Emerson was in my top two, with Hampshire College in Amherst being my #1 top choice. I auditioned…read morefor Emerson's Theater Program (they held auditions in my hometown of NYC) got accepted, and then spent a weekend on campus in Boston, stayed on campus, ate in the dining hall, sat in on some Friday and Monday classes, had my admissions office interview and left campus. I TOTALLY fell in love with Emerson and could easily have gone there (it was like a smaller, friendlier version of NYU). It was a tough choice for me actually (I agonized over it) to have to choose between the two schools. Being from NYC, I chose Hampshire over Emerson ONLY because I wanted a smaller more rural campus experience for my undergraduate education (trading NYC for Boston wasn't a fit for me at the time) chances are, now today, I would probably choose Emerson. In every OTHER way, Emerson ticked ALL the boxes for me. In fact, in certain aspects, I wish I had gone to Emerson instead of Hampshire (because Emerson did have a LOT to offer me), because of the fact that Emerson had better options to study in places other than Boston, and Hampshire didn't (Emerson also has better facilities for Theater & Film than Hampshire does) BUT, it wasn't as academically experimental at Emerson, and I wouldn't have learned as much from getting grades as I did from detailed evaluations, but I would have been more creatively fulfilled at Emerson overall, because of the urban, artistic environment that Boston would have offered. Emerson had accepted me, and I was about to accept and enroll and become an Emersonian because I hadn't heard back from Hampshire (and I had worked pretty hard to get into Emerson) yet. Lo and behold, Hampshire then sent me my acceptance letter (hey, this was back in the early 90's) so I turned Emerson down. It was a tough, tough choice because although the two schools are radically different, they attract a LOT of the same kinds of students: artsy, quirky, creative, intellectual and independent. That's what made the choice SO difficult for me. The TOUGHEST choice I made in my undergraduate college career.

For my 100th review I am going to review my lovely Emerson College…read more I will admit, my first semester at Emerson I thought I was going to transfer to NYU. Then my sophomore year I thought I might transfer to school in London and actually I am sure I had lots of other plans to escape in the works, but each time I was convinced to stay -- and now I look back at Emerson and don't wish I had spent my undergrad anywhere else. I love Emerson because the students are PASSIONATE about what they want to do in life! If you enter as a freshman at Emerson as Undeclared you are an an outcast. This sounds strange but I LOVED that everyone knew what they wanted to do and was driven towards getting there. As a freshman you can dive right in and start working on films, writing for one of the school magazines or preforming in a comedy troupe. Then by your senior year you have tons of expereince for your resume. Emerson kids like to be involved 24/7. Then Emerson kids actually get a job in the field they studied! I went to Emerson for Marketing and Publishing and minored in Entrepreneurship, Photography and Management. Now I started my own publishing company and do all the marketing :) All my friends who majored in Film or TV are out in LA working as PA's or editors, my marketing friends are account managers etc. etc. It can be tricky to make friends at Emerson, because it is a campus in the city and everyone is involved in projects all the time. But get involved with a project and all of a sudden you have 10 new friends. The location is great because its right in the middle of downtown on the park which is perfect in the spring and fall. Its so nice to be in the middle of the city but have lots of green near by :) Its also easily accessible to Chinatown, Downtown, Financial District, Theater District, South End, Beacon Hill, North End etc. *I must admit that I know go back and sit on those Almuni panels that talk about how great Emerson is, I just liked it that much :) On a side note I love how Emersonians are fashionable people and dress for class! This is not one of those campuses where you go to class in a sweatshirt and pj pants. Since most Emersonians are style mavens or heading to their internship after class, its like a walking fashion show of hipster attire down Boylston. In fact, Boston magazine named the corner of Boylston and Tremont one of the most fashionable and attractive corners in Boston thanks to Emerson students!

I was seeking certification in Workday Benefits and chose Cloud Foundation's self-paced training…read moredue to its lower cost (currently unemployed and trying to upskill). As I'm visually impaired, I asked the team to share samples of their training materials before purchasing to determine if I could physically use, which the team did send me some materials. Unfortunately, it wasn't until I got hands-on access to the materials could I determine that the materials were not accessible and very disjointed/unorganized. I requested a refund of the fee I paid within 1 week following purchase and the day that I determined that I could not use/benefit from the training. My refund request was denied with no option to request an exception based on my unique circumstances. The only reason that I didn't give a 1-star rating is because the team was responsive to my requests in trying to find a good path--they simply fail from an invlexible policy. Hard to swallow when funds are already squeezed.

