This is the official thread for those applying EA to Berklee College of Music. The deadline is Nov 1.
List your unweighted GPA, any SAT /ACT scores, and ECs. What majors are you going into?
Ask your questions, the CC community is here to help!
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Has anyone heard from Berklee yet for EA 2025 if they already auditioned?
I understand from prior years that the only applicants who get a decision in December have previously participated in a Berklee program like Aspire. Everyone else must wait until January 31
Just a heads up. Mine did not do Aspire. He applied EA in 2023 and heard by Dec 15
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Good to know- do you remember when his auditon was? And if you are willing to share, any heads up on if the financial aid/merit comes with acceptance? Tia!
It was the earliest date that year on campus…November. HIs audition was guitar. My apologies…he graduated '23. His audition was Nov 22…he is a college sophmore now. Yes, he recieved his merit award with his acceptance
S25 auditioned in August, learned that he was accepted with merit in October… he did not participate in the summer intensive, but instead grabbed an audition slot on the first day open to non-intensive applicants. It’s great having a “safety” out of the way, I highly recommend early/rolling applications to anyone doing music!
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Good to hear. Anyone else hear back who auditioned in early November 2024?
Also would you mind sharing the merit award amount and where first choice is? You say Berklee is a safety school, why?
would you mind sharing the merit award amount? Did he decide to attend there?
My son auditioned in mid Nov and has not heard back yet
Merit was 30k, he went to Univ of North Texas to study Jazz (Guitar)
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I’m going to guess she said it was safety because they take SO many vs the smaller programs fewer slots. Basically everyone my son knew who applied got into Berklee vs where he wound up there were 6 guitar spots open
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Berklee is a safety for him because it’s not his first choice. Without opening a hot can of worms, Berklee and their merit money policy is a little bit of a state of mind. Lots of kids have the dream of being a musician and are willing to pay for it. Unfortunately, lots of kids are not top 10 percent of musicians which is what a lot of other schools attract and enroll. So Berklee needs to be a buyer of the super skilled kids so that they can sell the dream to the not quite as skilled kids. Unfortunately, even though the top kids are there to pull the other kids up, it doesn’t always happen and those kids often find themselves at sea in a pretty large population of students. This is why you see SOOOOOO many YouTube videos slamming music school, Berklee especially. Music school is definitely NOT for everyone!
We’ve heard this from a number of industry professionals and three Berklee students S knows personally and has been in touch with along their Berklee journey. Having said that, we’ve also heard that if a student really puts themself out there with both faculty and the other students, the opportunity for success increases dramatically.
S was offered 30% off tuition, but two of his friends were offered the same and were able to increase the discount dramatically. YMMV
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Also this… 
From Shellg: Basically everyone my son knew who applied got into Berklee vs where he wound up there were 6 guitar spots open
While we’re pretty much convinced that S COULD get into and do well at any of the schools that he’s applying to, whether not he DOES is another question. I have to tell people that when they ask where he’s applying and I rattle off a list of 14 schools.
I just want to say as another opinion to anyone excited for Berklee. Not everyone does get accepted. Certain majors like Vocals have a lower acceptance rate. I also thinks it depends on what instrument and major you are going for which your top choice is. My D received a scholarship and is a contemporary vocal major now at Berklee majoring in songwriting and minoring in Film Scoring. She also was accepted to top programs and all she applied but 1 for Cont Voice/songwriting such as NYU-Songwriting /composition, Belmont- cont voice, Frost, UC Denver, Hartt and live aud at USC which they only take @30 live audition in the country and accept 2-3 per year. (OOS/SAT/academics/not a Music/arts HS might have edged her out here too). She decided on Berklee because the other programs you were either a vocal perfomance major or Songwriting /Comp major and she wanted to explore both. In some programs there was very less music theory in the curriculum which she wanted that type of classical conservatory experience with the contemporary in case she decided to go to grad school for film scoring or composition not knowing what she loved. She also wanted to be around 7600 musicians internationally with diversity even if all not top 10%, living and breathing music instead of a program of 30 contemporary musicians per class. Rooming with a music major and jamming in the dorms at night, practice rooms in the dorm, and meeting people from all over the world. Being immersed in all genres, and a choice of 19 plus majors and tons of minors to explore. She loves it ! There are positives and negatives to all programs and schools whether large or small.
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This is absolutely why you go to Berklee! Many schools won’t let you pursue a dual or double music program. Also there is just no substitute for being around sooo many different types of musicians. One day you’re playing in your jazz combo, next day you’re invited to play in the Michael Jackson or Steely Dan or Brian Eno groups. Based on this and the super strong music biz program, this is MY #1 choice for S… but in the end it’s up to him of course.
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that’s great to hear on all counts. Plus it’s in downtown Boston which is super fun. What are your thoughts on being able to graduate in 4 years? My son is interested in a performance and audio production which you can’t apply to until you are a freshman. We’ve heard there was limited studio availability and a few students we spoke to had to attend in the summer or a 5th year. Also, do you kids live on campus or off and how is it? Many thanks! Still have not heard back yet.
Oh and someone mentioned their child got 30 percent off, but that two friends were able to increase that discount dramatically. How? by contacting fin aid and asking?