<p>So on my other thread about the stresses of Fall Quarter ECs, a poster talked about Marching Band being a good EC. We went on a college visit where the Admisson Clerk said Marching Band was the ultimate EC. Does anyone think that is true? I agree that it is a good EC, but I am not sure you can assign the word ultimate to it. That particular school just stated that Marching Band Kids have a huge commitment level, have learned to balance high demand football and competition season along with strong course load. </p>
<p>I know in our school, 7 of the schools top ten students are in Marching Band. Of the five Ivy League admits this year, 4 were band kids. We of course are in Texas where anything revolving around Football is king, including Band. Even though UIL in Texas has the 8 hour rule, stating that any EC can't demand more than 8 hours of practice a week, every single school I know skirts that. Three hours before any competition or football games does not go against that time, nor does travel, or the competition or game itself. "Optional" sectionals are done three times a week, but the peer pressure to make the band excellent drives each child to make those mandatory, so for our D I would say at least 20 hours per week are devoted to MB. </p>
<p>Add 7 AP classes to mix and her tried and true 10 hours a week at the hospital and I really don't even know how she fits in sleep. Some how these kids manage but I sure get tired watching it all....lol.</p>
<p>No, it’s not the Ultimate EC - although most Marching Band directors would like you to believe that. </p>
<p>Think about it - most Marching bands have 100 or more kids in them, and no minimum requirement to join other than the ability to play an instrument or twirl a flag. How can that be the ultimate EC? Admissions reps see hundreds of kids who were in band. Perhaps the Adcom you quoted meant it was the “ultimate” EC because they see SO many band kids.</p>
<p>Competitive marching band does require and foster many good things - it is possibly the ultimate “team” event, because everyone participates at the same time and everyone has to be doing their part correctly or it literally falls apart. It is also very time-consuming. And it’s true in my experience that if you interview the top students at almost any high school, the EC that would be mentioned by the largest number of them would be band. Smart kids hang out in band (and, at our hs, on the track team). </p>
<p>OTOH, there are other EC’s that I would find a lot more impressive to admissions. Eagle Scout, for one, requires leadership and years of dedication. Kids who volunteer at hospitals or nursing homes would be another. What does devoting hundreds of hours of your life to marching band contribute to the greater community? Yes, it’s fun to watch the band at halftime or in a competition or parade, but there’s no “community service” element there.</p>
<p>Reading thru CC and from my own experience, band directors tend to be even worse than coaches about thinking that their EC is the be-all-and-end-all and forgetting that kids need to have a LIFE. I know band requires everyone to work together, but the world will not stop spinning if a kid misses a rehearsal or two. Seriously. There will always be another competition, another show. Winning and losing is based on someone’s OPINION - it’s a JUDGED event. No one’s life is at risk because your trumpet section missed a few high notes. Get over yourselves, band directors! High strung, artistic types combined with drill sargeants can be a nasty combination, haha. </p>
<p>(I say all this as a former member of a competitive marching band, and a parent of a D who was on a competitive dance team for 10 years. There will always be another show, until your kid graduates or quits - but they could always decide to take it up again in college.)</p>
<p>I was a “band kid” back in the day, but I certainly wouldn’t call marching band the “ultimate EC”. I really don’t think it compares to the demands of many sports, although it does require commitment and some teamwork. It’s just an EC. You don’t really have to be a particularly good musician for marching band.</p>
<p>I think it’s the tail wagging the dog. Band kids don’t get into college because of band, but most of the very best students are involved in music. Just my two cents.</p>
<p>I can’t possibly venture a guess of how if figures into top school admissions, but I think that every admissions officer in Texas has seen those kids out in the scorching August sun and understands the incredible level of commitment that takes.</p>
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<p>True. But I could never even master junior high parades because I couldn’t walk in a straight line and play the flute at the same time. Whatever mental skill it takes to play and march in all the formations is something that not everyone has!</p>
<p>Although I agree that you don’t have to be a great a player to be in the band, the kids in our school that are going Ivy or Top 20 who are band kids, are not just band kids. The majority of them are in the top of the state in their respective instruments. For our HS, the band is highly competitive nationally and the competivie marching band kids (there is a full band that does not have requirements) are on top of their game academically and musically. Just like in any EC there are BANDS and there are bands. But I agree that Band Directors think they are king. I have issue with ours right now over the SAT subject tests…lol.</p>
