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.

College will be nothing like you are picturing it. Be prepared to be living on your own with your family 3,000 miles aways from you. Be strong, you can make it on your own even though the living situation here is difficult. Working and going to school is demanding but it is worth it because you are helping your mom who has worked so hard to support you and your siblings on her own, if she could work two jobs, go to school and do well, and raise three kids on her own in a new country, then you should be able to do well, you have no excuse. Stay focused and stop trying to do everything because you will wear yourself out and get sick. People here are not what you are used to so do not be afraid, instead embrace it, and friend it up and make your mom proud.

As a young adult entering a large and confusing world, I would take a deep breath and dive head first into the direction in which my heart was pulling me. I have found, in the time since my graduation, that life without passion is not one worth living. I would tell myself not to be afraid of what my dreams could become. I would tell myself to follow my heart and never give up because sometimes our dreams are all we have. Somtimes they are all we need.

In my senior year, I was very focused on playing my instrument and not so focused on saving money, working part-time or looking for scholarships. Now, I'm faced with the reality that college is expensive. I wish I would have spent more time helping my parents out then so that it isn't such a burden now. With that said, my preparation musically has helped me more than I could ever imagine and creating good study habbits has benefited me even more.

I would tell myself to stop playing aound "It's your future your letting pass by" And sign up for every scholarship that you can find. Get all the money you can don't fool around because nothing comes easy. College life will be great and you're going to love it just work hard, and don't put any stress in you future you. Sing like you never sang before study all you can study about music, and don"t give up on your dreams because I haven't.

If I got the chance to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now about college and making the transition I would have told myself to become more independent because as I came to realizing no one is there to take or hold your hand. As many students go off to college they also tend to develop homesickness so I would tell myself to start prepare yourself for being away from home by doing things that you enjoy doing, calling home when you feel homesick as you are away, or seeking counseling at my colleges counseling center. I would let myself know that at college you are responsible for nobody but yourself! I would tell myself to start saving up and apply for scholarships because taking out loans is not a good why to pay for college because you could spend a lifetime paying it back. I would also tell myself to start managing my money and spend it more wisely, and most of all always try to make the wisest decision possible because it adds up and turns out for your own betterment. This I would tell myself.

If I could go back at in time, to talk to myself, I would say that the world is at my fingertips. Choices made reflect upon my future and to never give up on dreams and aspirations, not even for a year or two, and certainly not for anyone but myself. To work hard in school and to not lose focus of my goals. It may not be an easy task, but the end result is worth it all. College will be an amazing experience so dive completely head first into a pool of opportunity and learning. I would tell myself to be the best me i could be!

I would tell myself to make sure this is the school I want to go to for the next four years. Make sure when you wake up in the morning there is nothing else you'd rather be doing than figuring out what the next note in the chord should be. I'd tell myslef to form a great study habit and method before it's time to go to college so I don't feel overloaded when testing time comes. Also do not procrastinate; when you get it, do it. Last but not least, enjoy and embrace your musical talent and environment. Let no one tell you what you can't do, or that they are better than you. Feed off of their words and grow. You will be in an environment enriched with great talent do not fret but listen to their styles, incorporate your own and create a musical masterpiece. Have confidence in yourself.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the one thing I would advise is to always remember where I came from. Transitioning can be awkward and scary, but it's important to remember why you wanted to be there in the first place. It's hard to stay motivated at times, especially when you are trying to keep up with all your work and you don't have the comfort of being at home to deal with the stress. I would tell myself to be grateful for every little thing I might not think is important at the time, because at times you will feel isolated or like you are the only one dealing with the pressure of being away from loved ones and working on not just your career, but what is going to end up being your life. It would be important to remind myself that I wanted independence and opportunity, but not to let it all get to my head. After all, it was the support and experience at home that made me get to where I am today.

One thing I would do that I didn't do as a senior would give myself some more options and apply to more colleges and universities. During my senior year I would've also applied myself to more scholarships and found many other ways to pay for college and I would have taken my time to really decide on a college and not made a move too soon unless I was very sure and positive. As far as the actual transition into college, I would make sure that all my tuition and fees as well as housing situation were arranged and dealt with really early before school started to ensure less stress. Lastly, to gain some independence and responsibility as a senior I would get a part time job and get some work experience to build up my resume.

Going from high school to college is a huge change in a student's life. College allows a lot more freedom than granted than in high school. But with that freedom, a college student needs to become a lot more responsible. Looking at my college experiance now, I would have made a lot more adjustments prior to entering college. I would definitly tell myself to learn how to manage time well. At Berklee, I had to learn to adapt to college itself, the work assissgned from classes and practicing as well. But at the same time, I learned not to overstress myself. Another piece of advice would just be to think smart, have fun and try your best. College is a whole different learning experience. High school prepared us well for college. Now college is preparing me for a future in the real world.