<p>It seems like the best you can hope for in merit scholarship money at a conservatory is to reduce the cost to the level of other expensive schools. That is a general observation and I know Oberlin is a different story but it does not seem very likely you walk in and audition and they say, we have to have you come here it is free for you.</p>
<p>I bet it has happened but so has getting hit by lightning twice or winning powerball. For the most part the big name schools are for the rich and those willing to mortgage their future on the very slim almost non existant hope that it will pay off in a spot in a major orchestra.</p>
<p>One thing I keep hearing and reading from those in the music industry, do not break your budget on a school. Do not go into big time debt to go to a big name program. If you are the fortunate few that have the funds, go for it.</p>
<p>Maybe I am just a bit put off looking at the cost of going to these schools in the magazine. Seeing how college costs like health care continue to rifle out of control despite no inflation in wages or other areas. The silver lining is that a huge number of people with success went to more affordable schools at least for undergraduate work especially in the jazz area.</p>