<p>I read through the chances forum and results threads for various schools pretty often, and every time, I always see several people that have done at least an internship or two, usually involving some sort of research. I also see heaps upon heaps of academic awards, mostly for nationally prominent competitions that I have never heard about before simply because there just isn't any information circulating in my school about such contests and therefore, no one competes in them (at least not to the extent of my knowledge).</p>
<p>As someone that didn't even know you could do internships in high school until this past summer, how much of a disadvantage does not doing any internships have on my application? Additionally, how much will it hurt me if I have a lack of academic awards even though I have a slew of music achievements, high SAT/ACT scores, and a high GPA? I know it looks good to some extent that I've devoted myself to music so much, but I'm not sending in a musical supplement (no time to prepare one), and I'm planning on majoring in biology to boot, so does this negate at least some of my effort put into music by any means? Is this the point where most people would say something like "your essay will probably make or break your application"?</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s that big of a deal unless you’re applying to a super selective college or university. Most kids don’t have internships, and not everyone can win an academic award. I think the GPA/test scores play a much bigger role for most schools.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, almost all of the colleges I’m applying to are super selective with the exception of a few safety schools… Oh well. There’s nothing I can really do now, I suppose.</p>
<p>internships - definitely not necessary, and don’t help that much
academic awards - can really help if big, but you’re still in the running even if you dont have them</p>
<p>One of my kids got into a highly selective school without any academic awards. Like you, he had a good GPA and test scores and music.</p>
<p>@green678 Bit late on my part, but may I ask how distinguished of a musician he was?</p>
<p>Not very distinguished! He didn’t send in a supplement and he didn’t win any awards. He took lessons for many years and also took AP music theory. Like you, he was applying as a STEM kid, and I think that admissions may have seen his music as a nice counterpoint to his STEM interest. </p>
<p>@green678 Interesting, thank you for reply! I’ve been worried about the very opposite of what you’ve said for several months - that colleges might not take me so seriously with my ridiculous focus on music and very little to do with my actual intended field of study. Although I made sure to keep up my academic scores throughout high school, I made very little commitment to any specific subject in particular, and I kind of spread myself thin across multiple clubs, dabbling in a little bit of everything. Jack of all trades, master of none, I suppose… which is what I’m afraid how colleges will see me.</p>
<p>You have to be careful not to let College Confidential make you crazy. For every kid who seems to have amazing ECs that has posted here, there are several who do not have that and have been admitted into selective colleges. Both my older kids were strong in academics but had nothing super special going on in ECs and ended up at great schools. My current applicant is in the same position, and I’m not worried. I think that you will have some excellent choices come springtime. Good luck to you!</p>