<p>I think if your GPA is at the point where band will hurt it, then you’re in the range where only two things make a difference in GPA:
How many A+'s you get–if your school even gives them–and
Your school’s grade weighting policies</p>
<p>Because of these, that’s the range where GPA’s are incomparable between students from different schools. Logically, I would expect it’s also the range where colleges stop caring about your GPA much and start giving a lot more weight to your course selection, EC’s, etc. Of course, I don’t have evidence to back that up, but that’s my reasoning.</p>
<p>My guidance counselor convinced me to drop band to take more “academic” classes (i.e. public speaking). In hindsight, it was the worst scheduling decision I ever made.</p>
<p>If you like band, TAKE IT. Staying committed to anything is something that colleges like to see.</p>
<p>I think it would look better to stay devoted to an ec and have a slightly lower gpa. i also don’t think gpa matters too terribly much. if you like band do it</p>
<p>I’ve dropped 2 electives for “higher” GPA, band is the only “fun” left. It gives me a break b/w rigorous courses, relax and hang out with my friends.
weighted GPA, class rank, reality is sad.
why do we need GPA? transcript clearly shows the courses and my grades!</p>
<p>I know this has been repeated before, but weighted GPA does not matter for universities. If your school doesn’t do unweighted, they’ll re-do your GPA. Otherwise, every high school can have a different weighing system and GPA would be even more meaningless than it is.
Does your school use weighted GPA to rank? Even if it does, if one 4 instead of 4.5 will pull you out of your preferred percentile/rank, you probably have more to worry about than this.
Honestly, I actually think you should add back an elective you dropped. High school is not just about getting to college. It’s not a mean to an end. Have some fun. Don’t let the memories of high school only be ones of homework and rigorous classes. There’s something to be said for being well balanced. Many people with similar mentality as yours start to burn out by the time they’re 20… or earlier.</p>
<p>if you take a lot of other rigourous courses, your weighted GPA really doesn’t matter. take band. it will demonstrate more personality and be more appealing than a little boost on weighted GPA</p>
<p>It’s unfair to put a straight a comprehensive student on the same level as a straight A AP student.
GPA provides a numeric value for fair ranking WITHIN a school. </p>
<p>This year, the valedictorian got his spot because he took band during his LUNCH, not as an official class.
His brother didn’t. Salutorian!</p>
<p>And you should maintain that rigorous schedule [depending on what tier college you’re aiming for]. Band’ll make up for it.</p>
<p>Keep band, if you really like it, because it’s good to have something fun and something that you enjoy. Being in a HS activity and being active in it helps you stay in touch with your school community … and ADCOMs will know that you have more beyond studying. If the rest of your schedule is rigorous, you’ll be fine even if it drags your GPA down a bit. </p>
<p>Trust me, you’ll regret it if you quit band. It’s something that will give you good memories from HS, something that you will likely treasure for the rest of your life. College admissions is secondary to this, as someone said earlier you’ll only experience HS once.</p>
<p>This thread touches a sore note w/ me. My D (D1) probably did not get Val or Sal because of band. The difference in gpa between val and my D was a fraction. </p>
<p>Every quarter for four years, band was her lowest grade, transcripts prove this. I suggested she talk to her band teacher. She did. He promised something to her “to stay in band,” and then forgot.</p>
<p>I suggested she give up band, but she said NO!</p>
<p>I KNOW my D would have been val or sal. (she was ranked 5) if not for band. The #1, 3 and 4 were not in band. They each had other soft classes in which they got 100 for a grade. My D was always in top 4 throughout hs. Senior yr she was #5 because another student got 100 in keyboarding and my D got a 93 or 94 in band.</p>
<p>My D did get more scholarships than any other student in her graduating class, including several not applied for but given for being top student w/ highest combined gpa/sat, ie Byrd, etc.</p>
<p>In the end, I admire my D for sticking with band because she enjoyed it and she never wants to give up on something she believes worth pursuing. She attends an Ivy. Val and Sal do not. But that is OK if they are happy.</p>
My guidance counselor convinced me to drop band to take more “academic” classes (i.e. public speaking). In hindsight, it was the worst scheduling decision I ever made.
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<p>Wow. At my school, if any counselor convinced a student to drop band, there would be heck to pay if the band director found out. And probably even more if the band booster club found out.</p>
<p>This is the first time I have ever heard someone say band may pull down their GPA… most take it to boost their GPA!!</p>
<p>But no, don’t drop it. Trust me, that tiny drop will not matter, your interest will help you in admissions, and the class will probably help your unweighted GPA (if that matters).</p>
<p>I had the same concern too! Well, I didnt want to drop band, but i was afraid how it would affect my gpa. I talked with my counselor about it and i think she wrote about it in a part of her recc- how our school is messed up and actually brings downs band students’ class rank. I also had jazz band too which brought me down. But if its really a concern maybe you can audit the class! (you take the class for credit, but it doesn’t affect you gpa).</p>
<p>I would def continue in band, esp if its one of your passions. Four years of band shows commitment. esp with private lessons, band competitions, practicing. And also all the types of band: marching, chamber groups, jazz, pit orch. And if you get awards/ leadership positions, those will work in your favor. I wrote about in the extracurricular essay. I even sent in a cd (but idk how much that factored into admissions), but the cd was a little bit of troulbe b/c i had to ask for another recc, and i dont know how much it helped! School, esp Top schools, want students with diverse cultures and diverse interests.</p>