Does Berklee even offer scholarships for vocalists? Seems like it’s just instrumentalists.
Yes berklee offers scholarships to a very small, select and competitive group of admitted students. We knew a person who had one…but he was a nationally recognized jazz vocalist while in HS. And he didn’t get a boatload of money from Berklee. The school does not have deep pockets.
The school brags about all the $$ they give out, but seems like all i hear about is guitarists getting scholarships. we know one who got a decent amount last year, and he really isn’t that talented- he is good looking though. i feel like they care more about appearance than talent.
My son, an instrumentalist but not guitar, got a pretty decent offer. He’ll be happy (honestly) that it was for his looks! 
wow - thanks.
My D is a vocalist who was admitted but with no scholarship money…she is however headed elsewhere on a full-tuition talent award. 
That is awesome, @PopPrincessPop ! We are probably doing the same thing. I found from the Berklee Financial Bleed Office that they do indeed segregate scholarships based on instruments - definitely not what they allude to in their promotional materials, and I don’t think they meant for me to figure it out. What a joke. If you don’t mind me asking, where is your D going?
Thanks @NotSure16 - My D going to the University of Memphis to study in their new BM: Commercial Performance program.
Berklee was still her first choice but with no aid it wasn’t even remotely doable. She loves the program, faculty, and performance opportunities at Memphis…the city will take a little warming up to! She did defer her Berklee admission “just in case” and they told her she can re-audition for scholarship consideration.
Where are you guys considering?
Good idea @PopPrincessPop We’re looking at Belmont. If your daughter is deferring at Berklee, there is one thing to be wary of, Berklee does not accept any transfer credit for music courses. Not even from The Boston Conservatory, and they are supposedly merging this summer!!!
She fully understands the transfer issue at Berklee @NotSure16 . We’re from Connecticut / New York and going to Tennessee and specifically Memphis is a bit of culture shock for her. She considers Memphis to be a bit too small town for her and is worried everyone will be super conservative politically which is quite opposite of where she is.
That being said she’s impressed by how much the school wants her, and she’s already been offered some great performance opportunities. I’m sure she’ll do just fine at Memphis and will really like the school, its my first choice for her. Deferring to Berklee helped her feel like she had another option available, even if that means starting over as a Freshman.
Belmont has a great program and seems like a fantastic option, hopefully that one is more affordable!
Definitely more affordable - especially with a scholarship! My daughter also has concerns about the smaller, southern city vibe, but we will see. You may be on to something with the deferral. At least she could probably test out of basic theory and ear training if she needs/wants to go to Berklee after Memphis. I just think that Berklee has created a very unequal field amongst the vocalists where there are a few singers they promote and support, and the rest are just “also rans”. I find it cruel, especially for such a “progressive” school.
@NotSure16, I was being facetious, sorry. IMO, Berklee, as well as many of the top music schools, are very matter-of-fact about how merits are distributed. It’s a recruitment tool, and little to do with who is deserving. I think this attitude is pretty reflective of the industry, as a whole. Not sure what you mean by Berklee being a progressive school, but I don’t think they pretend to promote holistic admissions policies nor do they have a reputation as a “nurturing” school.
FWIW, my son got one of his better merit offers from Berklee, which was a surprise. His worst was from the state flagship in our backyard where he knows many of the faculty and takes lessons from his instrument professor, who has always known that they’re not one of his top choices. Honestly, I think you can nail the audition but if that school is looking for something else, or has plenty of applicants for that instrument/voice, it’s going to affect that merit award. I would really try to find a way to not take it personally.
@NotSure16 vocalists and guitarists make up about 50% of the population at Berklee so the competition for spots and scholarships is more competitive and acceptance rate is lower than other instruments. Probably around 20%. Last year applications were at an all time high of 9,000 according to Roger Brown and acceptance rates at an all time low. I agree with previous post about not trying to take it so personally. Chances for scholarships for vocals and guitar are much smaller due to the number of those who apply on these instruments. Not a reason to knock the school. Just the way it is. I don’t think you will find a school that doesn’t differentiate scholarships between instruments. Otherwise, there would be little variety at most schools.
Just an FYI…Berklee received over 2400 applications this year for vocalists. Stiff competition!!!
well that is stiff competition, @rockinmomab - how many vocalists did they accept?
Dear Friend was admitted to Berklee as a vocalist and composer. He can almost no FA. his family was middle or slight upper middle (they owned a store with no liquidity). He got no FA. He ended up in Chicago studying there and working on several profitable musical productions.
Those numbers were not shared but based on % who accept admittance I would guess somewhere between 500-600. Purely a guess though.
@rockinmomab We’ve heard from a Berklee alumnus that if the school gives you a scholarship, they like you and you’re part of the team. If they don’t, you won’t be supported and they really don’t want you. They are just filling quotas. This person graduated some time ago, so maybe things have changed.) Still makes me wonder if my student would be included and get the support. I look at who they highlight on their website or in their blog. Not everyone has a parent that is a big time radio newscaster. Not everyone went to a performing arts high school. Not everyone can afford high-end summer programs. I really wonder if Berklee is invested in students that don’t have a scholarship.
It is not up to the school as to whether you are successful, it is up to each individual!!! Just because you may be a lucky one who received a scholarship, that has no bearing on your success!!! You have to work hard for everything in life. I don’t buy that argument at all!!! Students need to be invested in their own success and education not the other way around! There are plenty of talented kids that get scholarships and can’t cut the mustard!!! Don’t know what this former student means by supported??? My son did get a scholarship but I don’t find his experience any different than other students that didn’t get any $$. No one hands anybody anything! Success is earned!