Registration

Click here to download and print out a .pdf of the Sherwood Financial Aid Form (4 pages)

Return forms to Sherwood:

Fax forms to (312) 427-6677, drop off forms in person, or mail forms to:

Admissions Department
Sherwood Conservatory of Music
At Columbia College Chicago
1312 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60605

For more information, call: (312) 427-6267, Ext. 100

Financial Aid and Scholarships
We believe music education should be made available to everyone.  One of the most significant barriers to the study of music is cost, especially for the one-on-one instruction that is essential in the development of skilled musicians.  Here at Sherwood, we will make every effort to help your family overcome whatever financial obstacles you may have so that we can make music an important part of your life.Through the generosity of individual, foundation, and corporate donors, Sherwood can keep tuition costs affordable and offer financial assistance to students who connot afford to pay for their own instruction. 

• Need-based financial aid is available to students ages 18 and under, who are from families meeting certain financial criteria.  Aid awards range from 10-75% of tuition costs.
• Merit-based Scholarships are available to current Sherwood students who have reached a high level of musical accomplishment.  Scholarships are awarded through the Scholarship Competition, held each Spring.
  Students may receive both need-based and merit-based awards at the same time.  These programs ensure accessibility to students who would otherwise be denied opportunities for a quality music education.

Registration Periods
Registration begins four weeks prior to the start of each term. The first week is considered a pre-registration period for returning students to allow them to re-enroll and reserve their preferred class or lesson time. The last three weeks before the start of term are considered open registration, in which both new and returning students may register. If returning students do not re-enroll during the pre-registration week, their preferred class or lesson time cannot be guaranteed for the next term. During open registration, class and lesson times are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Late registration for group classes and ensembles may be allowed only at the instructor’s discretion.

Tuition
Please see the course descriptions for tuition and fees. Students will not be permitted to attend lessons or classes until the initial payment and the registration fee have been paid.

Payment
Payment in full is requested at the time of registration. Payment can be made by cash, personal check, money order, or by major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover).

If payment in full is not possible at the time of registration, an installment plan is available. However, an initial payment of 30% is required at the time of registration for individual lessons and 18-week courses, and an initial payment of 50% is required at the time of registration for 9-week group courses. A $20 installment fee is charged each term when you select the installment plan option. After the initial payment at registration, Sherwood will bill you for the remaining payments on a monthly basis. Payments through the installment plan can be made by cash, personal check, money order, or major credit card. A $25 fee will be charged for any returned checks.

Registration Fee: A non-refundable registration fee of $15.00 is charged to each student per academic year. This fee covers Sherwood’s administrative processing.

Materials Fee: Some courses require an additional materials fee. See the course descriptions for more information. Materials fees must be paid at the time of registration unless otherwise indicated. The materials fee is non-refundable unless Sherwood has had to cancel a course, in which case a full refund for materials will be offered.

Installment Fee: A non-refundable fee of $20.00 is required each term for students who opt for the installment plan, or for students who do not pay in full at the time of registration.

Finance Charge: A finance charge of 1.5% per month (18% APR) will be assessed to all unpaid balances more than 30 days past due date indicated on the invoice. Interest will continue to accrue until the balance is paid in full.

Individual Lessons: Students enrolled in individual lessons who register for less than the full length of the term will be charged the $20 installment fee in the event they decide to add more lessons later in the term. This is to cover the additional administrative costs associated with registering a student twice in one term.

Discounts
Occasionally, Sherwood may offer a variety of registration incentives and tuition discounts including early registration discounts, family discounts, and new student discounts. To find out more about what discounts are available for a specific term, please contact a Program Coordinator at (312) 427-6267. Sherwood always offers a 10% senior discount on tuition for any student over the age of 55.

Make-Up Classes and Cancellations
Excused Absence for Individual Lessons: Students must give a minimum 24-hour advance notice for individual lessons to be considered excused. Only one make-up individual lesson for an excused absence will be provided per nine-week session.

Unexcused Absence for Individual Lessons: Unexcused absences are absences for which a student has not given 24-hour notice. Make-ups for unexcused absences are not offered, and lessons missed due to unexcused absences are non-refundable.

Make-Up Session for Group Classes or Ensembles: Make-up sessions for group classes or ensembles are not offered unless Sherwood Conservatory has had to cancel or re-schedule a class or ensemble. Make-up sessions due to student absence are not offered for group classes and ensembles, and classes missed due to student absence are non-refundable.

Course Cancellation: Sherwood Conservatory of Music reserves the right to cancel a class due to insufficient enrollment, and all paid student tuition will be refunded in the case of course cancellation. Final course cancellation decisions will be made at the end of the second week of each session.

Withdrawals, Refunds and Credits
• A fee of $25 will be charged for all students who enroll and then subsequently withdraw before the end of the second week of term.
• All withdrawal or refund requests must be submitted in writing to the Registrar, either in person, by mail, fax, or e-mail. Withdrawal or refund requests cannot be made retroactive and are effective as of the receipt date of the written request. Notification of withdrawal to the instructor or to any other member of the Sherwood staff will not be considered adequate notice of withdrawal and will not be honored as such.
• Withdrawal requests received from students before the first class session or individual lesson will receive a full tuition cash refund minus the $25 withdrawal fee and $15 registration fee.
• Withdrawal from group classes and ensembles after the start of term must be made by the end of the second week of class. Requests made by the end of the second week of class will receive a pro-rated credit on their student account, minus the $25 withdrawal fee and $15 registration fee.  Cash refunds are not given.  Withdrawal from a group class or ensemble after the third scheduled class will not receive any tuition refund or credit.
• Withdrawal requests received from students after the first individual lesson will receive pro-rated credit to their Sherwood student account, minus the $25 withdrawal fee and $15 registration fee.  Cash refunds are not given. 
• Credit can be applied for study in a subsequent term which begins up to six months after the original enrollment start date. If the pro-rated credit is not used within six months, it will be forfeited.

Disclaimer
Parents/guardians/caregivers are responsible for supervising the safety of their children at all times while they are on Sherwood premises. Upon registering yourself or your child for participation in programs at Sherwood, you acknowledge that you will be waiving and releasing all claims for injuries that you or your child may incur while on Sherwood premises, or while involved in any program at Sherwood. Furthermore, Sherwood Conservatory of Music is not a licensed childcare facility, and any child age seven or under taking lessons or classes at Sherwood is required to have a parent/guardian/caregiver present on Sherwood premises at all times during lesson or class time in case of emergency.

Publicity Policy
Photographs of students engaged in instruction, rehearsal or performance activities at Sherwood Conservatory of Music at Columbia College Chicago may be used in Sherwood Conservatory of Music at Columbia College Chicago publications, local newspapers, magazines, electronic media, and related publicity materials. Completion of registration materials and your signature in the space provided constitutes consent and permission by the student and students' parent(s)/guardian(s) to use the student's name and/or image for any advertising, publicity, marketing and packaging.