Band or No Band?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hi, I just found this website today. I am 15 years old and a freshman in high school. I have some questions about how to best prepare myself to be accepted into Harvard. I live in a VERY small town, and the educational opportunities here are limited. Most of the kids here either don't go to college, or go to the local community college. I'm not originally from here, and have a different mindset. I want to go to law school at Harvard. I'm not sure if I would be able to attend Harvard for my undergraduate or not.</p>

<p>I have played the clarinet since sixth grade. My high school is on a four block schedule. I have asked my counselors, teachers, and some other high-achieving students but no one seems to know the answer to this question. Does it look better on my college application to take band either all year, all four years, or half a year, all four years, or give up band completely to possibly take more AP classes? Having said this, my school offers very few AP classes every year and we don't know from year to year which ones will be offered. Being on the block schedule makes it very hard to schedule the AP classes because they are usually offered one block per day, and sometimes interfere with our required classes. Freshmen are not allowed to take AP classes so I am not taking any this year. This means I will only have 3 years to take the AP classes. Also, should I take AP classes I'm not interested in, such as Art History for example, just to take the AP class? And what's your opinion on self-studying for AP exams?</p>

<p>I know it looks good to colleges to be diversified, so I really don't want to give up band. I am currently involved in: Y-Club, FBLA, Key Club, and I am the Freshman class vice president. I'm also in marching band. I am pretty involved in these clubs, and have a fair amount of community service inside and outside of these clubs.</p>

<p>Any advice that you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.</p>

2

<p>It will look best on your eventual applications for you to decide what you’re really enthusiastic about and pursue the heck out of it. If that’s a musical instrument, then you’d be in good company - Harvard has incredible student musical groups. Harvard will consider your academic pursuits in light of the resources you have available in your school and community, but I think that going outside the readily available resources to find ways to add challenge (e.g. self-study for APs) would constitute an application “hook” if you’re successful at it.</p>

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<p>As far as self-study goes, should I take an actual AP course and exam first before I make a self-study attempt? Could you recommend a good AP course as my first self-study?
Thanks.</p>

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<p>AP environmental science or comparative government</p>

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<p>Alright, thanks! I plan on taking comparative government, do you have any textbook recommendations?</p>

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<p>Bump 10char</p>

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<p>get the Princeton review text book</p>

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<p>statistics is also an easy self study if you have a decent mathematics background. maybe wait until youve seen the entirety of a few more math courses, though.</p>

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<p>conner ~ alright thanks</p>

<p>gman427 ~ how much math do you think I would need? In other words, should I wait until junior or senior year to take it???</p>

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<p>It depends on the math student you are. I took calculus as a sophomore…so statistics came very easily as a self study that year. I probably could have pulled it off as a freshman. However, math and physics are the subjects I am strongest in. If you dont have the greatest background, perhaps it would be wise to wait until your junior year.</p>

<p>This is just my opinion though, be sure to get others. Everyone is good at different things!</p>