<p>Berklee College of Music is one of my top 5 college choices. I've visited & loved the location and inner workings of the school as well as the curriculum. The only major concern my family and I have about Berklee is the fact that they supposedly have very little dorm availability. Does anyone know how safe/nice the nearby apartments are, and whether or not it would be advisable for a college freshman to reside in one?</p>
<p>Berklee seems to try really hard to prioritize 1st time freshman into dorms. If you start in January, there will be less new dorm spaces available, but if you start in fall, chances are much better. In the event that you have to find an apartment, the area immediately around Berklee is safe and you can get a very nice or not-as-nice apartment depending on what you want to spend. My daugher is a sophomore and resides in a a studio apartment within 7 minutes of walkig to Berklee. Parking is very expensive, so having a car may not be worth it. Apartments within walking distance are the most expensive as they are also within walking distance to Boston U, Northeastern, and other colleges very nearby. If you go further out, you can save a lot of money, and can take the T into campus. Brookline is one of ‘suberbs’ that students live in, often sharing an apartment in order to have a nicer overall place for the same price. There are many apartments and studios within walking distance that are situated in what looks like row houses. Most have 2 doors before you can get to your apartment door; the first door may or may not lock, the 2nd door you can’t get in without a key, so you have to buzz the room you want to visit; the apartment owner can choose whether or not to buzz a visitor in through the 2nd door. The row houses can be 4 or more floors high, so if you live on the 4th floor you will get a little exercise each day as elevators are not typical. </p>
<p>I would advise that a freshman live in the dorm for the first year if at all possible. There is a lot of transitioning to do in a new college, new city and with a new workload. Having to worry about groceries, cooking, and paying add’l bills may just be an unnecessary stress. You’ll also get to meet other students more easily, including the presidential scholarship students who are required to live in the dorms as part of their scholarship.</p>
<p>this is why i applied early action, to secure housing. i don’t think id be able to deal with living in my own apartment and moving across the country. that being said i’ve talked to a ton of students about it and many are in their own apartments, usually by second year. it actually comes out cheaper than dorms to just get an apartment with friends. but obviously that first year is essential to network and find people you connect with and who are reliable! i don’t even think they let freshmen have cars? i dunno i know that’s obviously a huge problem, i don’t plan on driving at all if i get in though…i find out tonight! :D</p>
<p>If you are new to the area the dorms might be a good option for convenience and getting to know other students. In general they are more expensive than apartments shared with others and have rules about practicing in your room etc. (not allowed) but they do have practice rooms available. S is a 4th semester student at Berklee- lives in an apartment in Allston- about a half hour ride by the T. Loves the freedom- there is a Berklee owned building in his neighborhood in which you can reserve practice space- he rehearses his band there a couple of days a week. His freshman year he lived in a apartment a stone’s throw away from campus in the Fenway area. It was small, dark and loud but it was close. He paid 800 a month for a 1+ bedroom there, is paying less in Allston for a 3 bedroom unit with 2 porches, wood floors, granite counter tops, small back yard, great kitchen etc.
Regarding driving- if you can avoid it do. Its very expensive and inconvenient to park in Boston- and then there’s the winter. This winter has been a nightmare of course with all the snow.We live North of Boston- about 45 minute drive- if S needs a car for a gig etc he takes the train up and gets it- doesn’t often leave it in the city over night. Too expensive. Freshmen can have cars (you’ll find that at Berklee they’re not usually called Freshmen, sophomores etc but by their semester- 1st through 8th. A whole lot of students are first semester in their late 20’s and early 30’s- many already have bachelor’s degrees etc. Seems funny to call them freshmen I guess so they’ don’t 
Best of luck with your admission decision!</p>
<p>We walked all around Berklee when we visited last summer for the Guitar Session, and there is a lot of good housing around the campus. We walked over to Fenway Park and there are a lot of apartments over there that are not far from campus. My S stayed with his aunt in Swampscott and took the T in from Lynn one day and it wasn’t bad at all, though he says if he goes to Berklee he definitely wants to live on campus or as close to it as possible. He did not enjoy the Guitar Sessions as much as he could have because he was not there all evening for the jam sessions and just getting to know the other kids.</p>
<p>Berklee emphasises forming your own groups and bands and showing your initiative as a musician. It’s pretty hard to do that as a freshman if you are too far away from campus.</p>
<p>S had an interesting perspective on that this year which surprised me. He said that when he lived close to campus he went home between classes- practiced, did homework etc and didn’t spend as much time socializing on campus as he could have. He had a few friends in his building and spent most of his time with them and his band mates.
This year he’s further off campus, comes in in the am and stays all day. He goes to the library, hangs out more with the other students between classes and says he’s make a lot more new friends outside of class this year. He also has made an effort to chat with prof’s during their office hours and as a result has built some great relationships with them. He thinks living further off campus made him get out there and socialize more since he couldn’t easily go back and forth all day. Go figure Guess everyone has their own style and they all figure it out in their own way.</p>
<p>Thanks, all! I’m glad there’s a general agreement here that it won’t be too difficult for a “first semester student =)” to get a dorm room, and that the surrounding/not-too-far apartments can be quite safe and nice. This is some great information that I’ll be sure to discuss with my parents if I get accepted for the upcoming fall semester. My audition is in less than two weeks - fingers crossed! </p>
<p>p.s., great advice & interesting perspective, jazzguitarmom!</p>
<p>good luck!! i just learned of my acceptance…it’s a great feeling!</p>
<p>Thanks, and congratulations!!! =D</p>