<p>I'm a bit curious as to what you guys think of my resume. It's really heavily focused on one subject.</p>
<p>3.87 UW GPA; 4.41 W GPA
Rank: 6/402</p>
<p>SAT I: 1990 -_-
SAT II: Biology 730, Math II 710</p>
<p>Classes worth noting:
Freshman Year: Honors Geometry and English
Sophomore Year: AP World History
Junior Year: AP Calc AB, AP English Language, AP US History, AP Biology, and AP Spanish
Senior Year: AP Calc BC, AP English Literature, AP Psychology, AP Physics, and AP Government</p>
<p>Extra Curricular:
National Honors Society
Youth Symphony Program
Youth Symphony String Quartet
All-State Symphony Orchestra
High School Orchestra String Quartet
Private Violin Lessons
Private Piano Lessons
Teaching private lessons on violin
Teaching private lessons on piano
Martial Arts (Taekwondo)
Tennis
Volunteered at a hospital, a homeless shelter, and my church as a guitarist (Sums up to a little over 200 hours)</p>
<p>Awards:
AP Scholar
1st Place in state-wide string competition
I don't know if this considered an award non-musically speaking, but I was the concertmaster of the Youth Symphony and the All State Symphony.</p>
<p>If you guys would like me to be more descriptive about something just let me know.</p>
<p>So...yeah I mean it doesn't look like a lot in text but my life was dedicated to music since I had thought for the longest time I was going to be a professional musician. Simply put things changed around sophomore/junior year, I am no longer pursuing music as my professional career, and now I'm really trying to pursue academic-related stuff (which is why I took on more AP classes junior year). I am applying to Duke, but do you guys think I even have a chance with the so many areas lacking? I realize that it's quite a reach, but I guess I'm curious as to whether you guys think it's even worth it.</p>
<p>Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. :)</p>
<p>are you planning on taking a chair in your college symphony orchestra? Many people at Duke played strings all their lives and play two nights a week in the Duke Symphony and really enjoy it. Our son was a violist with them. As concertmaster of a State Orchestra, you have a gift that is clear. Perhaps you ought to look at colleges that would consider you to be an asset. There are many music and HOD joint majors at Vanderbilt for instance. Nice SATIIs. I think it was Bowdoin that used to allow submission of SATIIs as an option for testing. you still have time to retake the SAT or to take the ACT for RD. Consider trying the ACT. Davidson has a nice Symphony as well…as do many small colleges. Have you considered Furman which is eager to get strong male applicants and has a very strong music community on campus? Liberal arts colleges sometimes have a lack of male applicants so your SAT might not be a negative in some of America’s fine liberal arts institutions that tend to get more female applicants.</p>
<p>You’re not a weak candidate by any means, but I would RD and retake the SAT for sure (or take the ACT). I would also send in a musical supplement, if you’re that good [: With better test scores and a strong supplement (i.e. the music department says that they want you to play for them), then I would say you have a decent chance.</p>
<p>get the red book for the ACT is my advice…since you do so well on subject tests. The ACT is more straightforward and divided by subjects. Pay a LOT of attention to the practice tests, particularly in the science section where understanding the presented material and the expectations on how to cull through that material counts. You can take the ACT in December and still have it count for RD in most schools. Seriously, seniors in high school are mighty busy but your ACT and SAT scores are not yet in line with your subject test scores. you can improve this factor.
Duke students tend to be champion test takers. I would definitely expand my view of my college applications way beyond highly selective Duke to schools that would be impressed by your class rank, grades, subject tests and by your very rare selection in the State Symphony (my son was cut when he auditioned for his state symphony…didn’t even get a back chair so I know this is a significant statement about your talent).
what you plan to do with your musical talent needs to be addressed in your applications, including your decision to not pursue a conservatory life and to focus on other academic pursuits. In most colleges sans conservatories, your abilities are still an asset to the college and yes, I agree that you should be sending in a CD if you are willing to take a chair 2 nights a week in rehearsals. Our Duke son found Symphony to be greatly therapeutic and full of comradeship. The Vanderbilt son put his instrument down and switched directions, no loss to humankind I will add.</p>