<p>I'm a freshman in high school and I quit my orchestra because I am in the lowest of the 3 orchestras (although I'm 5th chair) and I don't take private lessons. I realize in most cases if one practices enough they don't need private lessons but our school is I think the best school for music in the state and you NEED private lessons to be able to get to middle orchestra. Even the teacher said so herself. Plus at least an 45 minutes of practice so it's also time consuming.</p>
<p>I am in Web Design Club, in Film Club, and Key Club and I plan to be president in Film Club(with connections from upperclassmen in that club) and at least board members if not president in the other two clubs. I feel that one EC will be enough.</p>
<p>So basically, should I stay in orchestra or quit out of it? For the elite music high school ppl, is it really time consuming? I just don't know what I should do for my EC's. What are the best EC's one could do?</p>
<p>If you think that you can win state or national awards for playing an instrument, then consider staying in orchestra. Otherwise, it’s better to spend your time on extracurriculars that you have a good chance of succeeding in. Consider joining a varsity sports team and running for SGA president.</p>
<p>What would take up the most time and effort though? Would it be an instrument, varsity sport(if you can get to varsity) or a club?</p>
<p>I’m not even good at sports so I should just automatically cross that out. If I now took private lessons, would it be hard to get myself back into place while taking hard classes next year?</p>
<p>Also, in generaldo colleges consider instruments as better ECs or clubs as better ECs? Does the type of club affect it at all? What club is most recommended?</p>
<p>@fireroy830: “Also, in general do colleges consider instruments as better ECs or clubs as better ECs? Does the type of club affect it at all? What club is most recommended?”</p>
<p>Eh, is there something you really enjoy? Pursue that. </p>
<p>I joined a lot of things in high school. Most of them were to meet my father’s demands (typical immigant father…I love him, but I shouldn’t have let him control my life like that), but I made sure to participate in things I was interested in (I hardly got any sleep though, which I don’t recommend at all). Please don’t ask what clubs you should join if you just feel obligated to have something to write down on a college application. Find out what you enjoy doing and stick with them. If you want to show some initiative, start your own club/student organization. You’re only a freshman, so you have plenty of time. </p>
<p>An elite music high school? Did you choose that school because of that, or did you just end up going there because of its location? Music is something I love, and practicing makes all the difference in the world. Your school seems like a good place for your skills to grow. Taking hard classes along with private lessons could be difficult, but it may be worth it if you dedicate yourself to it. Did you quit orchestra because you felt like it would be impossible to rise up, or do you not like it at all?</p>
<p>Thanks, I’ll try to find some clubs that I want to do. I was just confused about whether being in the highest level orchestra is better, or president of a good club is better, also how much time each one takes.</p>
<p>Speaking of college apps, do colleges like that you’re in leadership positions in a FEW things, or do they want you to be a part of as much as you can? Maybe this will help me understand the concept of extracurriculars a little better.</p>
<p>Btw I quit orchestra because I figured that next year, since I have all accelerated courses, except for my elective and english actually for the rest of my high school career, I’ll be too busy to start private lessons and learn on the run. </p>
<p>Our second level orchestra has NO ONE without private lessons, and I don’t know if I could afford it either. Our third level orchestra is full of all azns that have been playing for a long time and have had private lessons for a long time. No way I can catch up to that in such a short amount of time.</p>
<p>Second level is likely, considering I was 5th chair of the first level orchestra, but it wouldn’t be as valuable as being president or leader of a club, I think. Besides, a lot of incoming freshman get accepted, since they take private lessons, and quite a few get into the third level.</p>
Adcoms call students who sign up for everything in sight “a mile wide and an inch deep”; it is not meant as praise. Here’s what Stanford, to give an example of a highly competitive school, says about ECs
BTW the level of ECs you need depends on what you’re aiming for. The majority of colleges in the country, probably almost all outside the most selective 100 or so, give little or no weight to ECs. Sure they all have a box to list them because that’s what people expect, but most colleges just look at grades and scores. </p>