<p>I did marching band my freshmen year at school (currently a junior) and did not enjoy it. However, I am reconsidering doing it for my senior year because my band director will probably give me a high leadership position. My question is should I do it? Our school's marching band is pretty miserable and I have to be honest and say that I'd be doing it solely for college. But, it would fit nicely into my application next year because of the amount of musically oriented activities that I have done in high school. Opinions?</p>
<p>Any EC you dislike and are doing solely for college is in a way dishonest and probably a waste of time. And why would the band director give a high leadership position to someone who hates the program and hasn’t even participated for the past two years?</p>
<p>Hmmm…hard to say. Leadership=good. But doing something JUST for that reason…eh? </p>
<p>My D had marching band for 2 years then moved on. Like you - musical in many ways. I’m thinking that marking an application with something you did in 9th and 12th looks…a bit odd. Makes me think the reader would ask “Why”? And why in the world was he/she drum major (or?) as a senior if he/she wasn’t in it for 2 years. Something looks fishy. </p>
<p>Of course…I am not your reader. So…?</p>
<p>Anything ELSE you could “lead” in? Jazz band, pep band, start up an a capella chorus, ask to be “student director” of concert band or the school musical?</p>
<p>From Northstarmom, who interviews for Harvard:</p>
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<p>Follow your passion. DO NOT EVER DO AN ACTIVITY BECAUSE YOU THINK A COLLEGE WILL LIKE IT. You are wasting precious time in the only 4 years of high school you will ever have, and the colleges will see right through it anyway.
<p>The reason I am asking this is because it would fit really nicely in my specific application. I’ve done so much music that it would seem odd if I did not participate in marching band. </p>
<p>Also, my band director will probably be willing to give me a high leadership position because I’m one of the best high school musicians at my school and have proved myself worthy in numerous circumstances. I can safely say that no one in the marching band is more qualified to lead in a musically-related activity than I am. Forgive my arrogance please .</p>
<p>I am strongly against doing things for college but this is a unique instance. Marching band would be a good addition to my application and I already spent a ton of time on it back in 9th grade.</p>
<p>R124687- I am already the leader of a student founded/run brass quintet at my high school. We perform regularly at school-related and unrelated events.</p>
<p>You should probably make sure you mention how lame your band is in your application. :D</p>
<p>Anyway, I wouldn’t advise you to get a leadership position in something that you hate. As you say, you’ve proven yourself worthy in a lot of different circumstances and the admissions committee will see that. The only way I could recommend you join marching band now is if you’re serious about turning it around and making it a quality experience; if you were to do that, then not only would it be a good use of your time but it’d be a real example of your leadership experience and a great essay topic.</p>
<p>Has your director actually said that he will give you this leadership position? Performance talent does not necessarily equate with leadership talent. They are rather different skills.</p>
<p>Also, if you already have a resume full of musical accomplishments, I don’t see how one more is going to help that much. Colleges can generally see through ECs that conveniently appear in the senior year, just in time for the college apps.</p>
<p>You do seem a little hesitant about joining and your reasons are sketchy, but honestly I think that you wouldn’t be wasting your time posting a thread about whether or not to join if you didn’t has some desire.
With that said I would do especially if you think (no if you KNOW) your going to get a leadership position.
I know everyone is saying do things you passionate about and blah blah blah BUT your obviously into music. Plus as a freshman you were new and things are never as much fun when your on the bottom. I think if you go into with an OPEN mind and not just focused on embellishing your resume it could actually be fun and rewarding. Just think if your as qualified as you claim and practically one of the BEST you could effect the program in a way it hasn’t be effected.
To join or not to join? (seriously just flip a coin)
Also if you’re just going to spend your time doing nothing anyway I think you should join. I mean its only 4 months right?
I would take everyone’s advice as a grain of salt because at the end of the day is your life and your the one who has to live it.
