Match/Chance STEM/Music oriented Junior from Ohio

[KBrehm7]

Demographics

• US Citizen
• Ohio
• Small rural HS (500ish)
• White Female

Intended Major(s)
I would like a school that is very encouraging and flexible for interdisciplinary studies, specifically in the form of double majors and dual degrees. I love music and STEM, so I am considering a dual degree or double major of possibly chemistry, chemical engineering, microbiology, or neuroscience and a BA in music. However, other music degrees are not off the table. Music therapy seems like a very appealing field. I would like to pursue both STEM and music with equal intensity. I need a college marching band (OSU doesn’t allow woodwinds so that’s off the table), and I would like to get involved in research, preferably research combining both music and science such as auditory neuroscience.

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

• Unweighted HS GPA: 4.0
• Weighted HS GPA (Each CCP or AP adds a .025 bump): 4.025
• Class Rank: Tied at 5
• ACT/SAT Scores: 28 math, 30 science, 34 English, 35 reading, 7 writing: 32 composite. Just took again this week and waiting for score.

Coursework
Honors English 9 +10, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra 1 + 2, Honors Bio, CCP Microbiology, 4 semester art classes, Anatomy
Currently in French 4, plan to take French 5 unless scheduling conflict
Currently taking Adv. Chem, AP Bio, AP Lang, AP Gov, CCP Precalc
Plan to take AP Lit, AP Calc, AP Stats, CCP Physics, CCP Psych (will have taken 6/7 offered AP)

Awards
Selected for 26 virtual honor bands across 13 states
Selected for 7 in person honor bands
All County Band for all 3 years, 1st chair last time
Published digital art in book
Most Outstanding Musician Award for 3 years straight at school
5 Superior rated solos at contest
Various science fair awards at district and local level, went to state 4 years
National Honor Society
Mentor for middle school girls’ retreat

Extracurriculars
Field Commander and field soloist
Clarinet concert band section leader, pit performance in school musical
Member of local university’s upper level performance ensembles
Lead tenor sax in school’s upper level jazz group
Internship for music consulting firm and record label
Curriculum Coordinator internship of digital wellness courses and social media manager for company
Virtual music instructor through non-profit
Science club officer
Student Ambassador
Member of community band
Member of french club and art club
Hope to over the summer start internships for a youth science journal and chemistry nonprofit to get more involved in science ECs before college

Essays/LORs/Other
Essays will hopefully be decent. I should be able to get good LOR from my bio teacher, band director, and internship advisor (Stanford alum). I have a good relationship with my counselors because they run the student ambassador program.

Cost Constraints / Budget
Wish I could give more information here. I won’t get much financial aid at all because my parents make decent money. But that also means they can contribute a little bit more.

Schools
This is a reduced list from last time I posted. I’m trying to get a feel for if my list has good schools for music and science, good interdisciplinary programs, research opportunities, and good marching bands. Any advice on how well these schools fit or any better fits would be appreciated. I’d also like to know what areas I should work on to increase my chances for the reaches. How much would ED help for any of the reaches, specifically Northwestern?

• Safety: U of Arizona, Ohio U, Miami U, U of Cinci,
• Match: U of Florida, FSU
• Reach: U of Miami, UMich, USC, Northwestern, Vanderbilt

[eyemgh]

My son was in a similar position, talented enough as a musician to go to conservatory, but wanted to be an engineer. What he learned in trying to see if he could serve both interests is that both curricula are so packed that doubling was difficult and unwise. He put his music on hiatus, but worked in the sound department on campus. He now is deeply involved with sound as an engineer.

If you try to pack it all in, you don’t end up with enough depth to make yourself attractive, unless you take the therapist angle. If engineering is a possibility, I’d look at Lehigh. Many of their engineers are minoring in music and in the marching band.

[momofboiler1]

I immediately thought about Northwestern before I read your list for a reach, but be sure to run the NPC and make sure it’s affordable for your parents. The COA is very high. If your parents can swing it, ED is a big advantage at NU.

[Anon747482]

Look into the Miami University Presidential Fellows Program! It covers the full cost of attendance and provides great support from the university…you definitely have a chance with your stats

[AustenNut]

Indiana University has a great music program, and appears to have some programs that allow for a music major with a secondary concentration in an outside field. It also has the individualized major program, if you decide to go that routeb.

I really like U. of Cincinnati for what you say are your interests.

Have you seen this article about music therapy programs? The 10 Best Music Therapy Schools in the US - collegegazette.com

Western Michigan would be a safety, and Arizona State and U. of Minnesota might be two other options that meet your interests.

This article has other suggestions as well. I will let you judge about marching bands, etc. The Best Music Therapy/Therapist Colleges 2023