How Should I Explain My Career as a Professional Musician to Colleges?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi all!</p>

<p>I'm starting work on applications, and have a bit of a quandary when it comes to identifying/dividing up ECs. Guitar is truly all I can boast about, but I'm deepley comitted to my music. I'll summarize as best as I can here: </p>

<ul>
<li>I have been a professional musician for four or five years in Houston, Texas. </li>
<li>I play to thousands of people on an almost weekly basis, and average around 100 gigs a year. </li>
<li>I have musically directed and played for numerous events, such as weddings, private parties, funerals, etc.<br></li>
<li>I play with some of Houston's best musicians every week (not an exaggeration; a bassist I play with is known around town as the top dog). </li>
<li>I have played on numerous recording sessions in professional studios. </li>
<li>I have produced demos for a local boutique studio equipment builder whose gear can be found in some of the top studios in Nashville. </li>
<li>I volunteer at a local church and play several Sundays out of the month. </li>
<li>I used to give private lessons out of my home, but I found I was happier gigging (and making more money too)</li>
<li>I also go to the local performing arts magnet high school in Houston, HSPVA, to study Jazz.</li>
</ul>

<p>I spend most all of my free time practicing or performing. For instance, this summer I have practiced between 9 to 12 hours per weekday, and gigged most weekends. This does not leave a lot of time (much less energy!) to pursue other ECs. At the beginning of the summer, I was considering taking an tech internship offered to me at a genetical medicine sales company (through a connection of my dad's) that I thought would boost my college resume a bit. But I have not the time to pursue that as well as music, and I was worried that it could look a little out-of-place on my application, not being 100% in line with all my other interests. </p>

<p>I'm wondering if this is too narrow of a focus on one EC for some of the more elite college's tastes. I haven't had the time to start a non-profit, go on a mission trip, start clubs at my school, do athletics, etc. I'm a one trick pony, apparently. </p>

<p>Also, I don't quite know how to explain my professional musician EC to colleges. There are an infinite amount of ways I could divvy things up, and I'm trying to go for the one that is most impressive. </p>

<p>Here are the rest of my stats:
- Top 10%
- 3.6 GPA
- APUSH, AP Lang, AP Chem (Junior year, all that was available)
- AP Gov/Eco, AP Lit, AP Music Theory (Senior year, all but one that I could take)
- SAT 2110, ACT 31
- Fantastic Rec Letters
- Excellent Essays
- No hooks</p>

<p>A few colleges I'm interested in
- NYU
- USC
- Tufts
- U Chicago (nailed an interview here)
- Columbia (big reach)
- Vanderbilt</p>

<p>I'm still debating how I want to pursue music in college (as a major or as a side interest), so for the purpose of this post, just treat me as seeking acceptance into the undergrad humanities departments of these schools.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I don’t think it matters too much. Any way you do it, it will be apparent that you have a very deep experience and commitment. I would just put some stuff in work, some in volunteer etc. I think you want to present a story, but you want to show these things: musical talent, deep experience and expertise, contribution to others/community, </p>

3

<p>I don’t think you need to explain it one way or the other. I’d put the performances under extracurriculars and any work you do with the community under volunteering. Whether you want to add the internship or not is your call; remember that there are only 10 slots on the Common App for activities, so put down the ones that matter most to you. </p>

<p>I think being a one-trick pony is a good thing if you’re good at what you do, which seems to be the case. After all, you don’t see any football recruits worrying about how the only reason X College is interested in them is their ability to perform on the field, do you? :stuck_out_tongue: And applying as a humanities major is fine. A lot of people are undecided until sophomore year anyways. Also, you should add Stanford to their list–they’re really big on musicians. Best of luck! </p>

4

<p>Maybe it’s obvious, but you definitely want to include an arts supplement to show your talent, even if you don’t intend on being a music major. Impress their music departments, and that might be your ticket in, even if you want to be a humanities major.</p>

5

<p>Bump.</p>

6

<p>What more is there to say? We get it. The schools will get it. If they value professional musicians on college you’ll have a hook. </p>

7

<p>Columbia SGS should not be a reach. It essentially exists for applicants like you.</p>

<p>No fin aid there, though.</p>

8

<p>Think about this: You know how the Olympic broadcasts have little story-bio videos about an athlete? You know how the vids tell a “story”? Cast your deep experience into such a story. Above, you’ve summarized but not told a story. A mini-narrative would help for your apps. But maybe that was not your question. </p>

9

<p>

</p>

<p>I think your musical career as you describe it constitutes a hook of a sort. Would you continue playing in college? FOR your college, if possible?</p>

<p>You can divide up the music by job-for-money aspects, community service aspects (which is meaningful IMO if you get paid to play but also play for free to help your church), directing music for events is a form of leadership.</p>