Does anyone have any info about admission to the joint Harvard/Berklee program? My daughter is a HS junior and this is her dream. She plays violin (also bass, mandolin, guitar) but not strictly classical, so Berklee is a great music fit and her violin teacher is confident she can get in there. Academically she’s strong and a viable candidate at Harvard (4.3ish GPA, 35 ACT) but obviously getting into Harvard is always quite a long shot. We’re wondering if there is possibly a slightly different admissions process/consideration for kids applying specifically to the Harvard/Berklee program? The websites simply say that you must be admitted to both schools - does anyone know if those two are actually completely independent? Do they review Harvard/Berklee applicants separately or have a set number of students they admit for the joint program? Any insight is appreciated!! Thanks
We are also very interested in this program. Hopefully someone out there has some insight!
There is a lot of information on this program online, from both Harvard and Berklee. Here is one overview
Dual Programs of Study for Music | Harvard
Admissions is independent. I would submit a music supplement to Harvard with recording/video, music resume and letters of recommendation (1-2) related to music, as well as going through the Berklee audition process. Think of it as applying separately though the two schools do communicate, Acceptance at one does not help acceptance at the other in other words.
This program is different from the one Harvard has with NEC. Applicants are admitted to the BA/MM degree program at the start, in that program. For Berklee, students have the option to apply to the MM at Berklee in their final year at Harvard but there is no guarantee that those initially admitted to a dual program can get in to the MM. When they graduate from the dual degree program at Harvard, they get a degree from Harvard but no degree from Berklee (just to be clear).
I would speculate financial aid is mainly Harvard and there may be some additional cost to classes at Berklee so check that out.
So the advantage is being able to take classes at Berklee during undergrad (though sometimes there isn’t a whole lot of room for electives, so check that aspect out), take lessons and perform in ensembles. Berklee is a bus ride from Harvard down Mass. Ave. and certainly not next door!
Harvard has rich music offerings. It has revised its curriculum in recent years to increase access and diversity in the curriculum- including “non-classical”. There is a very active music scene. I am not sure I understand the advantage of the dual degree since a student can apply to the MM at Berklee without the dual degree, after finishing Harvard. And by that time, goals and interests may have changed. There is plenty to explore at Harvard for music and the level is quite high.
I know students who did Boston Conservatory for classical and availed themselves of Berklee offerings (since the two schools merged) so they could continue to be multi-faceted, or focus on film, for instance, which is not a focus at BoCo.
There are a lot of schools- universities and liberal arts colleges, where kids can get a decent combination of classes in different areas and still do music. Music majors would have 1/4-1/3 classes in music. Non-music majors can do lessons (often funded), and extracurricular performance (often for credit).
There are many dual degree programs for BA/BM (not the MM Harvard’s programs offer). Oberlin, Bard, Lawrence are often mentioned as having well-integrated programs on campus.
I am curious what you refer to by “non-classical.” That can cover a lot of ground. Should she look at USC Thornton, Miami Frost, New School, Loyola New Orleans, Denver, and Berklee for undergrad for contemporary music?
Some conservatories kind of silo kids into a narrower focus so a BA program is a reasonable option for someone like your daughter, especially if she wants a broad liberal arts education.
ps The info in the Harvard Gazette conflicts with what I read on the Harvard site!
The five-year program, launched in 2016, allows students to pursue a bachelor of arts (A.B.) degree at Harvard and a master of music (M.M.) or master of arts (M.A.) at Berklee at the same time. During their first three years, students pursue a degree in the concentration of their choice at Harvard and take private instruction at Berklee. At the end of their third year, students complete an audition and interview to confirm their readiness for the Berklee master’s program. The fourth year focuses on completing all Harvard requirements, and the fifth year on the requirements for the M.M. or M.A.
versus Dual Programs of Study for Music | Harvard
The Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies program allows students to take courses at Berklee while pursuing their undergraduate degree at Harvard. Students receive their undergraduate degree at Harvard after 4 years and then have the option to apply for a master’s degree at Berklee.
Joint Studies students complete the full requirements of the Harvard A.B. or S.B. degree, including all general education requirements and all the requirements for the Harvard concentration of their choice. As part of their Harvard curriculum, students may take classes at Berklee. Students begin by taking private instruction on their instrument at Berklee, participating in an ensemble, and taking introductory courses that prepare them for more advanced offerings within Berklee’s curriculum. From there, students will be allowed to pursue their own interests at Berklee in consultation with Berklee and Harvard advisers. Berklee will give particular attention to preparing students for master’s programs if that is their goal. Students who are interested in pursuing a master’s program at Berklee must apply for the Berklee master’s program in their final year at Harvard.
