Hi! I’m a sophomore in HS and I’m trying out for All State Choir next week. Frankly, I don’t want to do this, but it’s too late as I’ve already paid my fees and bought the music. Anyways, back to the topic. In the very probable event that I don’t make it to the second round, will I be able to put that I tried out for All State on my college applications? Or will I only be able to put real achievements on there. I would appreciate any advice! Thank you for reading this 
Focus on your achievements.
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Put things that you actually completed. Activities that you have done for 2-4 years are best. Don’t do things you don’t enjoy and don’t do anything you think will impress. Do things your truly enjoy doing.
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My daughter put that she had made districts and that she was “recommended” twice for all-state auditions. She didn’t mention she hadn’t made it either time though I assume it was obvious (the other option being she didn’t bother to audition at all). But she was focusing on the districts achievement (she was second chair for her instrument twice). She didn’t mention all state as a separate thing.
ETA - I missed you were only a sophomore. Agree with the others only do this if it’s something you want to do. It’s not going to move the needle on your apps unless it’s something that shows a long term commitment to music. On its own it’s meaningless.
I think your focus is too narrow. Instead of trying to pad your EC list with tryouts, as a sophomore you have time to show the achievement and leadership in your chosen area that makes for strong ECs.
What are you doing with choir in the community? For example what if you had a leadership position in a local youth choir group and arranged for holiday concerts in town or at local retirement homes? What if you led the fundraiser for their trip? I know choirs in my area that have visited churches in other states and in Europe to sing. What if you helped set up a choir program for elementary-age kids in your area who may not have such a program? Your imagination is the only limit.
I’m in the choir program at my school. I’ve never particularly enjoyed choir but I’ll look into your suggestions! Thank you so much
Oh alright, thank you for your advice! I wish I could show this to my mom but she’ll probably say something like “don’t trust everything you see online”. She’s the one who told me to try out for All State even though I told her that I don’t want to advance any further in choir. I do have a decent amount of history with music (Got selected for an opera choir thing in 4th grade and played violin for 4 years), so do you think those would make a difference? I am also in the varsity womens’ choir at my school.
Thank you for your advice!
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Honestly, if you aren’t selected for the all state ensemble, I would suggest you not put that audition in your college applications…at all.
The thing you did in 4th grade will have no impact on your college admissions…unless you continue to do this now…and you aren’t.
Are you still taking violin lessons? When did you stop? If before high school, omit that too. It’s not something you do now.
Yes, you can include this when the time comes. But it will be of more significance if you continue participating through all of high school….because that shows a commitment to doing something.
I was in orchestra from 5th grade to 8th grade. I quit before my freshman year
Why are you doing it? As a new sophomore, you have plenty of time to do things you care more about. And no, I don’t think this should go on applications.
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Well I needed a fine art credit so I took choir my freshman year, so I already have that out of the way. I took it this year because I needed to fill an elective slot (not a very good reason, but it’s a reason). It’s not that I DISLIKE it, but I can’t say I enjoy it. It’s actually quite fun at times, but the main reason for me not liking it would be my mom continuing to push me to advance further even though I’ve expressed that I don’t want to. The class itself is not bad, and my teachers are wonderful.
I hear you! My kids are very serious about music, but don’t want to do competitions, or try out for all-state ensembles. They see individual achievements such as competition wins and all-state ensembles as basically a waste of time and energy that would be better invested in their own music community at school. It’s frustrating for them that extracurriculars for college seem to be ranked according to how “high” you “advance,” rather than the depth of involvement in your own school community, which to them is so much more important, joyful and rewarding.
Then this shouldn’t go on your college applications.
My kids were both musicians in school ensembles that had over 100 students in them. Less than 20 total kids auditioned each year for all state. Most of the students were in the school ensembles because they enjoyed being in the school ensembles. They never auditioned for anything outside of school.
So…enjoy your high school choir if you actually enjoy it. If you continue, then list it on your college applications. You don’t have to audition for all state to put school choir on your college application. BTW, it will be listed on your HS transcript as a class whether you want it to be…or not.
I will say…if your high school ensemble director suggests you consider auditioning for all state, then at least consider it.
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Since you have asked about listing ECs (and hence college apps) you should know that most colleges either don’t care about ECs or give them minimal weight (in which case just belonging to a club or taking part in an activity like choir is more than sufficient). You can find details of the weight given to various things on the websites of the colleges you are interested in or in their Common Data Set report.
A small percentage of colleges, perhaps 10% or less, care more about ECs and they are very important at the smaller group of most selective colleges since applicants are so strong academically and they need a way to choose. If you are thinking of colleges of this type then hopefully you’ve been trying different things over time to find one or two that you really like. At this point you have two years left before you start filling out college apps the start of senior year to stand out in an EC area or two.
So for most kids I’d say do choir or don’t, up to you. If you’re thinking of a very selective college and have the academic performance so far to think you’ll be a competitive candidate if it keeps up then put more effort into something you DO enjoy.
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