Tuned for success

The admissions process is crucial to the college's success. Since its founding in 1945, Berklee has fostered the careers of a constellation of superstars – among them, pianist and singer Diana Krall, Grammy Award-winning jazz artist Esperanza Spalding, multi-million-album selling American-Chinese pop star Wang Leehom and Steely Dan co-founder Donald Fagen. Even those who don't achieve global acclaim become busy studio musicians or fill other vital roles – 65% of graduates work full-time in the music industry. To date, Berklee alumni have won 205 Grammy Awards. They have also built an unparalleled professional network that spans the globe.

The college's blueprint for success includes a welcoming, warm admissions process focused on strengths and a curriculum that helps students discover their own viable career paths. To gauge each applicant's fit for the school, Bracken and the recruiting teams not only judge singing or playing an instrument, but also chart other skills and affinities. Did the prospective student create a play-along track in GarageBand? Why does he or she want to attend Berklee? Does the applicant appreciate a wide variety of musical genres?

Hopefuls are evaluated in a holistic yet highly selective way, making the evaluation process more than a matter of simple checklists. Using FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Server and FileMaker Go, Bracken and his team have tamed admissions complexity and, by equipping evaluators with a common tool, benefitted applicants by bringing more consistency to the evaluation process. The system also has improved the level of service provided to applicants by automating processes such as audition scheduling.