First Generation Seeking Advice

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Thanks for opening this thread! Any help would be appreciated. I am a first generation college applicant and I'm a little confused about the admissions process.</p>

<p>I dont want to turn this into a chances thread, but I posted some of my stats to put my situation into perspective. Basically, I'm really into competitive drumline and drumming in general, and I want to know how I can, or if I should, contact staff from the Harvard Band for potential recruitment (if they even do that). I realize that there's a section on the application to send in tapes/CDs, but would it be benefitial to contact instructors directly to demonstrate interest / set up an in-person in evaluation?</p>

<p>I don't even know if any of this would even matter, since the Harvard Band doesn't compete and I doubt filling a seat in the MB would be a priority in finding those top 10% (i.e. filling the marching band could just happen by "coincidence," in the sense that a published author might also play the flute a little here and there).</p>

<p>Thanks for any input!</p>

<p>Stats:
SAT I: 760M / 690CR/ 710W (2160) From 2 testings</p>

<p>SAT IIs: 740, 740, 740 (Math 2, Chem, US History)</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 UW (hardest courseload offered), 4.2ish weighted</p>

<p>Rank: #1 of 650ish, possibly down to #2 due to unweighted band class</p>

<p>APs: Euro, Bio, US History, Chemistry (3 / 4 / 5 / 5) <em>Should I just report the 4 and 5's and not mention the 3?</em></p>

<p>Spanish at local community college, Harvard SSP distance Ed</p>

<p>EC's: </p>

<p>Professional snare drumming with traveling choir (weekends Oct-Dec, "little drummer boy" soloist)</p>

<p>2-year veteran and co-section leader of state champion (2006) percussion ensemble. I was a featured soloist. (about 15 hrs prac/week Oct-Apr)</p>

<p>Alternate section leader for nationally known Drum and Bugle Corps, 2005</p>

<p>University of Michigan Hockey Band: 2003, 2004, 2005</p>

<p>Destination Imagination, 2nd place regionals, 2nd place States, 8th place Globals (of a few hundred) in 2004</p>

<p>JV and V quiz bowl (captain for JV). 9.5 hrs/ week</p>

<p>Volunteer at hospital, 3hrs/ week (just started Dec 2005)</p>

<p>HS drumline section leader (3 years of leadership)</p>

<p>Spent frosh-soph summer trimming trees (not for long, though, just a few weeks)</p>

<p>NHS</p>

<p>Student Council member (a joke at my school)</p>

<p>Location/Person:
State or Country: MI
School Type: Large Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: M </p>

<p>I know the SAT scores arent steller, but, if it means anything, Math and Writing set school records.</p>

2

<p>Sorry this didn't work...there are some kids on this thread who are working for admissions this summer....I'm a little surprised they haven't responded.</p>

<p>One more option...take out any references specific to Harvard, and post on the Parents Forum. There are lots of people there who love to give advice....most of it good...some of it you'll have to ignore...and you should get some good suggestions for both schools and strategies.</p>

3

<p>Yeah, no big deal 2boysima, it was worth a try. I think I'll email the music staff and ask directly whether or not they'll do a personal evaluation.</p>

4

<p>Your question is so specific that it's likely that no one here has the expertise to answer it. Even though I went to Harvard and also interview for them, I don't know what the answer is.</p>

<p>I think your plan of contacting the music staff. Also contact the band itself. I am not that familiar with it, but I believe that like most Harvard activities, it's totally student run. You probably can find e-mails of band officers on Harvard's web site or by contacting Harvard admissions.</p>

<p>Incidentally, unless the band has changed a great deal, I don't remember its being notable for excellence in terms of its music. What it was known for was spelling out things during the halftime show, and it particularly was notable for coming up with funny/mean/salacious things to spell out during the Yale game.</p>

<p>Harvard isn't a place notable for lots of school spirit like Michigan is. Consequently, marching band isn't a big deal. Harvard isn't into "rah rah" types of things, but does enjoy irony, cynicism, puns, sarcasm, etc. when it comes to showing what could be described as "Harvard spirit". If your idea of a great time in college is playing in a band while the crowd cheers for the team and the band, Big 10 schools would be more to your liking. Harvard is a great place for people who hated h.s. pep rallies. Remember, people can be smart enough to be able to go to Harvard and to graduate there with honors, but they may still prefer a place with a different atmosphere.</p>

5

<p>Harvard is known more for its symphony orchestras. I'm not sure if their band "recruits". </p>

<p>I think their largest orchestra (HRO) may sometimes request for certain instruments</p>

6

<p>Thanks for your post, northstarmom, I appreciate the insight you provided in your response. I'm assuming from what you said that even if the band liked the results of the personal evaluation (if it happens), it would have no effect on the admissions commitee, since the band is not a real priority when they can only pick 1 out of 10 from the applicant pool. </p>

<p>Despite all this, can the band request for certain instruments, too? I doubt anyone here will know, but its worth a try.</p>

7

<p>umm...bump</p>

<p>Does anyone here have experience with the Harvard Band? just curious of any thoughts or opinions.</p>

8

<p>Harvard Band is mostly walk-ons. If you're an excellent musician, sending a tape to the admissions office can help your application, but the kids in the band won't have any power to help get you in.</p>

9

<p>The Admissions Office is sensitive to the needs of the Harvard Band, an important institution of inestimable value to the University.</p>

10

<p>Byerly, what about the HRO?</p>

11

<p>An interest in music is the most common EC for applicants.</p>

12

<p>I know someone locally who was in Harvard's band when he was a Harvard undergraduate, but I think he got in based on other factors. As Byerly noted, Harvard College cares about its band, but it has a HUGE number of applicants who play musical instruments.</p>

13

<p>I think your strong point is that you are a first generation applicant with quite decent stats (do report the 3 on AP-Euro, it won't hurt your chances).<br>
You can write one of your essays about your passion for drumming.</p>

14

<p>You'll probably get more info about the band if you contact them directly by using the Harvard website or (if there's no link there) asking admissions to put you in touch with a member or the leader.</p>