<p>I'm going to be a senior in high school next year. I have been a first chair player in our wind ensemble and symphony orchestra since sophomore year. I really want to quit and not do music next year but I'm afraid it'll mess up my college application because it doesn't show dedication. How bad will it look to colleges if I quit music my last year of high school? Other than that, I have sparkling grades, a 2030 on the SAT, and 32 on my first ACT. </p>
<p>What will you be doing instead of music? </p>
<p>well instead of band class I would do Drawing & Painting. I’m signed up for 4 AP classes next year, which isn’t as vigorous as this year. </p>
<p>What schools are you looking at? The more selective schools would like to see you continue your music ECs while a state school would not matter as much.</p>
<p>I’m definitely applying to Ohio State University (the only in-state for me). Others schools include University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, Drexel University, and Penn State. </p>
<p>^^^ I’m in agreement. However, if you’re giving up music and replacing it with art because of a new-found passion in your life, that might be an interesting essay topic.</p>
<p>Bottom line: If you take art the first semester of your senior year – without any other art on your EC list – Admissions Directors are going to question if you just added it on to make your application look good. And they’re going to wonder what happened to your music? They’re going to wonder if you’re taking art because it’s easier, or what. So, you either need to provide colleges with an explanation, or suck-it-up and continue with your music for at least one more semester.</p>
<p>I dropped music because I dislike the class and all the obligations the music program has. Art is just a fun class to fill my schedule; I already have a study hall. Plus, music & art are both full-year courses, so if I sign up for it I’d have to suffer through another year. </p>
<p>By the way, our symphony orchestra is going to Carnegie Hall next year, but I don’t know how impressive that’ll look. But then again, I don’t know if being miserable in band for another year is worth going to Carnegie Hall. </p>
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That’s H-U-G-E! Not many high school students or orchestras get to play in such a venue. My kids attended Stuyvesant High School, one of New York City’s top schools and I don’t think the orchestra has ever played at Carnegie Hall – not once in the 100 years of the school’s illustrious history! FWIW: I think you should continue with music senior year, as it could help you in the admissions process by showing commitment and talent. You would be the first chair and have played Carnegie Hall – which will look a lot better than taking an art class to fill up your schedule.</p>
<p>I’m literally caught in the dead middle of two decisions 
I mean, colleges would never know if I had the opportunity to go to Carnegie Hall but didn’t. Plus, if I do Wind Ensemble, I’d have to do marching band unless I do a fall sport, which I could start tennis as a senior. Overall, doing band would a lot of hassle and misery in the class. but doing band would equal better-looking application and class rank b/c it’s weighted. But class rank doesn’t really matter to me, because there’s an unlikely chance that I’ll drop from number 4 to beneath 10. </p>
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Colleges WILL see Carnegie Hall on other orchestra members extracurricular activity lists and if one of them applies to the same schools as you, which student is going to look more impressive on paper – the one who quit music and is now taking art for the first time, or the student that played at Carnegie Hall after devoting themselves to three years of music?</p>
<p>This is literally tearing me in half. I don’t know if I want to sacrifice happiness for a gold star on my college application. </p>
<p>Have you talked with your guidance counselor about the issue? What did they say?</p>
<p>I have talked to a lot of people, and all of them all say that it’s ultimately my choice. And I think any counselor would try to talk me into taking band, just “tough it out” for another year. </p>
<p>TALK with your guidance counselor, as when you apply to college, your GC must also complete the Secondary School Report (SSR) and rate the rigor of your course load as compared to all college bound seniors at your high school: see page 2, the upper half, specifically the upper right hand side: <a href=“http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/documents/UG_Admissions_SecondarySchoolReport.pdf”>http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/documents/UG_Admissions_SecondarySchoolReport.pdf</a></p>
<p>If you drop music and take an “easy and fun” art course, will your GC rate the rigor of your course load BELOW that of your fellow classmates taking orchestra? I would think they would. If they do, that might have a real negative impact on your college applications. So much is at stake here that you need your GC’s input. I would have a long heart-to-heart with your guidance counselor before deciding what to do.</p>
<p>Ok here’s what I’m taking this year:
AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB, AP Biology, AP Language & Comp, AP European History, study hall, & band
My GPA is 4.0 unweighted. 4.306 weighted. </p>
<p>What I’m signed up for senior year right now:
AP Calculus BC, AP Physics 2 (I took physics 1 in 10th grade), AP Literature & Comp, AP Gov (1 semester), banned books (1 semester), study hall, & drawing & painting 2 (I skipped 1). </p>
<p>My senior schedule is definitely not as rigorous as this year, but I still think it’s comparable to the other seniors in orchestra. Plus I don’t think many of us are applying to the same schools. Also, I’m applying for environmental engineering. </p>
<p>No one on College Confidential can look at your senior year schedule and let you know how rigorous it is, as we would also need to see every senior’s schedule at your high school to make that comparison. Only your GC can do that. I know you don’t want to talk to them, but it’s a MUST HAVE conversation.</p>
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Then expect your GC to note that in their SSR. All colleges want to see increased rigor, especially during your senior year, which Admissions Directors feel is the most important year of high school.</p>
<p>Look at it another way – if you don’t talk to your GC, they won’t know how you feel and will not be able to “write against” you dropping music. Your GC might be able put a “spin” on it with the SSR that will allow colleges to understand why you didn’t take music your senior year – but only if you talk with them and let them what is going on. Communication is always better than silence!</p>
<p>That’s definitely news that Common App can’t see my senior year schedule. I will definitely try to talk to my counselor, I have to make the final decision in less than 15 hours anyways. </p>
<p>YOU (the applicant) lists your senior year courses on the Common Application , but your guidance counselor RATES the rigor of those courses in the SSR, so do talk with your GC!</p>
<p>Thank you! You’ve been most helpful. But in the end I don’t think it’s a matter of getting in or not (I’m most certain i’ll get into OSU), its really a matter of scholarships & how much money they give me. </p>
<p>Best of luck to you!</p>