<p>So I posed this question on the Princeton forum on CC and didn't get many responses, and I need some answers!!!</p>
<p>I have been playing the piano for 12 years, the violin for 9 years, and voice for 2 years (very advanced for two years, though). I was planning to submit art supplements with my application to the colleges of my choice, which include HYPS. </p>
<p>Note: I do not want to major in Music. I just want to show my schools that after so many years of this and that that I can play and sing more than chopsticks, twinkle twinkle little star and mary had a little lamb!</p>
<p>Here is what I am planning to submit:</p>
<p>Piano: Liebestraum, Lizst
Violin:Not quite sure, any hints???????
Voice: Possibly Schubert's Ave Maria (any ideas for this?)</p>
<p>Even though I don't think so, does anybody think music could be my hook? And even if it is not a hook, do you believe it would be a strong addition to my application in my favor?</p>
<p>Please: any thoughts and advice is most welcome. Thanks a ton in advance!</p>
<p>ok so a hook at one school is not by any means necesarily a hook at another</p>
<p>for example your music may be fantastic but honestly for HYPSM the only thing thats going to pass as a 'hook' (a single/or group of things that garentees your admission) is going to be a) a best selling novel (if your into the humanities) b) an invitiation to play at Carneygie hall (if you into music) c) all American athlete if you into sports </p>
<p>a hook means it will get you in with out a doubt......for the uppper ivies there is really nothing your ordinary or even just extra oridinatry can do (the vales at my school applied to those kinds of schools and even though they are amazing in everyway those schools wer still reaches) </p>
<p>The bad news is there are tons of people out there who have the exact same or better stats than you do in music (i myself have 11y piano, 4y violin, 8y voice, 5y flute, 4y zither). Not to be racist, but many Asian children are extremely proficient in piano, violin, and another instrument (again, not stereotypical; it's truth) and some will try to use it as their "hook" as well. Frankly, it's gotten so rampant that it's really nothing special anymore. </p>
<p>What you -can- do, though, is not only emphasize the fact that you have the skill, but the passion for the arts. If you wanna discuss it on your college essay, go in-depth and talk about how music has taught you responsibility, how you've learned to balance your life, how it has made you see the world in a different way and accept different cultures. Tie your love of music into something significant and broad, and perhaps you can touch an admission officer's heart =) Best of luck!</p>
<p>First, I am not Asian.
Secondly, I understand that my music experience is not a hook. I used the wrong wording. But I totally understand now.
Thirdly, does anyone know whether it is true or not that P'ton is trying to recruit music students to fulfill a recently assigned grant? I don't want to major in music but wondered if this might cause Princeton to give me a second or third look if everything else "fails." (Every college knows that decided majors change hundreds of times in college: how would P'ton know I was never going to major or minor in music?)</p>
<p>And in my first post, I said i didn't believe music was a hook, so you guys don't have to convince me of that. My real purpose now is to determine whether it is worth my time to practice and submit art supplements. Senior year is going to be harrowing, and I don't want to do something I don't have to do or won't make an impact on my application. </p>
<p>Thanks again for your help. I can't believe how much research it takes to do a college application well. It's like playing a game for a year and a half!! Anyway, thanks for your time and help!</p>
<p>I would say it can't hurt your application any. As far as piano goes, I recommend just making sure you have variety in the composers. Mine will be mainly Beethoven, lol. I think P'ton requires three different pieces. I don't remember the specifics...</p>
<p>It is an EC like any other. If you show passion, then it will help. Unless you are trying to get recruited, I don't think that it would cause Princeton to look through your app more than once. Also, if you are submitting three, keep them short. I believe the music departments sometimes review the pieces and just let the adcoms know of the quality (they don't cause people to get in, they just say how good it was). </p>
<p>Out of curiosity, which stretch schools are you looking at?</p>
<p>Like I said, it's not a hook. Unless you're seriously like god-level and top of nation or something, it's not a "hook". </p>
<p>With that said if you're TRULY good, eh, I don't know, you can send it, I guess, although I frequently hear (and logically think) that admission officers don't like spending much extra time listening to tapes and CD's and watching videos when they have a million other applicants (considering that you're considering Princeton), so it's generally preferred not to send anything supplementary unless you're very confident that it can be a significant benefit towards your admission.</p>
<p>I would really think that they would listen to the first minute or so, and stop, but go ahead! I mean, it can't hurt you...</p>
<p>I would be wary about sending in supplements. Usually supplements are sent in that cant be adequately conveyed in the application itself. But especially if you are sending them into Princeton, you should be VERY CONFIDENT about your abilities.</p>
<p>Like previous posters have noted, there are a lot of people who are just amazing in music. And looking at your chances thread, for violin, all you have to show for it is being concertmaster of your school orchestra. Surely there are area youth orchestras that you could have joined, there are solo competitions available etc etc. Some people have said that it can't hurt you, but I would have to disagree. If you flood the adcom with a bunch of mediocre supplements, they probably would be a little irritated...</p>
<p>So ya, this would not be a hook, and if you want to send in a supplement, make sure its good.</p>
<p>^Also, voice for 3 years isn't worth anything in terms of a supplement. I mean, you're good, but no way (in all likelihood) can you compete with people who have been singing their whole lives and do nothing else. The piano is fine, the violin is fine, but the voice isn't worth it. I would choose one to send, IF THAT.</p>
<p>Also, may I add that sending in one won't be of much help if you haven't pursued piano competitively. Because there are piano competitions everywhere and even ones where you send in music, if you're sending in a submission, you probably should have at least won some local ones. If you have and are really that good, go for it.</p>