I am trying to decide if the crazy tuition is worth paying for BOCO MT compared to other schools my D got accepted to. Any input is appreciated!
BoCo is a wonderful place!! Can’t really speak to whether it’s worth it compared to other schools because I don’t know where you’ve been accepted and your financial situation. The question is do you want a conservatory education? The work at BoCo is challenging and the days are long. There are lots of opportunities. A couple of things you need to factor into BoCo is you need to find an apartment after freshman year. And did I say…Boston is an awesome city. Another thing the class is large but separated into separate cores of 12 - 15.
@jd5mom My daughter is freshman MT who is thinking of transferring out. My personal opinion is that no it’s not worth it. The training is good, but because it’s a Conservatory there is no feeling of being in college. No campus, dorms are quaint but kids are packed in, 4 to a room, in my daughters dorm 12-14 girls shared 1 shower and toilet. Kids use the berklee cafeteria or eat off campus. My daughter struggled socially because she’s not a partier and kids spend free time going off campus to frat parties at surrounding schools. That’s a hard situation because they come as outsiders . I have been disappointed in the school’s lack of support to students. It’s truly like you are on your own, living in Boston and taking classes. I guess I compare her experience to my older daughter at a traditional college, where there is a variety of options to get involved in. Boston is a great city but at 18, it’s hard to feel like your kind of out there on your own. Feel free to ask me any questions. I think the school could be great but it’s run very poorly!
When my daughter was trying to make this decision, we asked one of her coaches the same question who said to us, “I don’t think ANY school is worth $70,000 a year!!” We passed, deciding not to wipe out our retirement funds or saddle our child with debt going into such a precarious field. Plus she was genuinely conflicted between this school and the school she ended up going to (which was less than half the cost so considering her ambivalence it was pretty much a no brainer). Of course if this is your child’s dream school and you have the money, go for it. We know kids who love it.
Thank you all for your input. Our dilemma is should I take her there to visit since she has never been? I am worried she will fall in love and we really applied there thinking she wouldn’t get in but she really wanted to try! These decisions are driving me crazy!!!
Just to comment on this one comment, and not as to whether BOCO is worth the money…
…the quoted comment brings up something students really need to think about…what sort of environment and setting is a good fit for them (in addition to the program itself). Schools smack dab in the city are not like regular college campuses. In lots of ways, you are living in the city and your life is not confined to campus stuff. This is true at schools like NYU, BOCO, University of the Arts, Marymount Manhattan, Emerson, etc. It is even more pronounced at schools like BOCO or U of Arts because these are conservatories that are not part of a larger whole (school). So, there are less school related things going on outside of the program. This is not for all people. My kid (who went to NYU) loved this aspect of going to college in the city. It would not be what I would have chosen for myself (I went to a college right by the city, but it had a campus, and so did my other daughter). Nothing against BOCO (my D got in there, and liked it, though preferred a program that was part of a university). Boston is a fantastic place to go to college. I went to college and grad school in Boston, and I have recently returned. But my point is that this kind of setting that BOCO has, coupled with not being part of a larger whole/university, is different than many other BFA programs in other settings. So, this aspect of a school choice should be considered, on top of whether the student likes the program itself.
@jd5mom is it worth visiting I think absolutely.
My S dropped BoCo from his list a few years back after the tour. The urban setting did not bother him but he determined after the tour if he chose a conservatory, he preferred a conservatory within a university. That said, even conservatory-within-a-university BFA/BM students have very little time to participate in outside activities (Greek life, etc) but, if schedules allow, can take advantage of broader university course offerings. I understand BoCo students can take classes at surrounding universities - and Boston is an amazing city for college students - all plusses. I agree with @Ducky312 - if you have not visited, visit!
We know several kids who have thrived there and graduated and who are working; we also know a girl who graduated feeling like she didn’t get enough stage time or support in her large class of MTs, and we know kids who left after a year due to finances. Way back when, only one of my boys applied after we toured the campus; the other felt it would be too isolating only being with musicians and musical theatre students 24/7 and that the school itself was too small. (It would have been a struggle for us financially, so it was for the best that they ended up elsewhere.)
