<p>It is hard to walk away from that dream school when you can’t afford it, and sometimes the cold bucket of logic from people who don’t understand that emotional connection can feel like a slap in the face. Realistically, though - especially in music - there’s no point in putting yourself into thousands of dollars of debt just to have that school on your resume. </p>
<p>I know in some fields that it is important to attend the “right” schools where the companies in that field concentrate their recruiting, but music is a whole different animal. Talent is all that matters at the end of the day. If you go to the affordable option and work your tail off, taking advantage of each and every opportunity available to you, you will position yourself to be highly competitive for grad school auditions - and that, in my understanding, is where the school really begins to matter for networking and gigging purposes. </p>
<p>Plus, not having taken on debt, you free yourself up from having to work at possibly a dull job to cover expenses both in college and afterwards, letting you concentrate on your music. With no debt, you have the luxury of attending summer festivals and having other experiences rather than being forced to use every spare minute to make money.</p>
<p>Have you had (another) lesson with the person who would be your studio teacher at the affordable school? Can you see yourself working with that person and growing for the next four years?</p>