Oklahoma to (likely Western) Massachusetts - Beginning Research (Boston, Worcester: high crime, townhouse)

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by WoodwindsRock

Hi, all. I posted in my Upstate NY topic, but I should post it here, too.

I have a little bit of a life change. I went to a doctor and got my ears checked and was told that they have no damage and that they're fine aside from some allergies. What this means is that I can - and do want to - shift my focus back toward music, and that includes returning to college.

I had substantially downplayed that angle earlier in this topic. I was worried about my ears and my ability to play music anymore, so I had buried that dream. I am now going all out in returning to music as well as working on any limitation I have felt have squandered my potential as a musician.

This means, as I said, that I'm setting a goal in my future to go back to college. My degree is Musicology, and I'd be going grad school, Master's.

This opens up better opportunities for moving, I think...? Even if only temporarily. I've compiled a list of universities in MA that have my degree:

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Boston University
Brandeis University
Tufts University

(Not sure about Harvard or New England Conservatory, they were listed on the American Musicological Society website. Well, either way... I'm not getting into Harvard, so that's neither here nor there).

Not even sure I could get into any of these universities, but I'm throwing it out here, and am going to research them. Otherwise in New England, there is University of Connecticut and University of New Hampshire.

Your finances are obviously nobody's business, but previous posts indicated you had limited funds. None of those are cheap schools. At least consider establishing residency in one of these states first, to qualify for in state tuition.

[GeoffD]

Berklee is the first place that jumps to mind these days for music in Boston. My mom got her MFA and PhD at BU years ago.

[bizcuit]

Originally Posted by WoodwindsRock

Hi, all. I posted in my Upstate NY topic, but I should post it here, too.

I have a little bit of a life change. I went to a doctor and got my ears checked and was told that they have no damage and that they're fine aside from some allergies. What this means is that I can - and do want to - shift my focus back toward music, and that includes returning to college.

I had substantially downplayed that angle earlier in this topic. I was worried about my ears and my ability to play music anymore, so I had buried that dream. I am now going all out in returning to music as well as working on any limitation I have felt have squandered my potential as a musician.

This means, as I said, that I'm setting a goal in my future to go back to college. My degree is Musicology, and I'd be going grad school, Master's.

This opens up better opportunities for moving, I think...? Even if only temporarily. I've compiled a list of universities in MA that have my degree:

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Boston University
Brandeis University
Tufts University

(Not sure about Harvard or New England Conservatory, they were listed on the American Musicological Society website. Well, either way... I'm not getting into Harvard, so that's neither here nor there).

Not even sure I could get into any of these universities, but I'm throwing it out here, and am going to research them. Otherwise in New England, there is University of Connecticut and University of New Hampshire.

Out of those options, UMass Amherst & U of NH would probably be most affordable. UMass would have the added advantage of being very near Northampton. I would see where you can get in, though, and see what kind of scholarships and financial aid you can get. These factors probably will help you make your decision.

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Berklee is the first place that jumps to mind these days for music in Boston. My mom got her MFA and PhD at BU years ago.

Berklee is wildly expensive even compared to BU, etc.

What degree did OP say she wants in the music world?

[WoodwindsRock]

Musicology (Music History). It is offered only at certain places.

[in_newengland]

It would be great if you could get into UMass. It's right across the bridge to Northampton, a desirable location we've discussed before. There are lots of events going on plus bus service. Hard part is finding an affordable place to live but compared to Boston, it's a lot more affordable.

[WestieWhitie]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Berklee is the first place that jumps to mind these days for music in Boston. My mom got her MFA and PhD at BU years ago.

Berklee is a great school for future baristas.

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by WestieWhitie

Berklee is a great school for future baristas.

I gotta admit I chuckled at this. A long-time friend of my daughter graduated from New England Conservatory a couple of years ago, and is now a bartender.

[Dadschum]

check out the University of Hartford's Hartt School of Music. Extremely competitive (Up there with Julliard) but might be a possibility. In West Hartford, about 10-15 min from downtown Hartford. I know there is bus service right outside the campus.

https://www.hartford.edu/academics/s...c/default.aspx

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by WestieWhitie

Berklee is a great school for future baristas.

And my good friend, an education major there, is a petsitter.