Transitioning from High School to College

A letter written by Betsy and Fred Jenny, parents of Amanda Jenny (B.F.A. ’12, dance).

Choosing a college. It’s a huge decision for any high school senior and his or her family. Performing arts students have an extra layer built into the decision—do they want a strong performing arts department at a liberal arts college or a conservatory? Your child has obviously chosen the latter and is now at the beginning of an intense, exciting four years. Our daughter Amanda made the same choice three and a half years ago, and she’s never looked back. 

What do the next four years at The Boston Conservatory hold? All of the benefits of a small, highly focused school in the middle of a vibrant cultural mecca. We’d like to share the “tip of the iceberg” with you, based on Amanda’s experience.

Training—Your son or daughter will be trained by world-class faculty members who care deeply about their students and want to see each one succeed. Google the teachers in your child’s department sometime and you’ll be astounded by the depth and breadth of their performance and teaching experiences. They happily share their expertise and experience, and they work closely with every student to push them to their limits in both technique and performance.

Community—The Boston Conservatory is a close-knit community of students, faculty and administrators. This is obvious from the moment your son or daughter moves into the dorm. These on-campus dorms are wonderful and unique communities that soon become a home away from home for many students. The residence life staff, headed by Kimberly Russell (Director of Housing and Student Life), are available at any time to answer questions, help students overcome hurdles, find the local Whole Foods or Starbucks and—listen.

They do everything possible to smooth the transition from home to college life. Beyond the residence halls, the community of support extends to the wellness staff, the Bursar’s Office, the Student Center, individual departments, even the front reception desk.  At what other school would students get a phone call or a Facebook message from the school receptionist when they get mail? If you have a question, call the school. You’ll speak with a real person who will have a real answer to your question.

Involvement—Your child will have plenty of opportunities to become as involved as he or she wants. There are numerous campus organizations and jobs available. Amanda has worked in the development office and as an usher in the theater. For the second year in a row, she is serving as a resident assistant. She has also served on Student Advisory Councils, been an Ambassador during auditions and has called accepted students to congratulate them and answer any questions they have about student life.

Culture—The students who attend The Boston Conservatory are extremely talented, and their shows and recitals are proof. There are always music recitals, musical theater productions and dance concerts and operas that any student can attend (often for free or a small fee) that rival anything you would see on a professional stage.

Boston—Everybody should live in Boston at some point in their lives. There could be no better time than during college. The Back Bay area is home to The Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music, with several other colleges, art schools and professional performing arts organizations nearby. Music literally fills the air in Boston, a big city with a small-town feel that offers an abundance of things to do and places to see.

We wish your child much happiness and growth over the next four years. There is truly no better place for performing arts students to spend their college years than The Boston Conservatory.

Sincerely,
Betsy and Fred Jenny