Is Interlochen for me?

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>As most of you know I was going to go to Milton blah blah blah (don't want to think about it...)</p>

<p>Regardless, I have been thinking if Interlochen would be a good fit, or if I would even get in. I play the Viola, and have played for five years, but have no desire to pursue an artistic field. I would love to play my instrument through college and maybe even join a symphony (not full time) but certainly not as a career. </p>

<p>I think, academically, a school like Exeter would be a better fit. However, IF Interlochen has the academics that it claims to have it may be a wonderful opportunity. I would major in either Music or Creative Writing...</p>

<p>Thoughts?</p>

2

<p>It does have the academics than it claims. It has had more presidential scholars than any of the HADES. You’ll be pretty bogged down anyway with the already difficult schoolwork and probably much more in the way of “Art” classes than you’ve ever had before. If you’re very good at Viola and strong academically, you might be a good fit. They have an amazing music program though, so it will be difficult.</p>

3

<p>I heard somewhere that some/many kids at Interlochen weren’t taking their academics seriously (or was it Walnut Hill?) but I’ve also heard that Interlochen’s classes are difficult as well (not like, Exeter/Groton-difficult but much harder than an average high school), so to balance that as well as your music should prove to be quite a challenge. I suggest you take a tour. :P</p>

4

<p>If you’re not going to pursue a career in music, I don’t see any sufficient reason why you’d choose Interlochen over schools like Milton, Exeter, Andover, Groton, SPS, etc. These schools will offer you a wide variety of opportunities to grow musically while providing you with top-notch academics. Interlochen isn’t a bad school academically, but–in my personal opinion–it still doesn’t meet the standards of the others.</p>

5

<p>My daughter went to Interlochen junior/senior year of hs from the top private school in our city. She found the academics to be just as rigorous but with less “busy” work due to the recognition by the academic faculty of the demands of the arts. She got 5s on all her AP exams and graduated from Rice with high honors. She had outstanding teachers.
That said, a student very committed to his or her art will enjoy Interlochen more than someone luke warm about the arts.</p>

6

<p>Honestly, I had strongly considered Interlochen too because I was on the brink of majoring in music (I decided against it just because majoring in music takes A LOT of work. I’m talking hours and hours of practice a day.), but it’s really not worth applying unless you plan on majoring, or at least minoring in music.</p>

<p>Also, they have quite high standards for the kids that apply there. You can’t just be interested in academics.
You not only have to be pretty good at what you do, you also have to be super dedicated. If you haven’t had much experience besides playing in a school orchestra and not doing many competitions, they’re going to be able to tell that viola is not your number one thing right now.</p>

<p>Interlochen will most likely not accept you unless you show TRUE dedication and passion in some art. The kids that apply there pretty much know that they want to become professionals in what they do, and most of them major in some art and some minor in an academic field, but it’s extremely rare if it’s vice versa.</p>

<p>I say go for Exeter if you “have no desire to pursue an artistic field”.
Interlochen will definitely see that “no desire”. There’s tons more kids they can choose from who have desire.</p>

<p>Hahha I like that word.
…deeeesireeeeeeeee</p>

<p>Btw, if this is principalviola’s new account, welcome back. :D</p>

7

<p>If you aren’t going to major or minor in the arts, I don’t think Interlochen would be as great a choice as, say, Andover. Andover still has an orchestra and everything, it just won’t be as intense. But the academics (what it sounds like you’re going after more) will be.</p>

<p>Principalviola (if it’s you… which I think it is…), welcome back!</p>

8

<p>There is quite a large number of people that go to Interlochen that don’t want to be professional artists/ musicians but got to Interlochen for the amazing learning environment.
Alot of seniors get into multiple Ivy Leagues and you will find that there are many Interlochen alumni at every Ivy League school.
Richard Bogomolny, Former President, Cleveland Orchestra
Susan Boster, Founder and Managing Director, Boster Group Ltd.
Jerry Burns, Former Head Coach, Minnesota Vikings
Lawrence Clarkson, Former President, Boeing Enterprises
Jeff Dalton, President and CEO, Broadsword
Michael Dermody, President and CEO, DP Properties
Bruce Dunbar, Former Business Manager, David Bowie
Steve Fisher, Basketball coach, San Diego State University
Steven Hayden, Vice Chairman, Worldwide Brand Service, IBM, Ogilvy & Mather, Inc.
Christie Hefner, Former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
Robert Hollway, Former Coach, St. Louis Cardinals Football, Former Assistant Coach, Minnesota Vikings
F. Martin Johnson, Former CEO/President, JSJ Corporation
Frank Kelly, Jr., Former Vice President, American Express, Inc.
William Mecklenburg, Vice Chairman, Peat, Marwick, and Mitchell
Penny Payne, Fabric and Notions Editor, The McCall Pattern Company (Butterick, McCall’s, Vogue Patterns)
Lawrence Page, Co-Founder & President, Products, Google Corporation
David Pocock, Former Artistic Director, American Pianists Association, Artistic Director Emeritus, Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival
Robert Radock, Board of Governors, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences - Florida; President Elect, Arts for a Complete Education/The Florida Alliance for Arts Education
Cameron Smith Sellers, Vice-President Business Development, Perfect.com
Charles Stoddard, Chairman, Grand Bank Financial Corp.
Elliot S. Weissbluth, CEO, HighTower</p>

9

<p>It is an amazing learning environment, but it is a very quirky place. It centers around the performing arts. You CAN go as an academic major, but I think it would feel a little odd. Also, there is almost no athletic scene- exception being the gifted international soccer players that can play rings around the US kids when they aren’t practicing their instruments or ballet dancing.</p>