<p>I read a post on CC about how it's easier to get into S than HYP with music ECs. The poster basically said that while you might not be one of the top 100 musicians in the HYP pool you would be probably be much higher up on the S ranking. He said that for HYP you need to be an outstanding musician or a decent athlete, whereas for S you need to be an outstanding athlete or a decent musician.</p>
<p>Just wondering how true this is, because I thought the top applicants all had HYPS on their list. (I have decent music ECs, a little bit of math team, want to major in Econ, not science/engineering. I'm asian too btw.)</p>
<p>I'm not sure how true that is, but I had a lot of music ec's (section leader in the marching band, 1st chair in the symphonic band, jazz band, church band, cal state fullerton wind ensemble, but no all state or honor bands or anything stellar).</p>
<p>I had OK sat's and gpa, no academic awards, low rank, and nothing really special about my app, except maybe my essays.</p>
<p>So maybe Stanford does look for just decent musicians? I'm not sure. I applied undeclared/pre-med.</p>
<p>The only way to get a leg up in admissions with your music EC is to send in an audition tape or CD. If the music department likes it, it will serve as a "hook". If they don't, it will not hurt you, but will not really help you either.</p>
<p>Most people who are looking for professional careers in music do not go to Stanford, so you don't have to be Juilliard caliber musician to impress them.</p>
<p>Send in an audition tape or CD? Hmm, one of my friends..flew down to Stanford to audition - and she was accepted. That might be also a possibility.</p>
<p>My impression is that you either have to be a really good athlete or a really good musician for it to make a significant impact on your decision at any top school. Beyond that, it's where your passions lie and how you spend your time that matter more than if you played clarinet or soccer.</p>
<p>like someone said above, from all that i can see, out of the "elite" schools, yale is definitely the one that seems to pursue musicians the most. no doubt on this one.</p>
<p>Definitely submit a supplemental arts application! Not only is it great for you holistically, but you also have a great time preparing stuff for it...well, at least I had a great time recording a CD... :)</p>
<p>I was going to send one in, but I never got to it. I figured that I since I played the piano, and I wasn't that great, it wouldn't make much of a difference.</p>
<p>I'm the parent of a Stanford student who did the in person audition, and although we can't say whether she would have been admitted without it, our impression is that it was helpful. For one thing, Stanford doesn't have interviews. At the audition, though, there was the opportunity to have a conversation with the faculty member who heard her, to talk both about music and about her desire to attend Stanford, presumably with the faculty member's assessment and comments going to the admissions office. She also got a good feel for the music department, which was important to her. My d really wanted to attend Stanford, but as an RD applicant, wasn't sure if her enthusiasm was going to get through on paper; in her conversation with the music faculty, it did. Also -- although obviously if you live far away or have financial constraints that make it impossible, not showing up in Palo Alto could in no way be held against you -- there is that demonstrating interest in the college thing. And if music has, in fact, been a real focus of a student's extra-curricular life, and is a passion, that can really be conveyed with the quality and intensity of the in-person performance. Finally, it is our impression that Stanford has a strong interest in bringing excellent, committed musicians to the school. For heaven's sake, high school musicians, you've been working hard to perfect your performance for years; at college admissions time, if you've got it, flaunt it!</p>
<p>A live audition shouldn't help any more than a tape. Unless doing the live audition causes you to get a better score on it, which I doubt would really be the case, I'm pretty sure they get reported to admissions the same way.</p>
<p>And no, PennFan, the top applicants do not all apply to SPYH. Those are just the four schools that everybody considers to be the Holy Grail. That's a rant I'll save, though.</p>
<p>I was accepted RD to Stanford this year, and I learned that a big part of it was that I submitted a cd. </p>
<p>the way stanford explains music auditions in terms of admission desicions is that it can serve as a "compelling reason" for admission, if everything else is in order. </p>
<p>If the music department gives your cd or live audition a excellent rating, then, those comments are sent to the admission office and they take it into consideration. </p>
<p>I think it is true that Stanford is looking for good musicians, but you dont need to be at conservatory level for them to appreciate and want you.</p>
<p>Hmmm...now that you guys mention it, the note on the letter I got from my Admissions Officer said that my commitment to my heritage was commendable (my cd was Indian classical, although my focus is on general Indian music). I'd like to look into how important the CD was, actually, and then get back to you guys. :)</p>
<p>Also, it depends on what music you're into. I doubt very many people sent in Indian singing. The type of supplemental you send in probably has to do with the level of mastery they want you to show.</p>