Having said ALL that, though…clearly there are a lot of working BoCo MT grads, so I think for a very arts-focused student who isn’t looking for a traditional college experience or rigorous academics, and who is very driven to focus on music and theatre, the school could be an absolute gem. Especially for one who is truly music-focused - maybe a kids who plays an instrument, too? Also, going to school in Boston is simply wonderful – it’s a city of so many students with a thriving arts, comedy and cultural scene. I’d love to go to school in Boston! 
I could not disagree with @musicalmama more – which is why I urge you to visit and make up your own mind about what is a good fit for your D. I would venture to say that every program has kids who love it and, unfortunately, some who don’t. Mine is madly in love with Boco and her friends are as well. During auditions, My D wanted a big, traditional football team type of college. She had acceptances to a few schools that fit that mold but when she went to visit Boco she knew it was her home. First dorms: My D’s dorm is a beautiful brownstone – it is gorgeous and very spacious, I think she lucked out but don’t believe everyone is crammed as was previously described. She has tons of friends, a busy social life but the program is extremely rigorous. She is in class often from 9:00 am to 7pm, and has had rehearsals after that. She is getting top training, and Boco is often listed as a top 10 program with an impressive list of working grads – the quality of the program isn’t as much the issue as is whether your D wants to attend, and whether financially it works – those are questions only you can answer. I would urge your D to join the Facebook group for newly admitted students and ask the kids themselves. Boco is a conservatory based in a big city. The environment is totally supportive! We had a death in our family this year and I was blown away by the communication, and how well it was handled by the administration, her teachers, etc. My D has found the environment to be accepting, loving, supportive, not cut throat at all. Boston is a great place to live, but yes, it is expensive. This school is costly, and the living expenses are as well. I was worried about casting, however my D has already performed as there are tons of performance opportunities. Honestly, training in my opinion is more important than casting at this stage – and the training is superb. The freshman class is large (65, similar to NYU Tisch), but they are broken into cores, and it really does have a small bfa feel in that each core takes classes together for an entire year. They get mixed up each year which can also be a plus. My D takes Tap, jazz, and ballet and there are numerous levels that your child can be placed in – another plus. Partying is not an issue that I am aware of, these kids are so so busy there isn’t much time for that. We are lucky, My D received a partial scholarship which made a big difference in this decision for us. The list of current boco grads working professionally is also impressive. But in the end it has to work for your D and you. If you have any questions, please feel free to IM me. I too was hesitant about the school but this has been a wonderful year my D has loved every minute of it – and she has continued to grow as an artist, and a person.
1 Like
@mtmamma2020 thank you for your post. As I posted on Friday, my D has just been accepted to BOCO and is over the moon about it. I agree that BOCO isn’t for everyone, any more than a large state university or small liberal arts college is right for every kid, but I think college is more organic than we sometimes realize. I mean, sure for some it’s about the ivy-clad buildings and the football team and Greek life, and for others it’s more about urban cafes and cool studio spaces, but really when I think about my college experience, I mostly remember the friendships and the learning–great professors and that feeling of bonding with students who shared my curiosities and passions, and I think as long as that’s taking place, it’s college, whether you are in a brownstone in a big city or a conventional dorm in rural America. They will create their college experiences from their connections to teachers, peers, and new ideas and experiences. Can we afford BOCO? Well, it isn’t going to be easy, that’s for sure, and we are still crunching numbers and looking for ways we can cut back on other things, but we do believe that for our D it’s going to be worth it. Not because there are any guarantees of success via BOCO versus a different program, but because she is so darn grateful to be going there, she’s going to work harder than she ever has in her life, and that’s going to make it worth it. And I think it’s that sense of opportunity upon opportunity that will make a college worth the price, almost more than anything specific that might be offered there. At least that’s what we’ve seen in our English major/small liberal arts college son. Does that make sense?
