Help with Activities Section!

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

  1. I was wondering if certain hobbies constitute “activities”? I do a lot of coding in my free time and have learned python and c++ pretty proficiently, but I didn’t take part in any clubs.

  2. I’ve been playing piano for a while but I was wondering how advanced a piece has to be to be worth preparing an external art supplement. I have a good recording of me playing Chopin’s Waltz in B Minor but it’s not incredibly advanced. (Usually considered grade 6-7) I am applying to a couple of really great schools (Brown, Princeton) and some great schools (Carleton, Emory) plus some others, and I wasn’t sure which ones to submit too.

  3. I only have 6 activities atm… will that prevent me from getting into schools like Brown and Princeton? Academically I am on par and I’ve been told my essays are really good. Honestly considering ED Carleton because I just love it there but these two schools would be a dream for me.

Thank you!

2

  1. Yes, you can put down coding as an activity, and describe how you learned Python and C++ on your own.

  2. Don’t send in a piano recording. That’s only for people planning to major in piano who perform at a high level, and want their work evaluated by piano professors to get into a music program.

  3. Six activities is plenty. You don’t have to fill up all 10 activity slots (or however many are on the applications for the universities you are applying to). In fact, many students who could fill all 10 places don’t, and instead just mention their most significant activities that show leadership, commitment and/or a tie in with their intended major. There is no set number of activities that will get you in or keep you out of an Ivy college.

3

Agree with @mommyrocks on the piano supplement. Piano is the definition of a massively overplayed instruments. Unless you are winning national awards for your playing, a piano supplement will probably hurt your application.
Just so you know, the admissions officers rarely ever hear your supplement. If your application is competitive, the supplement is sent off to the music department, which provides an evaluation.

4

All right thanks both of you! I guess I misinterpreted the art supplement thing. I just thought that since I put down that I have been playing piano for 10 years that I should at least have some sort of “evidence”.

5

Piano is a great instrument-not “overplayed” Scores from external sources, like NYSSMA would be great to have. Fewer ECs that you were engaged in at a deep level are better than a laundry list.