Registration

Click here to download and print out a .pdf of the Sherwood Registration Form (2 pages)

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

Drop off forms in person, or mail forms to:

Admissions Department
Sherwood Community Music School
at Columbia College Chicago
1312 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60605

For more information or to register by phone, call: (312) 369-3100.

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 10-50% 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 9-week term. The first week of registration is reserved for continuing students only, and allows them to re-enroll and reserve their preferred class or lesson time. The following three weeks before the start of the term are considered open registration, the period in which both new and continuing students may register. If continuing students do not re-enroll during the first week of registration, 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.

Payment Policy

• A student is not considered registered until a payment is made.
• Students will not be allowed to attend a class or lesson until a payment is made.
• Payment for all tuition and fees is payable in full prior to the first class or lesson.
• Students unable to pay in full may opt for the installment plan outlined below. Payment may be made by cash, personal check, money order, or by major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover).

Full Year Registration Option: Students registering for individual lessons or ensembles in the fall term may opt to register for the full year (fall and spring terms). To participate in this option, simply request to register for the full year at the time of registration, and provide us with your credit card information. We will hold this information on file and automatically charge your tuition during the week of January 11, 2010, at the start of spring term registration. Students who select this option and pay in full each term will receive a $20 discount on their spring tuition. Students on the installment plan selecting this option will have the spring term installment fee waived.

Installment Plan Option: Students unable to pay in full at the time of registration may select to participate in the installment plan option.

• The installment plan is available for students registering for 18 week or 36 week classes or lessons.
• The installment plan is not available for 9 week classes.
• There is a $20 fee per term to participate in the installment plan.
• The installment plan breaks payment up into 3 installments spaced evenly throughout the 18 week term.
• Remaining balances may be paid off in full at any time.
• To participate in the installment plan, we request that your credit card information be kept on file with Sherwood, even if you plan on paying by cash or check. If a payment is not made by the payment due date, we will automatically charge the amount due to your credit card.

Fees and Discounts

Registration Fee: A non-refundable registration fee of $15 is charged to each student once per academic year.

Materials Fee: Some courses require an additional materials fee. 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 is required each term for students who opt for the installment plan.

Returned Check Fee: A $30 fee will be charged for any returned checks.

Withdrawal Fee: A $25 fee will be charged to all students who enroll and then subsequently withdraw before the end of the second week of the term.

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

Discounts: Sherwood may offer various registration incentives and tuition discounts throughout the year. To find out more about what discounts are available for a specific term, please contact a program coordinator at (312) 369-3100. 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. Two make-up lessons for excused absences will be offered per 18-week term.

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 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. An exception is made for students in Music Together. Parents of Music Together students may schedule make-up classes by speaking with a Program Coordinator at (312) 369-3100.

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

Withdrawals, Refunds and Credits

All withdrawal or refund requests must be submitted in writing to the Registrar, either in person, by mail, or email.

Withdrawal or refund requests cannot be made retroactive and are effective as of the receipt date of the written request. Verbal notification of withdrawal to the instructor or to any 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 at least 24 hours before the third scheduled class. Requests made before the third scheduled class will receive a pro-rated credit on their student account, not a cash refund, minus the $25 withdrawal fee.
 
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 a pro-rated credit to their Sherwood student account minus the $25 withdrawal fee, not a refund.
 
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.