How budget cuts affect music programs: a student's story.

Christina Westman wanted to be a music therapist and help people with Parkinson's and stroke. She was studying at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota when they decided to cut the music program.

Many colleges in the US are cutting programs because they don't have enough money. They used up special COVID money, things cost more, and fewer students are going to college now.

This is a big problem for students like Christina who picked their college for a specific program. She had to quickly find a new school and move, which was stressful and scary.

Colleges hoped that things would go back to normal after the pandemic, but they haven't. Fewer babies were born during a bad time for the economy, so there are just fewer students now.

Experts say this is just the beginning and more colleges will have to cut programs. This is especially hard on students in smaller programs and areas like music and art.