RESEARCH SCHOOLS: Use your computer and the power of the internet to research your Music Production School choices. Go to the schools' websites. Read about the programs they offer. Inquiry about your interest in them. They will usually be happy to provide you with more information about their school, either through a mailing or by talking to you directly.
CHECK THEIR REPUTATION: Probably the most important thing to consider in choosing a Music Production School is the school's reputation in the industry. The entertainment industry, more than any other, is all about "Who you know". Find out their record of placing graduates. Are those graduates going to top-quality, reputable companies? If they are, then add that school to your list of "Possibles". If not, discard it and keep looking.
CHECK WHO THEIR GRADUATES ARE: If you read testimonials of graduates from the Music Production School, try to do a deeper investigation about that graduate. If they claim to have been hired by a certain company, check and see if you can find out what kind of work they did while there. Did they work with any major celebrates, on major films, or other impressive accomplishments? If so, the school they learned at may be a good one for you too.
SEE IF THEY HAVE THE LATEST EQUIPMENT: The industry relies on it's technicians being familiar with the latest technology and equipment. Is the Music Production School up-to-date in those areas? If they are not, you may be sorely handicapped in trying to get a job with leading companies in the industry. If they do, then put them on your "Possibles" list for your Music Production School Choice.
CONSIDER THE COST: Cost is always a factor in choosing schools, but there may be scholarships available or other programs that could help you afford the better schools.
DETERMINE THE PLACE: Often, the location of the Music Production School can be a determining factor. Is it located in or near a center of the industry? If it is, then you may have opportunities for apprenticeships or internships. These can lead to eventual jobs, if you prove yourself worthy of the company's investment. Coming from the right Music Production School can make all the difference.
VISIT THE SCHOOLS: Once you have narrowed your choices, it's time to schedule a visit. Visit all of your top choices for a music production school. Make a list, before you go, of important questions you want answered by your visit. You want to get a feel for the campus, sit in on a class, and talk to students and professors. Ask yourself if the claims that the school makes hold up under scrutiny. See if the students are having a positive experience. They will also have some inside knowledge of how their friends, who have graduated, are fairing on getting good jobs.
INQUIRE ABOUT INTERNSHIPS: See if the school you are interested in has an internship program. This is one of the best way to get your foot in the door in a hard to break into industry.