<p>I am really interested in applying to Berklee and I've read some bad things on the internet about them. Many people are saying that you'll make it through the audition process if you have money and that's really all they care about. I would think schools like that are just in it for the money and won't provide a good education. </p>
<p>Also, does anyone know any contemporary music school with good reputations such as Berklee that I can apply to? I know Cal Arts is good but I need more schools to apply to...I'm a singer and play the piano a little but I'm looking to do more popular stuff- not classical.</p>
<p>Two recent threads, both on page 1, with a mention of specific programs, and additional advice and links.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1007941-commercial-music-major.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1007941-commercial-music-major.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/942647-usc-popular-music-performance-major.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/942647-usc-popular-music-performance-major.html</a></p>
<p>There’s plenty here on Berklee. It is a highly competitive process, and much of the negative reaction you may have read is based on prior experience, not recent history. As for an education, it is a conservatory, music 24/7. The academics are limited, and if you seek a broad range of academic options, it is not necessarily the place to be.</p>
<p>A “Berklee” search on thread titles shows 29 threads, and there are additional comments in other untitled posts. This may help you find things here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/892168-search-tips-other-insights.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/892168-search-tips-other-insights.html</a></p>
<p>In addition to SnowflakeVT’s d, there are other posters at or with audition experience, acceptances to Berklee. The poster PamelaMaeSnap has a d at Berklee as a singer/songwriter, and has offered to address questions via private message. You may wish to contact her. The search tips thread details using the Masters lists to identify potential other contacts.</p>
<p>That was probably the case like 5 years at Berklee but it’s changed and the audition process is more rigorous. Hopefully financial status has nothing to do with it, seeing as that’s my top choice.</p>
<p>I have a friend who got into Berklee with a pretty rough family situation and very little money, so if that’s any indication, I don’t think financial status has much of a role in acceptance.</p>
<p>One of my friends from my graduating high school class went to Berklee and she was by no means rich. She also had pretty good grades and had a beautiful voice. There were also a bunch of other kids who applied, one who was really good at guitar and another was a singer, but both had mediocre/poor grades and they didn’t get in. Both came from pretty upper class families. Those are just my experiences, usually colleges don’t pick students based on money they pick them because they think they can succeed.</p>
<p>grades really don’t matter to much, it reflects your work ethic and efforts but it seems Berklee (as well as other conservatories) are all audition based. berklee doesn’t even ask much academically</p>
<p>32% had h.s. GPA of 3.75 and higher
23% had h.s. GPA between 3.5 and 3.74
18% had h.s. GPA between 3.25 and 3.49
15% had h.s. GPA between 3.0 and 3.24
7% had h.s. GPA between 2.5 and 2.99
4% had h.s. GPA between 2.0 and 2.49
1% had h.s. GPA between 1.0 and 1.99
(from college board)</p>
<p>I mean your right, but over 3.25 GPA accounts for little more than 70% of the admitted freshman. GPA and effort in school must have some sort of importance. Both kids, guitar player and the singer, both had below 2.5 GPAs. Both were really good, but didn’t really make the GPA cut. I am just comparing three kids in my high school that applied, this doesn’t mean that it applies to everyone. I just figured I would share it.</p>
<p>^Nice post. I think that data should put the myth-mill to rest ;)</p>
<p>There are a lot of talented students out there. If given a choice between somewhat equal auditions, one that has a good GPA and one that has a mediocre one, the higher GPA will probably be selected. The GPA does speak to some level of work ethic, too. GPA also opens up more scholarships. No HS student should really plan on being so much more talented than the others that GPA does not matter. That will be true for a few, but for the vast majority they should not count on it. A low GPA may limit the choices.</p>