<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>Is its reputation really so bad?</p>
<p>How expensive is it?</p>
<p>What can you do with an from there?</p>
<p>What's it like going and living there?</p>
<p>Thanks a ton :)</p>
<p>-Jules</p>
<p>I really don't know too much but I live near Berklee and it has a great reputation around here.</p>
<p>It is known by many musicians to be amazing. It's in Boston, so "the college town." When I was considering doing music, I looked into it somewhat, but I forget a lot of what I learned. It's constantly talked about in Modern Drummer as being a premier music school, but it has a very strict mode of operation (as a drummer, you basically have to do a tuned percussive intrument). Find out about your instrument/interest specifically and the reputation for that as it is the most important to you. Also, talk to players of your instrument who were formally trained for info about different music schools.</p>
<p>Berklee is better suited for students who are interested in modern music and Jazz. There are better options for students interested in classical training. Also, it does not have many academic options available. However, for what it does, it does very well.</p>
<p>Whoops, I do recall the classical vs modern distinction.</p>
<p>(Obligatory Berkeley joke)</p>
<p>my high school is nationally known for its jazz program, and students frequently go there for its jazz department; one person that i graduated with got several huge national awards for jazz/improv, and he went to berklee. i believe hes now a professional musician?
so it definitely has a good reputation.</p>
<p>One of my kids went there for two years and my niece is there now, so I know a bit about Berklee.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>It's ONLY for people interested in jazz/pop/music technology. Classical musicians should go elsewhere.</p></li>
<li><p>It's not too selective, but once there you can only succeed if you're good and work hard.</p></li>
<li><p>It consists of several buildings inserted into a very urban, bustling, and generally quite safe area of Boston, surrounded within walking distance by Back Bay, Fenway Park, the Prudential Center (vast shopping area), and Symphony Hall. It has some dorms but not nearly enough to house everyone, but there are lots of safe off-campus living options nearby. A car is not only unnecessary but probably a hindrance; Boston has an excellent subway system. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>It's as expensive as any private college but does have some financial aid available for strong applicants.</p>
<p>You can be a professional musician when you graduate from there. One of my D's close friends from there now lives in NYC and sound engineers recordings for major pop stars; another is a successful popular singer in the European country that she came from.</p>
<p>The main thing to understand is that by choosing a music conservatory over a regular liberal arts college, you are committing yourself to a true pre-professional training program that is anything but well-rounded. You need to be really sure that's what you want to do with your life.</p>
<p>That was quite helpful...especially veteranmom :)</p>