<p>Yes, the boy wants to go to Berklee. He dreams about it, he practices 24/7, he was even accepted.... but we are broker than broke so .....
Now we are in the midst of trying for UNT and possibly Middle TN State. But those seem very much "academic" schools and frankly he isn't interested in math or science or anything that doesn't involve a guitar. And don't say, yeah but he needs those blah blah, 'cause as a homeschooled student he went through Trig into Calc. and speaks 2 other languages, can do computer programming and fix hardware and software computer problems, etc ad nauseum. He wants to concentrate on guitar and music even to the point of not eating or sleeping.
Soooooo, my question is, are there any conservatory type jazz programs out there that are within our financial constraints? One I might be missing?</p>
<p>University of Southern Maine is supposed to have a very good music/conservatory program. And they also seemed to be quite generous with aid and scholarship money. </p>
<p>Has your son contacted the Berklee Financial aid office? Has he looked at any other conservatories such as Eastman?</p>
<p>Oberlin has a superb new jazz facility and a you might want to check out Bobby Ferrazzahttp://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/departments/jazz-studies/faculty_detail.dot?id=20741. Presumably Oberlin works with you to identify and meet 100% of need. If you are applying this year, the deadline is rapidly approaching though.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. I will have him check those out. We had looked at Oberlin before and Eastman, but weren’t sure about financials. I hadn’t had him look at Maine, so he will definitely look.</p>
<p>BTW, I reread my first post and I realize I sounded a little…um, let’s say mean, about the “don’t say” and “blah blah” stuff. If I came across as harsh or annoyed or even bragging, please forgive me. I’m experiencing a day or two of the growlies! (Otherwise known as dealing with my mother-in-law)</p>
<p>It’s not clear whether you are looking for schools with good financial aid or with lower costs.</p>
<p>Many conservatories attached to a college or university will have better financial aid than a freestanding conservatory like Berklee, as you know.</p>
<p>State universities would be more affordable and often have BM programs/music schools.</p>
<p>It will be easier to find programs for jazz than for popular music, so that is in his favor.</p>
<p>Hartt School, part of the U. of Hartford, has good guitar, as does UMass Lowell. Bennington has Frederick Hand, I believe, and has financial aid, but would involve more academics. Of course Oberlin would be great, and Oberlin has decent, if not amazing, financial aid. </p>
<p>Merit aid would be helpful. But at many schools it is subtracted from financial aid, just so you know (we didn’t).</p>
<p>Tough to give up Berklee I imagine!</p>
<p>Western Connecticut State University. Strong Music dept. overall and strong Jazz Studies in particular. Director of Jazz studies is a guitarist, a good guy and a good player. Proximity to New York is a big plus in terms of opportunity and access to faculty. I’ve heard some students perform and was favorably impressed. Very reasonable cost.</p>
<p>SUNY Purchase might be worth a look. also UMass Amherst. Neither offer much talent money or grant aid other than need-based, but the tuition costs are way less than Berklee. </p>
<p>My son passed up Berklee due to the cost, and is now happily ensconced at the Hartt School at the University of Hartford. He does have to take academic classes, but he tested out of the freshman English requirement, so he only takes a couple per semester. Be aware that they have a deadline by which you have to audition in order to be considered for a talent scholarship, and the date by which your application is due is tied to the audition date you want. so, if you wanted to audition in January, the due date for the application may be in a couple of weeks. </p>
<p>Have you run your numbers to find out what your estimated family contribution would be? You might be able to get need-based aid.</p>
<p>If your son is advanced academically, he could take the CLEP or AP tests for some of his gen ed requirements and get those out of the way at a school like MTSU or UNT.</p>
<p>This may have just been our situation, but we qualify for some need-based aid. My son applied to 8 programs. Oberlin is the only school that met our need with loans (student and parent). All the other schools met our need with grants and no loans. Maybe Oberlin just didn’t like him.</p>
<p>Great suggestions everyone! I especially agree with Hartt, Western Connecticut, UMASS and SUNY Purchase.</p>