<p>Hi guys I'm going into 9th grade and I've almost completed my course list. But I'm allowed only seven classes so unfortunately I only have one spot left for an elective. I would like to know in your opinion whether I should take Beginning Band or Career Focus Medical. I don't play an instrument and I'm wondering how much music matters for an Ivy League school or any other competitive school? I don't think I have the time or money to take a music class outside of school so I'm wondering If I should take band class throughout high school and maybe get good enough for honors band (which you have to try out for to get into) or marching band. On the other hand, I can take what my school calls a "career path". I want to go into pre-med in college. Instead of taking band classes throughout high school, I can take classes like Career Focus Medical, Medical core, Hospital Occ intern etc. So my question to you guys is, do competitive colleges value music better or a strong career focus in high school? Please reply ASAP as I do have to finalize my classes by tomorrow. Sorry for the late notice but thank you so much for taking the time to solve my dilemma.</p>
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<p>When looking at your transcript, most selective colleges recalculate your GPA by stripping out non-academic courses such as gym, music, theater, sports, vocational classes (shop, drafting) and health classes. So whatever grade you might get in your band class, will not count toward your college-recalculated GPA. On the other hand, playing a musical instrument does count as an extracurricular activity, especially if there are band performances outside of class.</p>
<p>Selective college are looking for students who take the most rigorous course load at their high school. “Career Focus Medical” sounds more rigorous to me, but as your guidance counselor ultimately will have to rate the rigor of your course work when you apply to college, you should as them which course do they consider the most rigorous.</p>
<p>“Career Focus Medical” doesn’t sound particularly rigorous to me. Frankly it sounds like stuff you could do on your own as a volunteer at a hospital or the like. If you like music, I’d take band. It’s a pretty fun EC and you might find you like it a lot. If you don’t like music than take the other one. Neither one is going to influence the rigor of your course work.</p>
<p>I think I’ll just take the medical pathway my school offers because I’m not particularly interested in music. So what you guys are saying is that I can still get into those selective colleges without playing an instrument? If I get good grades, play varsity tennis, and take hospital internships over the summer that’s enough? I also want to take the medical pathway because I’m planning to take lots of medical internships during the summer and I think I need a basis and maybe recommendations from the teachers in my career focus medical class to be selected for the internship.</p>
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<p>It will be enough to make you a competitive applicant . . . but 80% of students who apply to selective colleges are competitive applicants. No one can tell you “Do X and you’ll be admitted”, but if you follow this advice, you’ll be on the right track: [Applying</a> Sideways | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways]Applying”>Applying Sideways | MIT Admissions)</p>
<p>You are supposed to follow your interests and passions in your electives and your EC’s. You should never take a music class if you have no interest. It might help you think and learn a different way so it has benefits, but it won’t help you get into college better than another interest. Read the MIT link and you might get a clue how wrong headed your thinking it.</p>
<p>You are right; that is why I have come to the conclusion that I will take Career Course Medical because I have a passion for it. I also plan to pursue it in my later career so the information I pick from those classes will be useful. I was just worried that my lack of music would be a big hole in my applications.</p>