gospel, R&B, and pop.
She was able to meet fellow student musicians and practice her vocals.
Being part of the music community kept Mariah focused on her aspirations as a professional singer.

Campus Performances

Mariah looked for opportunities to perform on campus when she could.
She participated in some talent showcases and open mic nights.
These performances gave Mariah valuable experience singing live in front of audiences.

Songwriting

In her free time, Mariah continued honing her songwriting skills as a student.
She worked on writing original music and lyrics even while taking other classes.
Mariah set aside time each day for songwriting practice and learning music production.
This allowed the star to develop her sound so she had demos ready when trying to get a record deal.

How Long Was Mariah Carey Enrolled at SUNY Purchase?

Mariah Carey only attended SUNY Purchase College for one semester in 1987. She left the school that same year to fully devote herself to her music career.

Timeline of Mariah at SUNY Purchase:

Fall 1987: Mariah begins classes at SUNY Purchase as a cosmetology major.
Fall 1987: Spends the semester involved in campus music groups while working on her songwriting.
December 1987: Leaves the school after completing her first semester in order to focus on networking and producing demo tapes in NYC.
Early 1988: Mariah meets her future mentor and Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola.
June 1990: Mariah Carey’s debut self-titled album is released by Columbia Records.

So while Mariah’s time at SUNY Purchase was very short, it overlapped with the critical early stages of her recording career. Her experiences at the school as an arts student helped prepare her for superstardom.

Did Mariah Carey Graduate College?

No, Mariah Carey did not graduate from college. She dropped out of SUNY Purchase during her first semester in late 1987.

Why Mariah Left College:

Mariah realized her true calling was becoming a professional singer rather than completing her degree.
She felt that focusing fully on networking, songwriting, and demo tapes would be better for launching her career.
The commute to NYC for music industry meetings and sessions was exhausting on top of coursework.
College was an important experience, but Mariah ultimately decided pursuing her record deal would bring future success and fulfillment.

No Regrets About Her Decision

Mariah has expressed no regrets over her choice to leave school.
She felt she made the right decision to dedicate herself completely to her music career.
Even without a college degree, Mariah went on to become one of the top-selling artists ever through her talent and determination.
While a college education was important, she followed her dreams and achieved incredible success.

What Has Mariah Said About Her Time at SUNY Purchase?

Mariah Carey has shared a few insights over the years about her brief time studying at SUNY Purchase College:

Positive Overall Experience

Mariah said attending SUNY Purchase was an important experience that helped develop her creativity.
She values the education she received before deciding to leave to pursue music full-time.
Mariah appreciated being immersed in the school’s artistic environment.

Fond Memories with Fellow Students

She made close friendships with fellow students who shared her passion for singing.
Mariah recalls fondly the late night talks about music and dreams of stardom with her college friends.
Those relationships validated her ambitions and talent during a pivotal time.

Learned Valuable Life Skills

Mariah said her college experience at SUNY Purchase taught her independence and time management.
Living on campus away from family for the first time was an important period of growth.
The short time in school gave Mariah real-world skills that helped her as an adult.

Conclusion

In summary, while Mariah Carey’s time studying cosmetology at SUNY Purchase College was very brief, it represented an important chapter in her development as a musician. The semester she spent immersed in the school’s artistic community, performing on campus, and songwriting helped pave the way for her future success.

Though Mariah left college after one semester to fully devote herself to her budding music career, she emerged from the experience with valuable knowledge, friendships, and life skills that influenced the icon she is today.

Her choice to follow her dreams and leave school to pursue singing ultimately led to her becoming one of the best-selling and most celebrated artists of all time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mariah Carey and College

Where did Mariah Carey go to high school?

Mariah Carey attended Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, New York. She graduated in 1987 before attending SUNY Purchase.

What inspired Mariah Carey to get into music?

Mariah was inspired by influential R&B and soul singers like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Minnie Riperton. Her mother was also an opera singer who exposed Mariah to music early on.

How old was Mariah Carey when she got signed to a record label?

Mariah was 18 years old when she was signed to Columbia Records in 1988 after meeting executive Tommy Mottola and giving him her demo tape.

What was Mariah Carey’s debut single?

Vision of Love was released in 1990 as Mariah Carey’s debut single from her self-titled first album. It went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Did Mariah Carey attend Julliard music school?

No, Mariah Carey did not attend the Julliard School. She studied briefly at SUNY Purchase before leaving college to pursue her professional music career.

Did Mariah Carey’s musical talents help her get into college?

Yes, Mariah’s talents likely helped her admission to SUNY Purchase given their reputation as an arts school with strong music programs. However, she did not complete her degree.

How did Mariah Carey get discovered as a singer?

Mariah was discovered singing backup vocals for Puerto Rican singer Brenda K. Starr. This led to Starr passing Mariah’s demo tape along to Sony Music executive Tommy Mottola at a party.

Was Mariah Carey successful immediately after leaving college?

No, it took Mariah a couple years after leaving SUNY Purchase to get her record deal and release her massively successful self-titled debut studio album in 1990.

Did Mariah Carey ever return to college after becoming famous?

No, Mariah Carey has never returned to complete her degree at SUNY Purchase or enroll in any other university after rising to fame with her music career. She has focused entirely on singing.

What advice has Mariah offered people thinking of dropping out of college?

Mariah said that while she doesn’t regret her choice, she always encourages young people to do what feels right for their future goals and to not be afraid to take bold risks if college isn’t working.