Just my 2 cents. lol. :D</p>
<p>Coureur- I haven’t actually confirmed that my band director is willing to give me a leadership position. I guess it was a stretchy assumption. I’ll ask first thing when school starts.</p>
<p>Jahaba- Yeah, I won’t lie and agree that my marching band is probably one of the worst in my state. If I do join, I would probably work to make it awesome, and that would be a good essay topic. Thanks for the idea!</p>
<p>MirrorImage- Thanks for your long post! My school’s marching band has changed drastically from since I was in 9th grade. Back then we had practice Monday through Friday. Now, it’s only once or twice a week and I think that that could fit into my busy schedule. If I do join, I’m sure I’ll be participating with an open mind and actually try to enjoy it.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’d clarify that point if I were you. Look at it from the director’s position. What sort of message does it send to the younger band members who have worked hard and supported the program all the way through when some guy can show up at the last minute and snag a high leadership position? If he has any sense he won’t undermine his own program in this way for the sake one season with one talented musician.</p>
<p>coureur- I see your point and it does make sense. However, even if I haven’t been with the marching band all 4 years of high school, I believe that my accomplishments are more than enough to justify me getting a high leadership position. Positions in clubs are handed out to kids who are actually talented or committed to the specified area. I’ve made music my life for the past 3 years and think that my band director will agree. While I haven’t been committed to this one area, my time is spent elsewhere.</p>
<p>Plus, the kids who have remained committed to marching band never practice at home and never choose to attempt to get any better at their instruments. This has been the main point of my high school career.</p>
<p>I agree, which is why your commitment to <em>marching band</em> might be questioned if you dropped out after one year and then suddenly reappeared when it was time to fill out the college apps. What is not known is whether your talent will, in the director’s estimation, be sufficient to compensate for a spotty commitment.</p>
<p>Cornetking222, I am sure there are many marching band members who are also committed to music since their freshman years, and probably in the top symphonic band, jazz band and other musical clubs and activities. In other words, there are probably marching band members who stuck with it all four years, and did the other clubs/activities you mentioned you have done.
I am sure you can get leadership positions in those “other activities” you mentioned, right? Why the need to add marching band when you don’t enjoy it? I honestly don’t understand your reasoning. I also think your assumption that the director, who seemingly appreciates your involvement in other clubs, would appreciate your assumption that he would jump over the current true leaders in the marching band. Those marching band juniors that just naturally assist the marching band freshman when they join.
imo, you should strive for leadership positions in the other activities (musical or otherwise) that you have enjoyed/been involved with rather than trying to usurp a leadership position from someone else. Perhaps you are the most gifted in the school…but leadership isn’t about that. The marchers will respect the leader that has “been there and done that” so to speak, which you haven’t done in the marching band arena.</p>
<p>Well, it wouldn’t be sudden. I assume that cornetking would gradually start showing up at practices and meetings, offer to help with fundraisers, volunteer to fill in for band members who are sick, and slowly and gradually make it so that the entire marching band apparatus at the school is completely dependent on him for its day-to-day operation. It’s a little Machiavellian, yes, but we’re talking about college admissions here. </p>
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<p>Exactly. Even though cornetking hasn’t specifically been in marching band, he has been involved with the “musical scene” (so to speak) at his school. It’s not as if this will be the first music-related activity that he’s done. If he’s maintained even a passing relationship with the band director these last four years it should work out fine. </p>
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<p>This is a really good point, but isn’t even more impressive to suddenly be catapulted to a position of leadership after two years of exile and transform the forlorn pack of kids into a respectable marching band? It’d be like something out of Zorro.</p>
<p>This is a little late, but…I find the most questionable part about this is the possibility of taking a leadership role if you’ve been out of it since freshman year.
I’ve been part of my school’s marching band since I was a freshman and I’ve stuck it out for four years. And, yeah, I consider myself pretty devoted to it.
I think that if someone had left freshman year and came back senior year, I’d consider them more of a “band sophomore” even if that person was doing other music-related activities. A little frustrating to be led by someone who hasn’t been around. (This also holds true for our new director…it gets annoying sometimes to think that some of us have had experience on the field for almost four years and it’s his first and he has the say in what goes on. Kind of similar, but that’s a different story.)</p>
<p>However, if you think you can find interest in it with this new scheduling, then go for it. Especially if you enjoy the musical aspect too. But if it’s for the sole purpose of looking good on an app, then it would probably be a better idea to spend your time doing something else that you enjoy more. Plus you’ll probably do better if you’re happier there. :)</p>
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