You should do a music supplement with video/recording, music resume (including those awards) and letters of recommendation related to music. You do not have to plan to be a music major for your music experience- and your supplement- to help with admissions. Lots of kids do music at a high level in high school and don’t major in music. Music shows discipline and hard work as well as talent, and admissions officers know that.
How would you rank the following honors and are they good?
NSDA Academic All American, Yale Young Global Scholars, Qualification to TOC Debate
Hello! In an IB curriculum, it is generally recommended to take 3 HL courses and 3 SL courses to ensure a challenging albeit balanced course load. Admissions officers will be looking for rigor in your course selection and will expect to see HL courses if your school offers them. Without HL courses—even if you are balancing 5 SL courses—your transcript will not be nearly as strong it could be. Based on your example, I suggest taking 3 HL courses over two years.
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Hello! I recognize the concern for commitment in athletic recruitment, and it can occasionally be confusing, especially if a coach is unclear about expectations and policies. Nevertheless, yes, athletic recruits are generally considered very seriously and receive particular attention during the application review process. That said, schools within the different athletic divisions (e.g., D1, D2, D3) will approach recruitment differently; thus, it is critical to be in touch with both an athletic coach and the admissions office (n.b. There is often an admissions officer who is an assigned athletic liaison). Based on your example, a “top recruit” should take the coaches statements seriously. If an admissions office issues a likely letter or a positive pre-read, then yes, it should be considered seriously. All in all, it is in an athletic recruit’s best interest that they secure a safety net—have a back-up plan—until they have signed a contract or been admitted.
Hi! National Honors Society is great to include in a competitive college admissions application, but there is so much else you can do to demonstrate commitment to service, civic engagement, and community leadership. Admissions officers often find the alternative options more appealing since they set you apart from the multitude of NHS members. Remember that it’s more about the impact you make and not the title you hold.
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A combined BS/MD program may be a great option for students 100% interested in and committed to becoming a doctor. There are some pros and cons to be weighed when applying to these types of programs in addition to digesting the fact that the programs are competitive and there are often additional application materials to submit.
Some of the pros include a time-efficient program with guaranteed admissions and earlier exposure to actual medicine; meanwhile, some of the downsides are limited freedom to explore other academic options, a huge time commitment, and high tuition fees. Typically, BS/MD programs are the most sought-after dual-degree program with admissions rates in the single digits, oftentimes demanding better grades, test scores, and medical-related activities to make you a competitive candidate.
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Hi Lunex, no problem!
It’s important to divide your questions individually to best answer them.
First, students are often given opportunities to explain why they want to study a certain major in a supplemental essay. If given the opportunity, you can simply share what and why you are interested in your intended major, sharing any experiences you have including coursework, activities, and reading. Colleges don’t expect students to have decide what they want to study early on; in fact, many colleges allow students to declare their official major up until the end of their sophomore year. Simply put, have an argument for what you want to study and why you want to study it, and then make it where appropriate on the application.
Second, you activity involvement does not always need to match your academic interests, especially when it comes to sports and music. By participating in music, especially at a high level, you are showing colleges your commitment to teamwork, learning, being a part of a community, and appreciating culture. These are all positive attributes that are well received by admissions officers. Combined with a few activities in your academic interest area, you will demonstrate that you are a student colleges want to have on campus.
Third, submitting a portfolio can help when appropriate. Oftentimes, portfolios are reviewed by professors who offer significant feedback. If your work is high level, this could help. If not, it could hurt. If you simply want the admissions officer to see some of your work, set up a website and include the link in your activity list or in the additional information section.
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All three of these awards demonstrate academic talent and achievement in speech and debate, most notably. These should certainly be featured in the honors section of your Common Application and, in regards to YYGS, your activity list. It’s not necessary to rank these achievements unless you have ones that are more important than the others.
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Thank you so much! I wish the GC or the college counselor I spoke with in January had been able to answer my question this clearly. Some things are locked in now, but there is still flexibility to go HL in some classes (up to 4, but that’s too much for her).
I will pass on your message and make sure D24 thoughtfully considers it when choosing classes for senior year.
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I did running all three seasons (I can run comparatively fast as a freshman), but I’m considering doing tennis and basketball with an off season next year. Will doing sports for 3 years in total hurt my chance? Would it show that I’m not dedicated. I used to love running, but now I’m not as passionate about it as I am other sports.
thank you all for the lively discussion and @JoelAtInGeniusPrep for all of the thoughtful answers. This AMA is now closed to further questions.