These days, sadly, many arts/music programs are being cut from schools across the nation. And…read morepeople wonder why youngins are bopping out to tween music and bad tv? These kids have no idea what real music (from Mozart to Grandmaster Flash) and what real creative writing looks like. The arts are not supposed to be (nor are they) flashes in the pan in someone's life. Every whole note and every piece of art are memories that make up who we are and who we will become. Just think back to the caves.. I mean c'mon. We're a people that absorb more through the creative arts (or.. at least that's what I told my math teacher). Enter Cloud Place. The Cloud Place provides programs for urban youth and performance space for area arts organizations. From spoken word to film to graphic design to visual art to workshops.. they even have a Boston-Paris exchange for kids to participate in. Teens in these programs are exposed to things they might not otherwise encounter at school. By hosting space to outside organizations, kids gain access to visiting artists. Immersion and opportunity = WIN! Providing a safe space for teens to both celebrate and vent through art is an amazing amazing thing. I was here last night to see Yelpers Kit Y. and Melissa L. of Good Asian Drivers. Kit's slam poetry combined with Melissa's songs and music provided both humorous and touching moments during their all ages show (rare since Boston is of the 21+ variety). I think a lot what Kit and Melissa talk/sing/slam about during their show are very important in dealing with issues of understanding and acceptance. And developing a good sense of humor. :) I'm very happy that the Cloud Place allowed them to perform there (to a very enthusiastic crowd). The space is awesome.. wood floors with some exposed brick walls.. like most real estate on Boylston Street. The acoustics were pretty good and they even have an upright piano (tuned!!). I will definitely be back to attend shows or help out in any way with this awesome non-profit.

NEMPAC is a wonderful organization that imparts quality music education to children and adults…read more They also provide successful music performing events throughout the year. They are a great treasure for the North End and surrounding communities in Boston. I absolutely recommend them!

From the owner: Our Mission The…read moreNorth End Music & Performing Arts Center is a 501C3 community arts organization that enriches Boston's North End Waterfront and surrounding neighborhoods by enriching lives through quality, accessible music education and performing arts programs.

Beautiful gallery. Had a lovely time with the staff, they are very welcoming & knowledgeable…read more Amazing collection of art- Picasso and Dali originals + really great contemporary art too. - Sophie M

Wonderful small gallery with amazing original art from many of the masters. The staff was terrific…read moreat describing the pieces. All in all a very enjoyable experience. There is no charge for entering the gallery.

For the aspiring painter and draughtsman looking for mentors Boston has limited options, but do not…read morebe discouraged; excellent teachers can be found and resources for the visual arts of extraordinary quality and abundance present themselves to anyone willing to reciprocate a hunger for knowledge. A full description for this art center is on the website. It is great environment for students of art to foster a skilled hand and mind.

I had so much fun at clay lounge! I signed up for the one time wheel throwing class and it was…read moreexcellent. Our instructor was a great beginner-friendly teacher and was kind and funny too. Everyone got to make two separate pieces and they fired them in the kiln and we got to pick them up a month later. My pieces came out great, now I want to go back and make more!

From the owner: Clay Lounge is a community-driven pottery studio and gallery with locations in Boston & Somerville…read more It is a creative space welcoming beginners and experienced potters to journey into clay.

The Pao Center is a great addition to the Chinatown community! From Chinese opera shows to film…read morescreenings to art classes, the venue hosts interesting and fun events that appeal to people of all age groups. When you walk right in, you can see works of art displayed from local artists. There is an auditorium area where most film screenings and other big events are held. There are also a couple of classrooms as well. The Pao is a small venue but very important to the Chinatown community!

A welcome addition to the Chinatown neighborhood! The Pao Arts Center exists as a hybrid community…read morespace set aside for cooking classes, film screenings, keynote speeches and more. The space is modest, clean, and well lit. One of the best features is its revolving selection of artwork displayed prominently just to the right of the entrance. There's also a larger main room that is morphed into whatever the occasion is for that particular evening. The location itself may be more obscure and hard to find as it is right alongside the highway. However, the physical space is a grounding reminder of who and what Chinatown stands for. While relatively small in size, the Pao is always bustling with events and artists in residence. Highly recommend catching a class or a movie here and keeping an eye on what's coming next!