Berklee College of Music Top Questions

Only having been at Berklee College of Music for a full semester and now into my second, I can confidently say that I have already gained an immense amount of knowledge on so many different levels. My learning stretch has broadened and I am now doing things musically that I never thought I would conquer. Everyday I spend here these impossibilities become attainable. My college experience as a whole has been an outstanding experience thus far and I have had opportunities that I never thought to be possible. The city of Boston alone provides for a vast amount of opportunities for and artist to showcase themselves. Here at Berklee, I have been newly exposed to this multicultural world we live in, much different than my suburb at home, which has nurtured me in unleashing my creativity that has been withheld inside for many years. I have made important connections with both faculty and peers that can potentially help further my career. Not only that, but I have made friends from all over the country and all over the world. My experiences thus far at Berklee have been undeniably breath taking and it only continues with every day I spend here.

i would say, "apply to more schools, just to experience the process."

If I could go back and talk to myself I would say never give up and loose all doubt. There is nothing you cannot accomplish Always be encouraged and listen your parents and understand that you are important to someone. You are not a product of your environment and no matter what comes your way in life stay focused and stay on that path. Understand that there are people who believe in your dreams and that you are talented beyond measure. If I could go back and speak to myself I would quote Marianne Williamson. She said, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually who are we not to be? You are a child of God.Your playing small doesn't serve the world..." . Thinking back at that time in my life i would say what my mother told me "you got to have faith".

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to make the most of every opportunity. I can't stress this enough; all the time I am realizing opportunities I missed and should have taken. The school I am at is about contacts, so jam with everyone you can, meet everyone in your classes, hang out with everyone you can. You never know where great things might come from. The first of the semester is when everyone else is trying to figure this college stuff out too, so make friends. Almost everyone is extremely nice once you break the barrier of communication: just say hello, it'll go a long way.

I am currently having a very difficult time finding legit scholarships to apply for. As a highschool student I took the easy scholarships for granted. I really wish I could go back in time as talk to mysef as a highschool student. The first thing I would say is dont limit yourself to scholarships over 5,000 dollars. Put the xbox 360 games away and dedicate at least an hour a day toward earning the scholarships you are elgible for. The last thing I would say would be to get all the scholarship money you can while you're a highschool student, considering that most scholarships are directed to highschool students. College is fun and it's a great opportunity so earn enough money now so that you will be able to afford more than two semesters.

All Berklee College of Music students are rated from a scale ranging from one to eight. The greater the ratings, the more opportunities the school will offer you. I purposely sought out becoming a four. I feared that anything higher would make college life too challenging. The truth of the matter is; although one may achieve high scores, it does not mean that school will be more of a challenge. At Berklee College of Music it simply means that you will have a chance to qualify and play with musicians who are better at their craft. Playing with musicians who are more comfortable and developed on their instrument is actually easier than playing with musicians that are less comfortable. Also playing with better musician creates a unique growing environment that allows you to make leaps and bounds in your musicianship rather than baby steps. In closing I would advise myself to find and memorize a solo of my instrument repertoire that would express the full extent of my musicianship to my adjudicators. Most importantly of all, I would advise myself never to hold back; the school acknowledges and helps those that strive to help themselves.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a highschool senior, I would tell myself to practice time management. Thought I have improved greatly since starting college, I used to have many sleepless nights. In art school, projects take a lot more time than most assignments in highschool. I've had some pieces take me weeks to complete. I know now the importance of time management. Without practicing this not only does the work sometimes not get completed, but it also doesn't turn out the way I would like. Especially considering the price of my school, I know getting the most out of the experience and my teachers is very important. Giving my all to the work requires me to spend all of my extra time on it. This is where time management plays a key role. With this in mind I now know how to balance being healthy and doing great work. Starting this earlier would have helped my transition, but I'm glad to have these skills for the future.

I would first tell myself to fill out as many scholarships as possible, because you never know what you can and can't win. Also, I would advise myself that it's not the best idea to skip classes because it can hurt your grade if done enough. It is very easy to get caught up in stuff that doesn't concern you, but as long as you stay yourself and deal with what affects you first, you will have time to have fun and stay stress free.

My senior year of high school was one of the most stressful years for me. Everyone in my class was competing with each other and seeing who could get into the best schools. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to slow down and relax. Getting into the best schools does not make me a better person. As long as you are serious about your education, then that is all that matters. I would also tell myself how important it is to visit the school I plan to go to or am applying to. Take into context the weather, environment, the people, the culture, and of course the school itself. Visiting the school you are interested in gives you a better notion about that place. The first time I went to my school was the first day of classes. Those would be the two things I would tell myself. It does not matter if you do not get into the top schools, and it is important to visit the schools you are interested in so that you can make a better decision about where you can go.

College is about identifying your strengths and learning to make a career from them. Don't be afraid to try new things and allow yourself to experience every opportunity that you can.