<p>One can argue the ultimate EC is competitive sled dog racing. :D</p>
<p>The effect of musical ability on admissions has long been a subject of debate, and the reality is it may be a couple of data points at some schools, potentially a small scholarship even for a non-music major and not worth a hill of beans at another.</p>
<p>Not band specific, but as collegeshopping suggests a number of these kids may well be at the top of their game statewide or regionally within their instruments. </p>
<p>Well, high school bands are struggling in my neck of the woods. I really think it is a regional thing. I do agree that band is a big commitment but from what I know, around here it is probably less of one than some sports, not all sports just ones like football and bball where the kids are playing or practicing 7 days a week. Of course, no sport has the long season band has, but many sports kids train year round. </p>
<p>In your D’s case it certainly is the ultimate EC. It shows demonstrates all that an admissions rep would want in an EC.</p>
<p>Is the school looking for kids to play in its own marching band, perchance? Band is time consuming, but so are a number of other activities. Our “ultimate” EC was gymnastics - 4 hour a day practice, year long, no off season, and a constant threat of serious injury. Although that was a club sport, so there were no rules about practice hours, time off, etc. </p>
<p>I like band. Music is good for the brain. But the ultimate EC? Naw.</p>
<p>One of my brothers-in-law led his public hs marching drum-and-bugle corps; on to college, majoring in music; worked a decade professionally as a jazz percussionist; got a wife-and-baby so changed directions and entered law school at age 30. </p>
<p>Today when he walks into a courtroom and opens that briefcase, the precision strikes dread in the heart of the opposing attorney. In the evenings he plays in with jazz groups regularly for fun. He does pro bono work advocating for special education students. He’s father to 3 boys, none an easy raise, who echo his discipline and kind heart. </p>
<p>I’ve always seen him as a great guy, but now I’m going to call him “ultimate.”</p>
<p>I was a band geek - all 4 of my kids are, too. It’s one of the many things they enjoy participating in (some more than others), which help themto be well-rounded candidates. I think it can certainly be a hook to help a student get into their school of choice. </p>
<p>There’s a direct correlation between the ability and desire to play an instrument/read music… and higher analytical thought. My husband recruited CS/EE majors for years in the high tech industry, and reported that easily, 80%-90% of them were also musicians.</p>
<p>Our school is just the opposite of Collegehoping’s: our top dozen kids matriculate to top 20 colleges every year, but rarely if ever is one a member of marching band.</p>
<p>My high school band competed nationally (marching and concert bands), but our band director was a true mentor. There is a facebook page devoted to him that his daughter set up for him. (He’s still alive, but got overwhelmed by facebook) He was beloved by generations of music students.</p>
<p>I think there are big regional differences in this, and other, extracurricular activities. We moved from one part of the country to another halfway through D’s high school. In her old school music (not necessarily band) was a huge deal and debate was just something you did some afternoons. In the new place debate was all consuming with pretty much mandatory participation in summer camps while music was just something you did a couple of days a week. My D was involved in both activities at both schools and the contrast was just very stark. </p>
<p>Though they may look the same on a college application, ‘captain of debate team’ and ‘first violin’ really mean very different things at the two different schools. Can colleges tell the difference? I don’t know. I would like to think the more discriminating ones can. High school counselors can help by making clear in their letter how demanding the EC is in the context of that school.</p>
<p>IMHO, the reason to do an EC is that you enjoy doing it. If it helps you get into college, so much the better.</p>
<p>Our school has to force the concert band members to be in the marching band. It’s the main reason my older son dropped band. Thankfully my younger son played the violin and wasn’t forced to spend his weekends at football games. It’s funny because football is big at the school, marching band though, not so much.</p>
<p>My son has choice of concert band and/or jazz band at his HS. There is also an orchestra and several smaller ensembles, in which, to perform. Although athletics are HUGE there- including football - there is no marching band. Heck, there aren’t even cheerleaders :rolleyes: My daughter has the same instrumental offerings at her school; which, although co-ed- also has no marching band or cheerleaders. So there are no swanky half-time shows for us.</p>