Chance of Good Student with 'Unique' Musical Ability

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a fairly accomplished bassoon player (I play in pretty much every group in my school I can, I've played in a local community orchestra, and I recieved a perfect score (100/100) on the highest level of the NY state school music evaluations, and I'll probably be accepted into the county high school band) and everyone has always told me this will help me get some kind of scholarship or college acceptance. </p>

<p>I think my parents have dreamed up a scenario where a great college wil not only accept me, but give me a free ride if I join their orchestra. What are the chances of this actually happening? I visited Bard last weekend and the counseler said something to the extent of "bassoon and french horn players are in high demand," which sounded promising. I also play bass clarinet, but not well, hah. </p>

<p>My other stats:
GPA: 3.8 unweighted (I think? I have about a 93/94 average).
SAT: 2000 (CR:730 W:690 M:580) (I plan to retake it because my math grade is only so-so.)
SAT II's: Predicting excellent score on Bio, good score on Literature.
APs: 4 or 5 on both Language and Biology. </p>

<p>Junior Year Classes:
AP English Language
AP Biology
SUPA Spanish
U.S. History
Math B2/B3
Wind Ensmble (includes orchestra/marching band)
Music Theory I</p>

<p>Senior Year Classes:
AP Literature
AP Living Enviroment
AP Spanish
Pre-Calculus
Participation in Gov't/Economics
Sociology/Psychology
Wind Ensemble</p>

<p>9th Grade UW Avg: 94 (2 Honors Classes)
10th Grade UW Avg: 92 (2 Honors Classes)</p>

<p>EC's:
-Vice President of Conserve Our Wildlife Club (I'll probably be president next year).
-Literary Magazine Club
-Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity Club
-Woodwind Ensemble</p>

<p>-National Honor Society
-National Hispanic Honor Society </p>

<p>-Martial Arts (I've studied for 8 years, I have a junior black belt)
-Tutoring ESL students
-Next year I'll be taking a internship through my school, hopefully with a nonprofit organization (though this will happen after college app time).
-This summer I'm working for my school district, setting up computers. </p>

<p>"Distinctions":
-English Student of the Week (twice)
-Physical Education Student of the Week
-Social Studies Student of the Week
-Some other social studies award I forgot the name of, heh.
-High Honor Roll (haven't missed it once....)
-Organized 2007 Day of Silence at my school
-Selected to perform at local poetry slam</p>

<p>I want to major in sociology and pursue a career in the nonprofit sector. I can write a kickass essay and I can get glowing recs from a science and english teacher, my bassoon teacher, and my karate instructor. I guess I'm kind of "unique," too. Oh, and I'm a white female from New York state.</p>

<p>Schools I'm looking at:
Bard
Hampshire
Sarah Lawrence
Vassar
Oberlin
Amherst
NYU
BU
Syracuse University
Norheastern
Clark
SUNY Binghamton, Geneseo, and New Paltz</p>

<p>Can anyone categorize these as reaches/matches/safeties for me? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.</p>

2

<p>Those "student of the week" awards sound like BS...and High Honor Roll doesn't really matter. </p>

<p>You have great chances at any of those schools, Amherst is the only one that seems like a reach. Good luck!!</p>

3

<p>Hah, the student of the week awards aren't the most amazing thing ever, but since I've had four in three years I figure it was worth mentioning. Are my SAT scores okay for those schools? I know a 2000 isn't mindboggling, but I think it's silly to say it's "bad."</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

4

<p>Do you have a class rank?</p>

5

<p>My school doesn't rank, but I think I'm in the top 10% of my class. My guidance counseler said I'm "near the top of my class" but that's pretty ambiguous. I go to public high school that I don't believe is ranked very high, but a handful of students go on to Ivies and other good schools every year.</p>

6

<p>BASSOONISTS UNITE! Yay another bassoon player/ bass clarinetist! White female also from NY, but I only got a 95 on level 6 NYSSMA, if that's what you're talking about. I also have similar stats and am looking into similar schools. You would probably get into nearly all of those schools, with maybe Amherst, Vassar, and Oberlin as reaches. I would also suggest to check out Conn College and Bucknell in Pennsylvania. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Yeah, I meant NYSSMA level 6, I wasn't sure if everyone here would know what that was. I was so surprised that I recieved a perfect score...what piece did you play?</p>

<p>Yeah, I'm considering Vassar and Amherst as reaches. I think Bard is my first choice.</p>

8

<p>Very cool- my mom's best friend is actually the nurse at Bard, and she says it's a great school and the kids are really friendly and outgoing. And I played Vivaldi for my solo... though I don't like to mention it because it was a horrible experience. Basically, had only one rehersal with the pianist, and I got off from her in the middle of the song. But I think I did pretty well considering.</p>

