As I posted elsewhere, my son just received his acceptance from Berklee (he will be transferring as a second-year student). We’ve paid the tuition deposit already (one of the few things I’d actually feel gleeful about forking over $1,000 for!).
The acceptance letter lists a few thing that they suggest he do pretty much right away. Among them are speaking to his academic advisor about his plans, and getting in touch with the head of the department for his instrument (guitar). It is, however, still only January, and he’s not starting until the fall.
We’re still quite new to the protocols/etiquette for a music student. Would now really be a good time for him to start contacting key people and introducing himself, etc., or would it be better to wait a bit? My son does not want to appear to be “up-sucking,” and I understand that. On the other hand, it might be nice and helpful for him to begin to establish some relationships with faculty and staff there, where appropriate. And, again, the letter specifically encouraged him to do so among the things he should do first.
Any thoughts from more experienced parents and/or students?
S got accepted to Berklee but didn’t ended up choosing it. But I would say whether Berklee or anywhere, it’s worthwhile to make the connection. The instrumental teacher may be able to help him identify weak areas to work on before fall, and the advisor can help him understand degree/career options so he can better articulate his plans and goals and therefore work toward them more efficiently. I wouldn’t want to be emailing every afternoon, but a little bit of contact can be very beneficial and help him hit the ground running when school starts. Congratulations to your S - it’s a wonderful school!
Thank you for the very clear and helpful advice, @BassTheatreMom ! I’m going to show it to my son. And congratulations to your son as well–for his acceptance into Berklee and to the school he chose!
Is this a form letter that goes out to the majority of students later on?
If the letter suggests doing this, I think it would be fine. Especially the dept.head or future teacher. Academic advising might wait… but I don’t really know, others may…
It was just part of the acceptance packet that came in the mail. It included a section about “What to do next,” or something along those lines. It’s just that with the early response to his early action application, it just seems very…early 
.
Teacher selection and class selection at Berklee both have first-come-first-served components to it (along with seniority), so it pays to understand the system. I think it would be worth touching base with the advisor and the dept chair just to understand the how/when he’ll get to register for classes and choose a teacher. At Berklee, teacher assignments are for the semester only, so no guarantees for subsequent semesters. Dept chair is also a good resource for finding ensembles.
Overall, temper your expectations for Berklee’s administration. It tends to be disorganized and not very nurturing of its students. Kids all seem to find and make their own “village” and are super supportive of each other. As a parent, joining one of the Facebook parent groups really helps (mostly so we’re not nagging our kids for info… )
Nag… Who, me? Perish the thought! I have passed along the very helpful feedback I’ve received here, and my son has told me that he will get in touch with the advisor and Department Chair. I’m still working on toeing that very fine line between offering helpful parenting and trying to back off and let my 19-year-old learn to make his own way with these things… Not easy!
And thank you too, @ScreenName48105 , for telling me about the Facebook group. However, one of the few things I will not do even for my son is join another social media platform! I just really came to hate FB. If I thought I would be able to keep the interactions confined to the Berklee group, I’d definitely do it. But I know that I just can’t make it work that way.
I will, however, continue to make use of all the information and support available on this forum!
As mother,
Regardless one thing your son can do is start preparing for entering Berklee. That means more practice, reinforcing his skills, maybe studying up on his theory, doing as much ear training as possible (there are apps for that), playing with as many diverse musicians as he can connect with, listening -listening and more listening so he knows what music he likes and is thinking about what he wants to create, READING-fiction, non fiction, current events so he has ideas behind his projects and that is important for artists these days, and finally focusing on relaxing and his own mental health and physical health. Because the stronger player he is upon entering the more likely he will land in an ensemble that challenges him and connects him with fellow musicians he wants to work with.
I love this advice too, @StacJip --and “check” on most of it (he practices all the time and seems to be fascinated by theory…the audition person at Berklee also noted that he has perfect pitch, so I assume that helps?). He’s already bought and is working with some of the equipment/software he’ll need at Berklee.
Your advice about focusing on physical and mental health is really good, and I’ve been TRYING to get him to pay more attention to how he eats and gets exercise, etc., reminding him that Berklee is going to take all the mental, physical, and emotional strength he can muster if he wants to succeed there. He seems to understand that, but still has an aversion to most vegetables and vitamins :).
And as far as incorporating an awareness of what else is going on in the world into what he does–awesome. He is interested in history and is pretty cognizant of what’s going on in terms of current events, such as they are (we’ve also been discussing how to help with the issue of homelessness in our community a lot). On that side of things, I do believe that the seeping of ideas and passions into one’s art should be more organic than self-consciously “political,” or it risks becoming merely self-serving in some (not all) cases. But that’s just me.
An admissions counselor from Berklee actually called HIM yesterday, which was great, and he said that she was very nice and helpful. He also sent an email to a professor with whom he’d especially like to work yesterday. The professor also happens to teach at a guitar camp my son has been dying to attend over the summer, so he asked him about that, I believe.
So I think he’s on track so far! One thing I’ve been wondering about are the dynamics of entering as a transfer student. I’m sure that strong relationships have already been formed among students who entered together as freshmen. I know it won’t be as hellish as entering high school as a transfer, but it might make things a little trickier at first.
My S’s down the road at a smaller conservatory but I’ve noticed that there’s no attention paid to year at all. In other words, grad students play in ensembles with freshman etc and that makes me think a transfer student will fit in pretty easily. Do you know where he will live?
That’s good to know, @drummergirl ! I think he’ll live in a dorm for at least the first year. I’d rather have him spend his time and energy getting settled in with classes, new people, practice, etc., than learning how to navigate around the outskirts of Boston (where I assume most off-campus students live, considering the cost of living in the city). He can explore the city more later.
The dorm is a good idea! My S moved off campus sophomore year but that’s because NEC basically had a crane/construction zone out his back window the entire freshman year. And the food. But I think apartment living can be a little isolating, or maybe a better word is removed (cause there’s plenty of musicians/students in my S’s building). Many students eventually move to Allston/Brighton area or Jamaica Plain - all subway rides away from Back Bay.
Wonderful that your son is at NEC! Does he like it (aside from the food )?
I wish I knew Boston better (most of my family is actually originally from there, and my son’s father grew up there, but I’m an NYC girl myself), but I keep telling my son that he will have a blast going to school there (he’s at Purchase now-- he likes it a lot but it’s not exactly in the heart of the city, although it’s a short ride in). I expect that he may move off campus once he’s been there for a year.
He loves it! Boston is small and Berklee/NEC/Northeastern are in a good location I think. Lots to do in walking distance and the T is right there too. My S walks over to the MFA some afternoons to study, and can get home in minutes on the orange line.