I've been writing music since I was about 12 (I'm 25 now) and have used Finale in many years.

I compose very loosely in classical styles. Wouldn't be able to classify it as solely classical, I can only write things that touch upon it slightly.

Is it only me that can't write good music? I nearly always end up just stealing a riff from another song. I'm currently doing Music at university but I know they'll probably fail you if you directly copy something. I once got disqualified from a performance exam because my piece sounded too close to Roy Orbison's Pretty Woman.

You will not only get a failing grade, you will likely be expelled for plagiarism if you copy material directly without proper credit. That will make it really hard, if not impossible, to enroll in any other school (even if you go to another country - your transcript follows you!)

That being said, there is only much you can do until your compositions start sounding vaguely familiar to people. But it takes a while to get to that point. Start by experimenting with odd harmonic progressions or time signatures, and use block chords to create this progression. Once you have something, come up with a melody of sorts based on those chords, that also fits into the key and time signatures you chose. Since you're in music, I assume you can read and write music. Notate your song on manuscript paper as you go along. This will make it easier to see what direction your music is headed in.

Got one right here. Fun stuff. If only there were as many high-scale orchestras just DYING to play the music of unknown composers out there...

I myself am an amateur composer.

I dont even bother with notation software. I just play and record it right into a DAW. I guess ill write out the notes if any real musicians offer to perform my works one day xD

Hy,
I compose electro music, but i am at the beginning a pianist playingChopin.
I havé composed a small pièce of classic music. The other tracks are electro. Search on soundcloud "jaliyworld" and listen to birthofesperance... That the classical one.
Enjoy it. Bye

Notation on paper may be a lost art...

I've been working on transcribing & rearranging Tuvan folk songs for Band & Orchestra, & I'm also writing an electro-acoustic piece for chamber strings called "Disney's ****tales"

is there any money in sheet music anymore? are orchestras using kindles yet?

A friend of mine owns a resale shop and has been getting top dollar for old sheet music scores. She wanted to know if I had any. I laughed for a good while then told her no.