<p>^Thanks for the apology, musicamusica. I appreciate it.</p>
<p>Thanks to the others for weighing in!</p>
<p>It sounds like maybe big name schools are more important for instrumentalists than vocalists. I hadn’t really thought of it that way prior to this discussion, but it makes sense. Interesting.</p>
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<p>You got it, woodwinds! Those were exactly my son’s considerations (though he didn’t consider Europe). Much worked out as planned … but the “big scholarship” leaves something to be desired. So, it’s back to the drawing board. Apparently, this has been an exceptionally difficult year to apply to grad school. Not sure, but that’s what we’ve been told. Funding is exceptionally tight! And you’re right – I really don’t want to name or talk about the specific schools. Thanks for understanding.</p>
<p>Thanks to you, too, Singersmom07. You said,
You got it. One could get the biggest scholarship in the school and still have to take on debt to pay for it. You mentioned the importance of “open doors” and "the teacher’s ability to launch you into the next level.” So true. That’s what makes it hard to turn down the big name school. The big-name teacher is tempting not only because that teacher is known to be an amazing teacher and person, but because that teacher will very likely have far more connections; that teacher’s name would likely be more impressive on a resume; and that teacher is a known quantity who has consistently produced excellent results. We’re not SURE, but we THINK that the lesser-known teacher likely has fewer connections; will possibly be less impressive on a resume; and has no widely-recognized track record at this time. BUT, how important are those things anyway?? (That’s the big unknown!)</p>
<p>IF the lesser-known teacher can teach my son to produce a consistently great, healthy sound (and we’ve heard some really good things about the teacher)… well, what an awesome deal! Every teacher, just like every student, has to start somewhere, right? Today’s most well-known teachers were not always well-known!</p>
<p>One could say, “23K+ isn’t THAT much to pay for a ‘big name’ school and teacher.” But one could also say, "Just think how many more auditions and summer programs that 23K+ could buy! And think of the post-grad freedom one would have with no additional debt!”</p>
<p>And so turns the hamster wheel … this teacher or that teacher? … this school or that school? … take the debt? … or keep the freedom? … Hahhahaa. Get me off of this thing! :)</p>
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<p>^Honestly, this is the way I tend to lean. If I were making the choice for myself, I would suck it up and take the lesser debt, take advantage of more auditions and summer programs, and aim for the big name later in the form of a performance certificate. But, (a) there’s no telling whether “I’d” make it into the big names on a third try; (b) I’m not choosing for ME … my son is choosing for HIM; and (c) I don’t really know enough about the audition, performance, and career phase of all of this to know whether my intuition is clever or dumb – and I sure don’t want to give bad advice to my son!</p>
<p>My son goes back and forth. He really likes the lesser-known school a lot! He can totally see himself there. But he sure hates passing up an opportunity with a big-name teacher in a big-name school that he also likes a lot. Forgoing big opportunities is scary. And he’s sorely, sorely disappointed that a lack of money is once again getting in the way of his success. He has turned down MANY excellent opportunities because of money! It appears to us that the wealthy have enormous advantages here. Much more so than in other strictly academic fields. So, we’re both sad that it’s once again come to this. (And yes, we realize that a majority of you are likely in the same boat. We know we’re not alone.)</p>
<p>lorelei, lorelei … always good to hear from you! Thanks so much for posting!</p>
<p>You mentioned these factors as some that matter most:
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<p>See! As obvious as those things should have been, I wasn’t thinking in that direction! I was focused on the well-known teacher and the “prestige currency” that could possibly be exchanged for future career success. From what we’ve heard, this “lesser-known” school does have a reputation for being strong in all of the areas you mentioned! Terrific! Uplifting.</p>
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<p>And THIS ^, I did NOT know! Really? I honestly didn’t know that singers have to get agents to work in this country! So clueless. And so, isn’t that a reason to lean towards a big-name school? Can one get their foot in the door with a good agent more readily if they have that big-name stamp on their ticket? Do agents prefer to take on clients from big-name schools because others hone in on those big names, giving agents more street cred for themselves? Or is it ONLY about whether you’ll pay the agent’s bills and whether you can really sing? (Please excuse any inherent – and genuine! – stupidity within my questions!)</p>
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<p>Amen. I love that ^. It frees the mind. And, oh, how I hope it’s true! 
I have never liked “the rat race” or “keeping up with the Joneses.” And pursuing these big-name schools, as awesome as they may be, feels like both a rat race and a grasp at “prestige” – “prestige” that may or may not have any “exchange value.” It’s just that we’re all so often told that a big name is a promise at a good chance for success … </p>
<p>I guess it simply boils down to this: Just how much of that “promise” is true … and what’s a reasonable price to pay for it? I suppose THAT’s the meat of the question.</p>
<p>Thanks again to all. You have given us lots to ponder. It will all be over soon, one way or the other! 
Thank you, again!</p>