(BM) Berklee is what you make of it

How this student rated the school

Educational Quality	A	Faculty Accessibility	A
Useful Schoolwork	A	Excess Competition	B
Academic Success	A	Creativity/ Innovation	A
Individual Value	A-	University Resource Use	B+
Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty	C	Friendliness	A-
Campus Maintenance	B	Social Life	A
Surrounding City	A+	Extra Curriculars	A
Safety	B

Describes the student body as: Friendly, Arrogant, Approachable Describes the faculty as: Friendly, Helpful, Arrogant, Condescending, Self Absorbed

Male

Quite Bright

Lowest Rating Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty	C

Highest Rating Surrounding City	A+

He rated most things higher than other students did.

Date: Jan 05 2010
Major: Music - Composition/Theory (This Major's Salary over time)
Berklee is what you make of it. If you want to study hard and enrich yourself musically, you can do that here. If you want to practice hard and take your instrumental/vocal ability to a new level, you can do that here. If you want to prepare yourself for an actual career in the music industry, you can do that here. If you just want to have a good time, play some music, and meet like-minded people, you can do that here too.

The problem is that a lot of kids come to Berklee wanting only the latter (and the college has no problem taking their money and letting them do so). They are all talented, but they have no direction. When they drop out after a semester or two and have nothing to show for their time here, they feel ripped off. This is where Berklee gets its mixed reputation.

The truth is: there are a lot of Berklee grads who have become successful in the music industry, but they didn't make it just by going here. This school will give you the proper tools to succeed in music, but it's still up to you to make the career you want for yourself. That said, this is probably the best place to study if you want to do anything other than teach or play classical music. (And it's pretty good for those things too!) But don't come here expecting to have anything handed to you. The workload is high, right out of the gate, and most students are juggling it with their own bands, projects, social life, clubs, etc. The teachers are real world professionals, and some are world-class musicians, but you have to make them give you what you need. Sometimes going to class isn't enough—go to office hours, send e-mails, take private lessons, do extra work, etc. It's exhausting. I'm constantly intimidated by the level of talent of my peers here at Berklee, but I'm also constantly inspired by the wonderful music I hear everyday. The knowledge and skills I've gained have empowered me into pursuing the career of my dreams. It's an expensive school, but so far the experience has been great.

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