<p>^ Hmm. I’ve been debating whether I should ask my own related question on this thread, but this comment (above) pushes me over the edge. Sorry, annie43! I don’t intend to hijack your thread. My question is closely related to yours, but in a different phase of education.</p>
<p>So, WAstamper, it sounds like your son’s piano professor thinks the top degree should be a “name” degree, if possible.</p>
<p>Here’s my question …</p>
<p>For vocal performance grad school: A well-known, big name VP school with a well-known, big-name voice teacher, at the price of AT LEAST 23K in debt over 2 years (plus existing undergrad debt) … OR … a lesser-known VP school with a lesser-known teacher (though the school and teacher are still very good), and the possibility of no debt (except for the existing undergrad debt)?</p>
<p>Is “the name” significantly more important because this is grad school? Or is it a reasonable and clever choice to go for zero debt over the “big name?”</p>
<p>(FWIW, finances ultimately dictated his undergrad decision, overruling his “big name” acceptances, and he has no regrets about that decision. However, he always envisioned that he’d get the big name in grad school. So, here we are debating this again. Do YOU think it’s smart to put finances ahead of “prestige” for grad school?)</p>
<p>I would LOVE to hear any and all opinions. Thank you!</p>