1 Like
I’ll just put in my 2 cents since my daughter did the summer program and my son is a junior at Berklee. BOCO training is top rate. Instructors are great and alumni have connections and are always working. Kids are super talented and work really hard. The facilities are nice but the dorms are as described by @jd5mom and my daughter had the same experience with girls crammed in a room and 1 working bathroom. No air conditioning and dining hall 10 minute walk away. There’s a small cafe near the dorms to get a coffee and muffin in the morning. Lot’s of restaurants in the area, lots of bars, Fenway Park is right there, along with a really bad homeless problem and lots of druggies wandering the streets begging. They are super aggressive. I would advise your kids not to walk around at night. It’s pretty bad. I know it’s a city and all but there’s very little police presence and they just seem to overlook the crime. People deal drugs right in front of you and no-one seems to care. I don’t want to scare anyone but don’t go in with blinders on. Our country is being hit with a big heroin problem right now and unfortunately this area is suffering for it. That being said, there are lots of young students that love living there and as long as your street smart you’ll be fine. My son moved to Brookline which is a short commute from Berklee and much more affordable, which will become a consideration for BOCO students since housing is only guaranteed for freshman. There are lots of apartments around but $$$$ near campus.
Wow samigaga, I couldn’t disagree more about your observations about safety at and around BoCo, and I think you’ve made a very unfair representation here. My daughter is a sophomore now and in her time in Boston I have never heard of ANY incidents concerning “super aggressive druggies wandering the street begging”. BoCo students are ALWAYS out at night because they have to get to and from late night rehearsals. Again, I’ve never heard about any crimes committed against a student or even about any type of harassment. I have been to Boston a half-dozen times in the past two years where I’ve walked late at night back to my hotel from a performance and I haven’t ever seen anything like you are describing, nor have I felt unsafe at any time.
In response to @jd5mom, every time we have to write out that tuition check or sign an apartment lease, I ask the same question! It’s exorbitant, no doubt about it. My D had a few BFA choices and I tried to steer her towards a cheaper option where she would have graduated debt free. But she felt strongly that BoCo’s curriculum, reputation, alumni success and professional access was going to give her a better chance of having a successful career after graduation than those other options. The icing on the cake for her was a supportive class and faculty, being in a big city and the “feel” of a college town with almost 200k students living within a few miles.
All that said, it is an individual and personal decision. You should definitely visit all of the schools under consideration and observe classes, meet students and faculty. Have your child join the “accepted students” Facebook groups (not only for BoCo, but for all of the schools she is considering), to get a feel for her potential classmates. Learn as much as you can about the curriculum. How many dance classes will be required (the more, the better) and how many levels of dance are offered? What kind of private voice instruction is offered? What are the performance opportunities? Learn as much as you can about what each school provides.
Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions about BoCo, or if you’d like I can put my D in touch with your child.
Good luck with your decision!
Boco is in one of the wealthiest nicest areas of Boston…with that said it is still a city. I haven’t seen or heard of any problems mentioned here.
I have a daughter who is a sophomore at BoCo…it has been AMAZING for her. She also had other choices of programs she was accepted to and could choose, but she had attended a summer program held at BoCo, got to know some of the professors, and fell in love with everything about the school. It has been an incredible experience fo her. We live nowhere near Boston, but manage to get out there 3-4 times a year. I’ve seen how her professors are with the students, in and out of classes - they know these kids, care about them. all of them. We were having lunch one day, her professor was passing by and stopped, sat down and talked with us for a bit. The training they get is incredible. My daughter had danced for years - they still have challenging dance classes for her (and also for beginners). Music wise they are learning to play piano, ear training, music theory, history, site reading and conducting. Acting training is very intense. These kids carry 18-19 credit hours, have very full days and are learning so much. You need to check this place out. Feel free to message me with questions too. I can’t tell you how much we love this place!!
@Bogeyw I am speaking first hand from my own experiences. My son has attended school and lived there for three years. and my husband is an alumni who contributes greatly to the college and has a scholarship in his name so I have no interest in making it sound bad. Just be careful especially if you have kids that aren’t used to that environment. I recommend you subscribe to spotcrime.com. It might open up your eyes. My feeling is that it is better to educate our kids about the reality, rather than having them believe they are always safe. That way they can take precautions. Also I am not sure why you aren’t getting the text alerts from the school. I get them.
