Looking for music schools
 

I am 17 years old and thinking about what I will do after high school... I want to go to college. I want to go to a music school or school with a good music program. I want to study music composition and violin and it would be nice maybe if i could minor in theater acting or some other different things, but if not that's fine. I want to study music and have a degree, so besides the training I can get good jobs easily, you know. I really want to study abroad as well. I don't have my 4th math class so i can't get in to most regular colleges, but i don't need that for a music school, and I know that a lot of European schools don't charge tuition. I would like to live in Eastern Europe somewhere or Russia or Scandinavia. But if I can get in somewhere in the U.S. that's fine, but I don't have a lot of money. Does anyone have any suggestions about what I should do? what kind of school i should go to... where... maybe a conservatory... there are so many options I have no idea what to do... Any help is appreciated, thanks.

My favourite conservatory:
http://www.clearimprovements.co.uk/p...;20Outside.gif

that's nice but doesn't help me, anyone have any real answers?

Most good music schools are far more expensive than regular schools (seeing as they're all private). Scholarships are very, VERY rare, and given only to the exceptional of the exceptional (you need to be exceptional just to get in). If you think you can study abroad for free you're gravely mistaken, and either way you can't be assured of a job upon graduation. No, your best bet is to get into a state school and exercise your musical desires as a minor or a double major (which is what I intend to do). That, or hire a tutor and practice, practice until the blood leaves your fingers.

I'm not saying that schools for music are bad or otherwise pointless. There are countless musicians who are products of Berklee and learned their craft there. But there are countless more who are unemployed. And that's the real conundrum. Are you willing to spend your life in debt to a school which never offered you appreciable skills for a working environment?

All I'm saying is consider the financial ramifications before you decide what to do. But make sure you pursue your dreams, whatever path you elect to take.

thank you that actually helps a lot, I'm glad someone experienced responded... I was/am pretty clueless about how it all works and what not so thanks... That really sucks though, because I don't have a 4th math credit and most schools even state require it to get in... I don't know what to do, but I have been told that any college degree is good for getting jobs (obviously not all jobs of coarse, but in general) and music is my passion so i figured I'd go for that, but I can't get in to a state college (though I haven't actually tried yet, it says on their websites what they require) so I'm kind of lost as to what to do, maybe some of them offer remedial classes or something, I don't know. ****!!

Well again thank you for the response I really appreciate it and once again any more suggestions or experience is welcome pleeeeaaase.

oh and I know studying abroad is expensive... But what I had in mind was actually permanently moving to another country and attending a school as a resident, not just going to a school here and going for a period of time on a study abroad thing. So if anyone has any experience with moving to other countries that would be helpful as well. Thanks...