<p>18karat, I have definitely seen mixed reviews on Berklee even before my daughter decided to go there. The facts are that Berklee is not for everyone. You have to be self-motivated and talented, and even then it’s a very challenging school. Berklee also seems to favor creative musicians … they don’t want to create a bunch of cover bands, but they do rely on jazz standards and classics to build on the education basics. If you are going there to have a backup BA degree that would lead to law school or med school, then it is the wrong school for you. Many students from Berklee go on to grad school; many others graduate and follow their intended career paths (film scoring, education, performance, etc.). Some join a band or start working on a film score, and don’t graduate (although Berklee lets you go back later once you were a student there). The most talented alumni of Berklee we do hear about, the most recent being Esperanza Spalding, graduated in 2005 or 6 and just received Grammy for Best New Artist over Justin Bieber and others. If you look at the musicians accepted to the Thelonius Monk institute the majority came out of Berklee. Berklee goes through great pains to audition the best around the world, and the best at Berklee compete with the best anywhere. Are there students at Berklee that slip through cracks or are disappointed with their experience? Apparently. Are there students or parents that are disappointed with their experience at Berklee? Yes, but did they have the correct expectations going in? Did they realize that only the top students get into the top ensembles? Did they realize that Berklee wouldn’t have the same perks as a large university (no health center, no central campus green, no fancy fitness building).</p>
<p>In the end, you have to look at what you want to do with music and how hard you are willing to work. Music at Berklee is not just about music theory and ear training, although those are must-have building blocks, but it is also about pouring all your energy into developing skills and confidence to be able to succeed. If you want to focus on performance, you will have intense training and private lessons through 8 semesters. You will be evaluated each semester to give you feedback on whether or not you are progressing appropriately. If you want to focus on music education, then you will get practical experience in the classroom as well as 4 semesters of add’l training on your principle instrument. If you are a composor or a film scorer, you will have complex and challenging labs, as well as access to internships. You will not graduate from Berklee without a skill, but not all majors will make money like the big names; that is just a reality.</p>
<p>Should you go into debt to go to Berklee (or any school)? No; if you didn’t already have the funds to go to Berklee or if you didn’t receive enough financial aid and scholarships, then you shouldn’t go. If you were strong enough to be an obvious star (Eperanza) then you would have received scholarship money, so if you’re not that, you should assume in your financial analysis that you’ll get a job that matches your major and talent (30K - 80K salary per year?).</p>
<p>The facts for you will play out over the next month or so. Keep us posted and PM any of us Berklee parents if you have additional questions.</p>