Here are a few of the alerts I received ( I omitted the phone numbers and links):
Berklee Public Safety Advisory
On 11/8/16 at approximately 5:45PM, a student was approached on Mass Ave by what was described as a homeless vagrant. The student reported that the homeless individual slapped them in the facial area as they were walking by. Student was not injured, Berklee Police are currently investigating the matter.
All Berklee Community Members are reminded to be aware of their surroundings at all times and to report any similar incidents to Berklee Public Safety and/or Boston Police.
All Berklee Community Members are welcomed to contact Berklee Public Safety if they should wish to utilize our Public Safety escort service available 24/7.
Another:
This is a Berklee Public Safety Advisory.
Please be advised that on this date at approximately 2:50PM, a female student
was approached by a male subject not known to her in the area of Edgerly Road near CVS.
The male accosted her by putting his hands on her waist and making unwanted advances.
The student was able to leave the area unharmed. The individual is described as a short, bearded, black male with a short afro, approximately 5’5-5’6 in height wearing a bagged black T-shirt and black jeans.
Community members are reminded to always be aware of their surroundings and please report any suspicious activity to Berklee Police
More:
Dear Berklee Community Members:
This is a Berklee Public Safety Advisory
Name: Omasanjuma Wyse
D.O.B.: 03/28/1990
Address: Homeless
Mr. Wyse has been stopped several times on Berklee property without proper authorization and vagrancy. He was issued an official Trespass Notice prohibiting him from all Berklee and the Conservatory at Berklee property.
He was arrested on 09/01/2016 while trespassing on Berklee Property (260 Commonwealth Avenue) on an outstanding arrest warrant.
He was released upon arraignment and issued a Berklee Police Trespass Notice. He is prohibited from any Berklee or Conservatory at Berklee Property.
If you do happen to observe Mr. Wyse in the area of any Berklee or Conservatory at Berklee Property, please contact the Berklee Police/Public Safety Department.
Thank you.
Follow BCMPublicSafety for updates
Boston Conservatory is the safest college campus in Boston and #8 in the state of Massachusetts. https://www.niche.com/colleges/rankings/safest-colleges/s/massachusetts/
Maybe it was not your intention, but it truly seems like fear mongering. Honestly, making it sound like a slum with drug deals on every corner, homeless druggies accosting innocent students, and “don’t go out at night” comments are doing a real disservice. The Berklee Campus Security Department’s Clery Crime reports indicate 95% of total incidents involve alcohol and drug law violations. https://www.berklee.edu/sites/default/files/2016Boston_0.pdf.
My daughter gets the notification texts from BENS and said she has RARELY gotten anything concerning criminal activity. The last one a couple months ago was a warning about a drunk guy yelling at people in the street.
Any big city or tourist area is going to have crime…a great majority of what’s on spotcrime are car thefts, shoplifting, with a few assaults…which comes with the territory when 50,000 people congregate for a sports event and the bar density in Boston is in the Top 10 in the US. Again, NOT ONE incident to a student at BoCo in the almost two years my daughter has been there.
We bought my daughter pepper spray…she Ubers home at night when she is more than a few blocks away and doesn’t have anyone else to walk with. She stays aware of her surroundings. ANY college student should be taught to take these types of precautions at college…whether they’re in Boston, Manhattan or Podunk, Iowa.
@Bogeyw The alerts I posted are the actual Berklee/BoCo BENS alerts from this past fall. There were a few more but I felt the point was made. I have an apartment in NYC in the village and I’m not fear mongering at all. I’m aware there is crime everywhere. There are many parents who would like a clear understanding of what to expect when sending their kids far away from home and I’m just giving my honest assessment. Also I don’t know if you noticed on the niche survey the location got a grade of C for safety. The actual dorms and campus, meaning inside, got a grade of A.
Like I said in my original post, you can’t ask for better MT training than BoCo, instructors and program are top notch.