My son is trying to decide between BoCo and NEC. Our original thought in January was to go back and visit schools he was admitted to. Obviously that can’t happen now. He is going for music performance. If anyone has a student at one of these schools, I’d love to know about dorms, dining hall food plans, facility conditions, general education requirements, etc.
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We toured NEC. Absolutely love the place. Dorms (2-3 years old) are plush (according to my son - I didn’t see them) with a good-sized cafeteria inside and lots of seating areas. The dorms connect to the music building so no going out into the cold. Dorms seem safe with many card swipes necessary to get around inside. Good selection of restaurants and coffee shops within walking distance. Boston Symphony Orchestra very close. School itself is on a street corner. Inside has some beautiful spots and some ordinary hallways just like most music schools. The old dorms were turned into extra practice rooms. You could undoubtedly get a look at the performance halls online. A couple neat touches outside like a lighted violin (viola? cello?) scroll sculpture and some themed benches. The website says there’s a YMCA next door but we didn’t look for it. I honestly thought everything about it was perfect.
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PMed you
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Thanks @tableforsix. I was wondering about the dorms and if all 1st and 2nd year students were housed in the new building. I think my son’s audition was in part of that building but we didn’t have time to tour or anything.
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NEC’s dorm is connected to one of the buildings on campus - the St. Botolph building. You still need to go outside to get to the main Jordan Hall Building but it is just across the street.
NEC requires freshmen and sophomores to live in the dorm.
It is very nice (especially compared to the old dorms - where I stayed in the 80’s!!) Very modern and secure.
And Jordan Hall is wonderful!
You can read my detailed information in the “What is it really like” thread that is pinned at the top of the forum.
My D is going to be a junior there next year and loves it. They have responded well to the current crisis and even refunded a portion of the Room and Board payments.
Wishing you all the best in your family’s decision making!
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Son still hasn’t made a decision. NEC has been his dream school- but that dream will cost $15,000 more a year than BoCo. So many people have told him/us that he should go to NEC if he wants classical trombone, but is it worth that much more than classical trombone at BoCo? And with the state of the economy, I am not sure I want to take the risk that we can save enough to pay for the additional cost.
I would love to hear some positives about Boston Conservatory!
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Yes intellectually I know you are right. We’re Making him visit FSU next week to see if he’ll get more interested. The problem is everyone has told him they focus mainly on graduate students and neglect undergrads. I have a hard time believing that as the music college consistently rates very high! Thanks for your input ‘ suggestions.