<p>I’m picking my classes for junior year right now. I have done band playing the drums since 5th grade. I need more academic challenging classes next year to help with admissions and in return would have to drop band. Will one class help my chances of getting in or should I stick with band. I am also playing on doing marching band next year too and you have to take band class to do so. I used to play soccer for school, but have lost interest in it. Will doing marching band really help me at all? I am kind of leaning towards band because I really enjoy music, but I have a 3.7 gpa and could raise it with another honors class next year. I play lacrosse in the spring btw. </p>
<p>Don't give up something you enjoy (like band) just because doing so MAY give you a SLIGHTLY better chance of raising your GPA. You have 2 more years of high school left; challenge yourself academically and do well for sure, but I don't think you should drop band for this reason. </p>
<p>However, if you just plain old want to quit band, go for it.</p>
<p>Have you talked to you director about doing marching band without being in band? I did 3 years of marching band as a percussionist in the front ensemble (pit) and my director was willing to work around conflicts such as my intense tennis schedule and honors classes. Also, if you do marching band and can get a leadership position (section leader, center snare) then that would help with admissions as well</p>
<p>I'll answer with a really long story. At our high school, class ranking was extremely competitive because GPA's were weighted with harder courses. When students who took mostly weighted courses took an unweighted course, such as band or choir, in my case, it would automatically force their GPA down, even if they attained all A's in those courses. I calculated it out my senior year and found that I would ahve graduated two class ranks above where I did had I NOT taken choir all four years.
Our counselors, however, told us that colleges would rather see someone who took the unweighted course and showed that they were more "well-rounded" outside of academics than someone who took all weighted courses and was thus ranked higher. I could have personally stuffed my schedule (as our valedictorian and salutorian did) with a mess of AP courses, gotten a higher GPA, and of course lost my mind in the process. I could have just not done choir, and lost a valuable part of my high school experiance (it was choir, after all, that helped to raise my confidence in myself in general). Besides, I just love to sing, and it took the place of my not playing the violin.
So to actually answer your question: it's your decision. However, I would stick with marching band if you truly enjoy it. It's an extracurricular activity and it'll show your ability to commit to things and that you are well-rounded more than taking an extra class would (unless the class were Farsi or something).</p>
<p>USAFA10, yes I already have talked to my director about not being in band, but still in marching band. He says he doesnt allow it anymore, because before he would end up with noone taking the class and a lot doing marching. In regards to taking away soccer during the fall, I am not too concerned because I will still play varsity lacrosse in the spring, so I will have my athletics. Anyone else have to deal with this?</p>
<p>Also one more thing, if you are going to drop band to take honors classes instead because they are weighted heavier at your school, keep in mind USAFA may weight them differently so it may not really help your GPA that much. I am so glad I participated in band all 4 years of high school (on saxophone) and 3 years of marching band, playing percussion, I know I wouldn't trade it for the possibility of a slightly higher GPA. Just do well in the classes you do take, that in itself should raise your GPA</p>
<p>if you like band, don't quit. like 10s said, try to get a leadership position or a top-notch spot. i played baseball my first 3 yrs in high school but decided it'd take waaay too much time up from my senior year classes and friends, so i quit. i did track, which replaced it, and did very well with it along with maintaining good grades and good friendships. you can make it work, whatever you choose. but don't drop something you like to do just because it MAY help you. take the hardest classes you can deal with, and go from there. </p>
<p>however, if there's no chance for you to excel in band, i'd say drop it and do excellent in your school. the choice is yours, just make sure you give whatever you choose 100%. in reality, the GPA may not even matter because USAFA does their own little formula on it :)</p>
<p>I will probally take band and the thing is if I don't do marching band I probally won't do anything in the fall. I don't like the soccer coach and I am a terrible distance runner so xc won't do much.</p>
<p>The way I look at it, is do something you love. If your going to do something that you don't like thats interfering with something that you do like, you're going to start slacking off and looking for excuses to do so. Do what you love, excel at it, be the best band person you could be. I'm in the marching band myself. Tenor Saxaphone. =]</p>
<p>If it is calc, chem, or physics that you would take instead of band, I would go with that. Those classes are some of the academic killers at the academy. If you don't have a background in them, you might run into trouble.</p>
<p>If it is not one of those classes, then I'd say it's completely up to your tastes.</p>
<p>Drums physics and calc are two of the classes admissions really want to see. They are also two of the three Freshmen cut courses at the Academy. When you hear about a cadet struggling academically it is usually physics, calc or chem. If admissions knows you completed physics, chem and a precalc class with an A or B it tells them you stand a good chance of survivin the first year at the Academy. </p>
<p>Potter did band all four years in high school, and is trying to play with the cadet orchestra (time and schedule). Music has always been very important to her. She ended up taking a foriegn language class online for a year in order to have all the requirements she needed to meet.</p>
<p>You may want to consider a physics class at a local community college, or explore an online course if your district has them.</p>
<p>ds - does Potter know if they could use a harpist in the cadet orchestra? My daughter plays harp and I think she would love to continue once she graduates from high school. She would also like to have a class of 2016 appointment! We'll try not to put the cart before the horse!!!</p>