Does band really help on college applications?

So I’m an upcoming High school student and I’ve been in band all through middle school. I don’t hate band, but it’s not really important to me. In high school I really need to focus on my grades, and being in band will cut out from my study and homework time at home. I wanted to know if band is really worth it? The only reason I would stay in High school band is if it truly impacted my college application. So I was wondering if band will help with getting into college?

Don’t stay in band just for how it might look on your college application. If you do drop it, I’d recommend finding another arts/music class for graduation requirements or broadening your horizons.

Taking on meaningful roles in ECs will help your application at most colleges. However, that does not mean you have to stick with band if you don’t enjoy it. Find ECs that interest and excite you.

That said, before you drop band check your HS graduation requirements. At least in our HS students must take one year of an arts course (ex. art, band, chorus) to graduate.

DD is also an incoming freshman and she just switched out of band because a better opportunity came up.

It will look great on a college application if you excel at your instrument enough to win awards or if you gain leadership positions. You’ll likely have wonderful opportunities for travel. Marching Band is probably looked upon favorably by colleges with football teams. There are scholarship opportunities available for band members.

On the other hand, band is a lot of work. You’re likely going to have to give up other extracurricular activities and opportunities in order to stay in it. Also, there are other less demanding ways to stick with your instru

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There are other less demanding ways to stick with your instrument, such as community bands or playing with your church ensemble.

Bottom line is do it if you enjoy it (or if you want to be a music major). Don’t do it to look good for colleges. They don’t favor one activity over another.

It is important to have some kind of extra curricular activities on your application. Not just for college applications, but also because I think it makes HS more fun. My HS memories are definitely more about my ECs than my classroom experiences! But I get it, having been in band in HS – if it isn’t “your thing”, pick different ECs. You could play a sport, try debate or speech if your school has teams, write for the student newspaper, or get involved with theater (even if you don’t want to act, they need people to help with sets, costumes, lighting, etc.). If your school has a robotics team, you might be able to try that. There are a lot of choices in HS. Make time for ECs, but explore the things you are interested in.