My daughter did not get a scholarship (apparently much tougher to get if you miss priority scholarship deadline as we did) so very difficult decision now. Although a big sacrifice and impacting the little college savings we have, we can get most of the tuition together and my daughter has figured out some creative ways to earn some extra money to cover the rest. Part of me can’t justify paying the full tuition (cost is more than full year tuition at most state colleges!) but I do see great value in her being exposed to a top level music school in which she would have amazing collaboration opportunities, very challenging coursework, high level ensemble experiences, and even the chance to go through a real college audition (that alone may be worth it!) Plus she could earn college credit, although would have to hope it transfers to other colleges if she doesn’t go to Berklee. In addition, she could get a feel for college life, including the perks and drawbacks. I know some 5 week students left feeling it was the perfect school for them and others who ended up deciding Berklee just wasn’t the right fit for them, so even helping with the elimination process (whichever way it goes) is a plus in my book. In searching for alternatives, there is a 2 week songwriting and a 2 week contemporary performance camp through Frost Music School in Miami which she could still audition for and seems like a good program and is definitely a school she is considering for college. It is cheaper but only 4 weeks vs. 5 and we’d have to consider airfare costs (not cheap.) We are leaning towards making the sacrifice to move forward with the Berklee 5 Week Performance Program but any insight or advice would be appreciated as we weigh the pros and cons. She REALLY wants to do this but understands the cost and justification issues we are struggling with. Thank you!