If I do play at a conservatory level, how much will sending in a music supplement to non-conservatories, such as Yale, Columbia, etc., actually help me? Some basic background info: 3.8 UW, 35 ACT, and basically no major jazz awards because of outside reasons (but hoping that a music LOR from a music professor at a conservatory from an another country will be efficient enough). I’ve heard stories that people have gotten denied from Yale with sending in a music supplement but accepted to Julliard (super general, but you get the point). Thanks.
Personally, I’d be wary of anyone who claims to have a definitive answer. There are so many variables that make up any single application decision, there’s no way anyone can know the formula and say the music supplement (or sports or government or whatever) adds a factor of “X”.
What I will say is that, over the years, I’ve watched various friends’ kids and son’s school mates apply to and get into and rejected from the tippy-top exclusive schools and those that get in all have significant achievements outside of school/grades/test scores, and not necessarily just a long mind-boggling list of activities, but things that show personal initiative and real engagement.
So, a college application is essentially your resume and you want it to represent all of you. If music is an important aspect of you, I would find a way to include it. FWIW, one of my son’s advanced jazz classmates just got into Stanford (ED); he’s obviously a good student, but is also a good musician.
I’d also be wary of anyone who claims to have a definitive answer as to exactly how much, but I think it can definitely help, depending on the school. Here’s what the Columbia web site has to say on the topic, which is an FAQ:
http://mpp.music.columbia.edu/frequently-asked-questions
For what it’s worth, I know that the head of the jazz program at Columbia does talk with the admissions department about talented jazz musicians he’d like to see admitted. I also know that not all of them are admitted - I don’t think he has the same kind of sway that the head football coach has, but it is a factor they consider.
I’d also mention that, if you’re serious about pursuing jazz in college, Yale does not have a jazz program. Columbia has a fantastic jazz program (and, of course, it’s in NYC). Princeton also has a strong jazz program.
Best of luck!
For jazz, and for a non major at a “prestige” school?
Probably doesn’t help much…
What about Tulane with your stats and being such a jazz city?
I don’t know about other schools, but both the Columbia web site and the head of the jazz program there say that, after the student passes the academic screens, the music (yes, even for jazz and for a non-major) can help “significantly”. So I’d probably defer to them, at least for their school…
I think it can help, as long as your playing is at a level to merit the supplement. You might want to cue the best three minutes. I know Harvard appreciated that (we asked them).
In your case, if other parts of your application and/or resume don’t reflect your level of playing (no awards, no impressive ensembles, etc.) then inclusion of a recording might help.
A supplement might include the recording plus a music resume, repertoire, awards, programs or articles, and perhaps most importantly, letter (s) from music teachers and/or directors who can not only attest to your performance ability but aspects of your character such as work ethic, cooperation, love of music, intellectual interests etc.
Harvard has a double degree program with NEC, which has a jazz program. If a double degree appeals at all, check out Oberlin too. Remember that Yale’s School of Music is a graduate program 
Columbia sounds like a great choice for you as long as you have some safer ones too.
NEC has a terrific jazz program, and the double degree program would undoubtedly be a great experience if you could get in. But you can’t. Each year about 20-25 students defy the odds and are admitted to both Harvard and NEC. Of those, about 5-6 are admitted into the joint program. Of those, occasionally (but not always) one is a jazz musician. Not saying you shouldn’t try if you’re at that level. My son does know two jazz musicians in the last six years who were admitted to the Harvard-NEC program. One is there now and one turned them down to go to New School in NYC (which still amazes me). But just understand the odds.
Of course, I’m sure you recognize that all the schools we’re talking about in this thread - Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, Oberlin - are reach or ultra-reach schools, and you should make sure you have some safeties and matches on your list. But Harvard-NEC is beyond ultra-reach (and Columbia has a joint program with Juilliard that I’d put in the same category).
I don’t know about jazz, but my son was told (long after the fact) that his supplement in composition played a role in his admission to Yale.
It is past the deadline for NEC applications anyway. However, some get in another year. Tufts also has a joint program with NC. But since you didn’t express an interest in double degrees, I hesitated to mention any of them. Sorry for the lapse- that would be different question and threat
@jazzpianodad For Columbia, in particular since you mentioned the head of the Jazz program, if I do get accepted with my music supplement, will I have to partipate in any music organizations on campus? From what you said that the Jazz head has some power in who he wants in to the Jazz program, it seems like I would be pressured/obligated to join. The reason I’m asking this is because I’m not 100% sure if I would want to join a music organization in college, but I do have some interest in it.
The supplement is valued for what it shows you can contribute to the mix on campus. But you aren’t under any obligations. The head of the jazz program may look for you though, who knows. Has anyone had experience with this, with, for instance, a faculty member e-mailing a student who submitted a supplement? This person didn’t meet with you and you didn’t ask for any special attention. There is no personal connections. I think you will be fine. And you at least represent POTENTIAL contributions on campus.
If the head of the jazz program recommends you to admissions and you get in, I expect he’d be a bit disappointed if you didn’t participate at all in jazz at Columbia. But there’s certainly no obligation and I don’t expect anyone would try to pressure you. The jazz folks at Columbia are a pretty laid-back group, including the head of the program. In addition, what would be the point? You don’t want to be playing with someone who doesn’t want to be there.
I should also say that there’s a pretty wide range of opportunities to do jazz at Columbia, some more intensive and some less. When I refer to a “jazz program”, that’s really shorthand for the whole array of opportunities, and each student can decide for himself or herself how much of it they want to do.
Since it sounds like you want to use your music supplement as more of a boost to your application and to demonstrate your level of talent, it shouldn’t matter then whether the school has a great jazz program or not–since you say you may or may not even participate in music programs in college. I’d say submit the supplement (as long as it is high quality) everywhere you apply. I would agree with Hunt–my son’s music supplement was very helpful for acceptance to several Ivies. But, music supplements won’t likely even be considered if the rest of your application isn’t stellar–it’s the whole package they’re looking at.
@Clarimom This might sound foolish, but how do you know that your son’s music supplement helped him a lot for the ivies? Did the adcoms send him a personal note mentioning his excellent music skills? Or are you just basing it off of his acceptance?
I would say along the same lines as Hunt’s post.