DS is having a very hard time deciding between these. Lists of pros vs cons. discussions with music teachers, lots of research and still can’t make up his mind. I’m hoping some of you learned and experienced parents or students can offer some insights. DS would describe himself as a neo-Romantic, not at all into minimalism or atonality, and most interested in orchestral and opera (i.e. not as interested in electronic music or chamber music). He spent a couple weeks at BoCo last summer so is very familiar with the faculty and environment; State U direct admitted him to its composition department (usually reserved for sophomores) and Peabody has an amazing composition department which is sympatico with his style, but is unfortunately in Baltimore, and DS says it gave off a gloomy vibe. If he goes to State U, obviously it would be tons cheaper, and we could save up for a master’s degree at a conservatory. Sorry for the rambling here, but really would love any advice anyone has to offer.
Go where he likes the aesthetics of the department and they’re positive about the kind of music he wants to write. They’re going to be the ones evaluating his work and giving him feedback. If they don’t like what he’s creating that will be a whole lot more gloomy than whatever town he’s in.
This might depend upon which state university. Some in-state universities have very good music programs. I used to have a guitar teacher who had started at the Berklee College of Music, ran out of money, and finished at U.Mass. He spoke highly of the music program at U.Mass (and he was a good guitar teacher).
Saving money for use later seems like a very good idea in this case.
You have two good, helpful comments above. I know NOTHING about composition. However “on agonizing”, I have observed that when my D agonizes it has been either when she didn’t get what she wanted and had to pick something else or she did get what she wanted but it no longer felt right. The second scenario actually created the most anxiety because she then had to re-adjust. And my D “re-adjusts” slowly. Her initial thoughts were “wrong” so how could she trust her next move? Still your S could be just a slow, deliberate decision-maker. Nothing wrong with that.
I think you are asking great questions and it is important to help your kid think through issues…particularly finances. BUT let him agonize. Simply be a sounding board for him with little comment on what’s “right”… besides I trust you’ll make the best decision for yourself. And he WILL pick a school! It could be in the last hour but that’s OK.
Edit: And sometimes you think they’ll be a big celebration when they decide and then it’s more like an awkward first kiss that went wrong…and then May is weird…oh well…kids are sooo much fun!
@DadTwoGirls Many graduate music composition programs are free with stipends (just like in the sciences) - particularly if going for a DMA or PhD (fewer free MM programs) - so scrimping on undergrad with the idea of saving up for grad school may not end up being the wisest decision for a composition student. On the other hand, there are certainly conservatory grad programs with less aid so it may depend on the direction he’s heading. And music scoring non degree programs can be very expensive.
As long as the professors don’t mind the style of music he wants to write, and his peers are accepting, as well, he’ll be fine at any of the three.
A few miscellaneous comments:
You should encourage your son to get more interested in chamber music, because that’s most of what he’s going to write as an undergrad. And I think it should be that way. That’s how you learn and how you get performances.
Secondly, you say your son is not at all into atonality and yet the Peabody department is sympatico with his style. Who’s studio is he assigned to? The faculty writes more atonal music than not, as do the students. But that’s probably what you’ll find most everywhere these days. It doesn’t mean it’s a bad fit, but expectations should be correct here.
People put “new music” (contemporary classical) into the basket of “atonal,” which really isn’t what they are describing. Also, “minimalism” is not all that contemporary.
It would seem that your son does not know all that much about the different aesthetic schools of composition these days. He might want to read “The Rest is Noise” by Alex Ross. I can’t really quote it precisely but in there Ross says that high school composers all write neo-Romantic music and then during college years move on to…fill in the blank…and that is the point, what does your son want to develop in his music?
Curtis is probably the school most up his alley. I don’t really know who teaches at Peabody these days. BoCo seems to have a mix : I know some are writing more avant-garde music but I also know some personally who aren’t.
Even contemporary orchestral music isn’t neo-Romantic these days 
For undergrad, with a kid like this, I would try to find out which school has the most diversity in aesthetic style among faculty and students. If you can get a hold of student recordings or go to a concert, look for pieces that are very different, ditto faculty. At the undergrad level your son needs exposure to lots of different kinds of contemporary concert music- the best way to find his own “voice,” and the goal of composition training over many years it truly to find that “voice.”
His development may take him into some unexpected directions and that is a good thing.
BoCo has merged with Berklee,which makes it a pretty rich environment. If your son likes writing for orchestra and likes writing beautiful music (and believe me that is not assumed!) then he might want to get into film scoring at Berklee while at BoCo.
It’s pricey. If money is an issue, honestly, composers can do well from any school. The best grad schools have students with all kinds of backgrounds. Make sure grad students aren’t the real focus of the department though.
I’m derailing this thread a bit but I think these are important issues and can’t resist responding some.
Minimalism has been around for a while, but there are definitely certain composers whose music is strongly connected to that tradition (can we call it a tradition yet?). And there are higher concentrations at certain schools (though I don’t think any of these). So called “post-minimalism” is pretty common these days.
I’m not familiar with the precise quote either (though would definitely second the suggestion to read The Rest is Noise), but this quote feels somewhat tragic to me. Like school is there to root out all of the impulses young composers had which drew them into music and composing in the first place. I don’t think it’s just a matter of “maturity” which causes the change, but an increasing desire to be different and to impress. Not altogether bad but not altogether good either.
There are (successful) neo-romantic composers out there, and more commonly composers who have integrated the romanticism that they love into other musical idioms to create a style which retains all of the emotional power that we love about romantic music but also a freshness and originality.
I was responding to the idea that minimalism is represented as somehow typical of the contemporary scene to be rejected.
I completely agree with this: "more commonly composers who have integrated the romanticism that they love into other musical idioms to create a style which retains all of the emotional power that we love about romantic music but also a freshness and originality. " That is exactly the point- a “voice” that is individual.
I was simply afraid the OP’s son might reject certain environments where developing that voice might be possible. And I think schools with a diverse aesthetic are best for that, for undergrad.
I feel the same way about those who are just trying to be “unique.” In every art form. But an organic, authentic evolution of style does tend to happen over the years. I am only advocating for openness.
I ran out of time for my edit, which was long! So just to clarify, I think minimalism is a small piece of a very big pie and atonal music can sometimes sound Romantic The specificity of what is being rejected seemed strange that is all.
Apologies to the OP because this tangent isn’t really relevant to school choice, since both these schools could be a good fit, so much as how to use the school program once there.
One other thing: doctoral programs tend to be funded but one idea for some composers who need to get a master’s first is to go abroad, where it is less expensive …in the UK a master’s is one year
Geneologylady, PM’ed you