Upon graduation from the Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies program students receive a bachelor’s degree from Harvard but no degree from Berklee.
Personal accounts. Remember that some students like to “belong” to one campus and some appreciate having two. It would help to know how many are doing this to assess the feeling of community in an experience that takes you off one campus. I would assess what Berklee can offer vs what Harvard offers which may be little or may be important depending on the kid.
Dual-degree students from Harvard, Berklee find ways to harmonize — Harvard Gazette
Dual-degree students from Harvard, Berklee find ways to harmonize — Harvard Gazette
Info from the Berklee side: admissions is separate and Berklee decides on who gets int o the dual degree, and it is a small cohort. Only 4 classes at Berklee are accepted at Harvard for undergrad and 2 classes toward the music major.
Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies Program | Berklee College of Music
Hi, I’m currently a student in the dual program and can help answer a few questions (if not too late)! There is no “slightly” different admissions process. You simply apply to both schools separately and indicate on both applications that you would like to be considered for the joint studies program. They are completely independent. Then in about April, Berklee finally decides, out of the students accepted into both schools, the final cohort for who the joint studies students will be. They do have a set number of students, usually around 10 students (sometimes less).
This information is mostly correct. Some aspects of the program though have recently changed. First, students can no longer apply for the MM, and you can only take coursework/participate in Berklee activities (you still have access to all facilities, programs, and opportunities). Financial aid is done separately for both schools. Also any scholarships received from the Berklee acceptance is not eligible for the joint studies program, though if you transfer Berklee credits (if you are taking under 4 Harvard courses), then you don’t have to pay for remaining credits.
There is definitely an advantage in being at Berklee. Harvard music scene is very academically-oriented and heavily classically-oriented. If you want performance opportunities and direct technical experience, you will not get that at this school. Berklee gives you direct career and networking opportunities, and you get to take specific music courses that teaches you actually how rather than just analysis from a third party perspective. Also, you can drop it at any time (and even return), it’s incredibly flexible, it’s pretty much diy since the program is pretty new and no one really knows what they’re doing. Also, at Harvard, there’s a music major despite performance, composition, production, music therapy, etc. and a plethora of other categories, so if you want to hone in on a specific skill, that would be the best bet.
Note, that this program is hard. Most students who do this burn out pretty easily and are constantly overworked and stressed because we are essentially two students attending two incredibly rigorous schools at the same time. It is not for the faint of heart and it is not easy. Part of the reason why they dropped the Masters requirement is because people dropped out, but it’s pretty flexible, and it’s something you can try as you go, but if you’re hesitant it’s extremely competitive and it’s best to give room to other students who are more passionate.
@redwood2 are you currently a Harvard student taking classes at Berklee? Is there a BA/BM combo or no degree, just access to Berklee classes? I was unclear.
Financial aid has always been separate for the NEC/Harvard dual degree.
Harvard made a lot of changes to curriculum in recent years to increase access and diversity of genres etc. And to increase “applied” arts and performance in the curriculum. I hope some of the changes have been real.
Some students at Harvard get quite a lot of experience with studio work. Once you take the class in music tech., you have access to the studio for the remaining years. But yeah, it is not vocational in the sense of preparation for a specific career path.
Anyway I am curious to know if there is still a double degree or if that was dropped.
Yeah I’m currently a Harvard/Berklee Joint Studies student. There is no BA/MM combo anymore, it’s only BA at Harvard. They just changed it this year; if you’d like to get your master’s, you must separately apply for the master’s program after graduating from Harvard. Financial aid is also separate for Berklee. Obviously, Harvard has a great music department, but its coursework is more so “the study of” music, rather than the “vocational” aspect like you mentioned, and if you’re interested in non-classical performance courses/opportunities, your options are pretty limited; you would have to be more resourceful outside of the classroom.
I assume that some of the changes in the curriculum at Harvard have had some impact at Harvard and yes, a lot goes on outside the classroom. As I said, financial aid at NEC has always been separate from Harvard’s aid for that double degree, and the NEC part adds signficant cost. One option offered to my kid while at Harvard was to simply study with an NEC professor, funded by Harvard.
Are you in a formal program or is it now a case of studying with a Berklee teacher (which Harvard would fund) and taking classes as an unmatriculated student at Berklee?
With No BA/MM or even BA/BM are there now any requirements for study at Berklee (number of courses, types of courses?) , does Harvard pay, and do you still have to do theory at Harvard, for instance? I really don’t understand this situation since there is no longer any degree involved.