9

<p>Hah, I did a Vivaldi concerto as well. Baroque bassoon music, so dull! I'm an idiot and didn't do All-State (it was the first time I ever did NYSSMA and I was apprehensive) so no pianist for me. </p>

<p>I visited Bard a week a go and loved the atmosphere. Ther tour guide and admissions counseler were so much nicer than at any other college we've visited. </p>

<p>Can anyone recommend schools similar to the one I've listed? Intellectual LACs with a bit of radical hippieness to it, if possible.</p>

10

<p>Well, I visited Wesleyan University in Connecticut, and it was definitely hippie-ish. There were signs up for a "Hemp Club," interpretive dances randomly around the campus, and people wrote all sorts of political and social opinions on the pathways in sidewalk chalk. It certainly has a similar vibe as Bard, from what I hear.</p>

11

<p>I have a friend who wants to go to Wesleyan. I think I would like it, but I'm not sure if I would get in. I might apply, but I don't want to have too many reach schools, y'know?</p>

<p>How much influence do "hooks" have on college admissions, really? I know my grades are probably nothing special to schools like Amherst, but I don't think they get too many bassoon-playing black belts applying, hah. I'm hoping that will make the difference.</p>

12

<p>I think you have a very good list of schools at which you have a very good shot. Your SAT is certainly not bad, but yea, retake it just to feel more confident.
You have some great ECs, but when you fill out apps, you need to format them so they stand out more.
On the common app, they ask to list your ECs, and I suggest your group them likes this - </p>

<ol>
<li>Orchestra (Bassoon) ---- perfect score on a state evaluation, etc.</li>
<li>Type of Martial Arts ----- junior black belt </li>
<li>Conserve Our Wildlife Club ----- president
4 Name of Internship (would be good if it has something to do with the above 3)</li>
<li>The rest in whatever order</li>
<li>The rest in whatever order, and feel free to omit something because it will look like it's too much</li>
</ol>

<p>Good luck :)</p>

13

<p>Thanks, everyone's comments are making me feel more confident. </p>

<p>I was thinking that I should put stuff like my evaluation score in the awards/distinctions (whatever it's called) section? Oh, and I'm not sure if I can list the internship because it won't be until the end of my senior year? Can I say something like "upcoming internship", or is that not acceptable?</p>

<p>Here's what I was thinking:
Wind Ensemble/Orchestra: 1st Bassoon
Woodwind Ensemble: 1st Bassoon
Okinawa-Te Karate: Junior Black Belt
COW Club: President
Marching Band: Bass Clarinet
(etc.,etc)</p>

<p>Then put the score in the awards section. What about NHS and NHHS? I don't want to list that I'm in 6 clubs or anything, I'm not active at all in NHHS, but I figured since I was inducted it was like an awards kinda thing?</p>

14

<p>Don't mention NHS. It makes you look like a tool.</p>

<p>And, man, go to Oberlin. what a great place, especially for artists and musicians.</p>

15

<p>Bard match, perhaps even safety
Hampshire safety
Sarah Lawrence match
Vassar match, maybe a tad reachy. still, very good chances
Oberlin match
Amherst the only real reach you have
NYU match
BU match
Syracuse University safety
Norheastern match
Clark match
SUNY Binghamton, Geneseo, and New Paltz safeties</p>

16

<p>Wow, even Binghamton as a safety? I feel like I've been underestimating myself now, hah, thanks. Are those categorizations based on grades or the whole picture?</p>

17

<p>Anyone else have advice?</p>

18

<p>Okay minor change in my "qualifications": I kind of ended up auditioning for the advanced choruses in my school, and ended up in the most selective group--without having been in chorus since middle school. So yeah, I'm getting thrown into the most elite vocal group (it's only just over a dozen female students) without having been in normal chorus at all. Yikes. But anyway, how will having that thrown in for my sneior year affect things?</p>

<p>Also, I earned Music Student of the Week on Monday, making that my fifth. I know someone already said that those awards are pointless, but hey, I earned 'em.</p>

19

<p>A few additions to my "credentials":</p>

<p>Bio SATII - 720
Literature SATII - 730
Junior Year GPA: UW 3.9
Music Student of the Week
Accepted into school's most advanced chorus for senior year.</p>

<p>Will these--particularly those test scores--change anything?</p>

20

<p>If you want a SUNY for music, isn't Crane at Potsdam supposed to be the best?</p>

<p>Wait, nevermind...you want sociology. Sorry, missed that. :) Though I am confused about one thing...do you really want to be in an orchestra in college, or is the prospect of financial assistance what's pushing this? Would your college list be the same if it weren't for the bassoon? You say everyone else tells you to do it and that your parents have this idea, but nothing seems to particularly indicate that this is your choice. Just curious. :/</p>